Nachtjagdgeschwader 11
Encyclopedia
Nachtjagdgeschwader 11 was a Luftwaffe night fighter
-wing
of World War II
. NJG 11 was formed on 20 August 1944 with one Gruppe (group) consisting of 2 Staffeln.
2 staffel and 3 staffel formed from 1./NJGr 10 and in January 1945 redesignated 1./NJG 11 and 8./NJG 11 respectively.
II./NJG 11 was formed in November 1944 from 10./JG 300.
III./NJG 11 was formed in January 1945 and in March 1945 redesignated 2. NJG 11.
10. Staffel was formed on 28 January 1945 at Burg-Magdeburg
from Sonderkommando Welter flying Messerschmitt Me 262
jet fighters.
NJG 11 was the Luftwaffe's only Nachtjagdgeschwader to exclusively fly single-engine, single-seat fighter aircraft in the Wilde Sau
role. (excepting 10 staffel). During its existence the gruppen operated independently of each other
NJG 11 was reorganized on 30 March 1945. The Stab
was disbanded and the Gruppen reduced to Staffeln which were assigned to Nachtjagdgeschwader 3
(NJG 3) and Nachtjagdgeschwader 5
(NJG 5).
units. The radar equipped fighter versions equipping No. 100 Group
, Bomber Command were taking an increasing toll of the Luftwaffe's night fighters, and the 'Oboe
'-equipped Pathfinder and light bomber versions were also proving difficult to intercept and shoot down. NJG 11 brought together the various single-seat high speed units into one Nachtjagdgeschwader to unify these efforts.
The FW 190 A-8 and A-9 equipped with the FuG 217 or FuG 218 Neptun V radars were utilised by the unit, though several Bf 109 G-6, G-10 and G-14 models were also used.
Thus November saw the fighters of NJG 11 take up specialised high-speed high altitude interception operations against the RAF's Mosquito fighters, target markers and light bombers. Concentrating efforts over the Ruhr and Berlin, tactics were to create lighter conditions by setting up searchlight boxes, forming 'light horizons' to enable pilots to make visible contact with the enemy aircraft. Results were poor however, with only two Mosquitoes claimed over Berlin.
In December 1944 the piston-engined elements of NJG 11 gave up sustained anti-Mosquito operations and confined itself to illuminated target defence night fighting against the heavy bombers of the RAF.
10./NJG 11 under Hauptmann Kurt Welter
, an experienced 'Wilde Sau' ace, commenced operations using a handful of single-seat Me 262 jets in December 1944. Seven two-seat conversion night fighter variants, designated Me 262B-1a/U1, were available by April 1945. To make room for the radar operator fuselage fuel capacity was sacrificed, and a pair of 66 gallon drop tanks were fitted beneath the nose. Following trials with radar fitted to a single-seater the two-seaters were equipped with the FuG 218 Neptun V radar, with prominent aerials on the nose reducing the top speed by about 30 mph.
According to some sources from January 1945 to the end of the war the Me 262's of 10./NJG 11 claimed some 43 Mosquitoes by night and 5 P-38 and Mosquito photo-reconnaissance aircraft by day, although these figures do not tally with known Allied aircraft losses. Among them six Mosquitos by Feldwebel
Karl-Heinz Becker and his radio operator in two weeks, two within three minutes of each other on the night of 23 March 1945.
The last kill by III./NJG 11 came on the 21 February 1945, when Obfw Frank in a Bf 109 G-14 shot down a Lancaster near Krefeld
.
Night fighter
A night fighter is a fighter aircraft adapted for use at night or in other times of bad visibility...
-wing
Wing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. NJG 11 was formed on 20 August 1944 with one Gruppe (group) consisting of 2 Staffeln.
Formation
1 staffel was formed from elements of 6./JG 300 and in January 1945 redesignated 7./NJG 11.2 staffel and 3 staffel formed from 1./NJGr 10 and in January 1945 redesignated 1./NJG 11 and 8./NJG 11 respectively.
II./NJG 11 was formed in November 1944 from 10./JG 300.
III./NJG 11 was formed in January 1945 and in March 1945 redesignated 2. NJG 11.
10. Staffel was formed on 28 January 1945 at Burg-Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
from Sonderkommando Welter flying Messerschmitt Me 262
Messerschmitt Me 262
The Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe was the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft. Design work started before World War II began, but engine problems prevented the aircraft from attaining operational status with the Luftwaffe until mid-1944...
jet fighters.
NJG 11 was the Luftwaffe's only Nachtjagdgeschwader to exclusively fly single-engine, single-seat fighter aircraft in the Wilde Sau
Wilde Sau
Wilde Sau was the term given by the Luftwaffe, during World War II, to the technique by which British night bombers were mainly engaged by single-seat fighter planes.- Origins :...
role. (excepting 10 staffel). During its existence the gruppen operated independently of each other
NJG 11 was reorganized on 30 March 1945. The Stab
Stab (Luftwaffe designation)
During World War II, the suffix Stab was used in the German Luftwaffe to designate a headquarters unit. This applied to subordinate units in each Gruppe or Geschwader — the equivalent units to wings and groups in other air forces.These command units used the green colour of their aircraft...
was disbanded and the Gruppen reduced to Staffeln which were assigned to Nachtjagdgeschwader 3
Nachtjagdgeschwader 3
Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 was a Luftwaffe night fighter-wing of World War II. NJG 3 was formed on 29 September 1941 in Stade from Stab./ZG 26.-Kommodore:*Major Johann Schalk, 1 December 1941 – 1 August 1943...
(NJG 3) and Nachtjagdgeschwader 5
Nachtjagdgeschwader 5
Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 was a Luftwaffe night fighter-wing of World War II. NJG 5 was formed on 30 September 1942 in Döberitz.-Kommodore:*Major Fritz Schaffer, 30 September 1942*Oberst Günther Radusch, 2 August 1943...
(NJG 5).
Operations 1944–45
Earlier in 1944 the specialised units of JG 300 and NJGr 10 were tasked with countering the growing threat of the RAF de Havilland MosquitoDe Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
units. The radar equipped fighter versions equipping No. 100 Group
No. 100 Group RAF
No. 100 Group was a special duties group within RAF Bomber Command.It was formed on 11 November 1943 to consolidate the increasingly complex business of electronic warfare and countermeasures within one organisation. The group was responsible for the development, operational trial and use of...
, Bomber Command were taking an increasing toll of the Luftwaffe's night fighters, and the 'Oboe
Oboe (navigation)
Oboe was a British aerial blind bombing targeting system in World War II, based on radio transponder technology. Oboe accurately measured the distance to an aircraft, and gave the pilot guidance on whether or not they were flying along a pre-selected circular route. The route was only 35 yards...
'-equipped Pathfinder and light bomber versions were also proving difficult to intercept and shoot down. NJG 11 brought together the various single-seat high speed units into one Nachtjagdgeschwader to unify these efforts.
The FW 190 A-8 and A-9 equipped with the FuG 217 or FuG 218 Neptun V radars were utilised by the unit, though several Bf 109 G-6, G-10 and G-14 models were also used.
Thus November saw the fighters of NJG 11 take up specialised high-speed high altitude interception operations against the RAF's Mosquito fighters, target markers and light bombers. Concentrating efforts over the Ruhr and Berlin, tactics were to create lighter conditions by setting up searchlight boxes, forming 'light horizons' to enable pilots to make visible contact with the enemy aircraft. Results were poor however, with only two Mosquitoes claimed over Berlin.
In December 1944 the piston-engined elements of NJG 11 gave up sustained anti-Mosquito operations and confined itself to illuminated target defence night fighting against the heavy bombers of the RAF.
Kurt Welter
Kurt Welter was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and the most successful Jet Expert of World War II.For a list of Luftwaffe jet aces see List of German World War II jet aces A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat...
, an experienced 'Wilde Sau' ace, commenced operations using a handful of single-seat Me 262 jets in December 1944. Seven two-seat conversion night fighter variants, designated Me 262B-1a/U1, were available by April 1945. To make room for the radar operator fuselage fuel capacity was sacrificed, and a pair of 66 gallon drop tanks were fitted beneath the nose. Following trials with radar fitted to a single-seater the two-seaters were equipped with the FuG 218 Neptun V radar, with prominent aerials on the nose reducing the top speed by about 30 mph.
According to some sources from January 1945 to the end of the war the Me 262's of 10./NJG 11 claimed some 43 Mosquitoes by night and 5 P-38 and Mosquito photo-reconnaissance aircraft by day, although these figures do not tally with known Allied aircraft losses. Among them six Mosquitos by Feldwebel
Feldwebel
Feldwebel is a German military rank which has existed since at least the 18th century with usage as a title dating to the Middle Ages. The word Feldwebel is usually translated as sergeant being rated OR-6 in the NATO rank comparison scale, equivalent to the British Army Sergeant and the US Army...
Karl-Heinz Becker and his radio operator in two weeks, two within three minutes of each other on the night of 23 March 1945.
The last kill by III./NJG 11 came on the 21 February 1945, when Obfw Frank in a Bf 109 G-14 shot down a Lancaster near Krefeld
Krefeld
Krefeld , also known as Crefeld until 1929, is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located northwest of Düsseldorf, its centre lying just a few kilometres to the west of the River Rhine; the borough of Uerdingen is situated directly on the Rhine...
.
I. Gruppe
- Major Friedrich-Karl Müller, 26 August 1944 – 8 May 1945