Nachtjagdgeschwader 3
Encyclopedia
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.
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 3 was formed on 29 September 1941 in Stade
Stade
Stade is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany and part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region . It is the seat of the district named after it...
from Stab./ZG 26.
Kommodore
- Major Johann SchalkJohann SchalkJohann Schalk was a flying ace and high ranking officer in the German Luftwaffe during World War II. He is credited with 15 aerial victories, 4 of which on the Eastern front, claimed in 163 combat missions....
, 1 December 1941 – 1 August 1943 - Oberst Helmut LentHelmut LentOberst Helmut Lent was a German night-fighter ace in World War II. Lent shot down 110 aircraft, 103 of them at night, far more than the minimum of five enemy aircraft required for the title of "ace".For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter...
, 1 August 1943 – 7 October 1944 - Oberst Günther RaduschGünther RaduschGünther Radusch was a German aircraft pilot, the sixth highest scoring night fighter flying ace in the German Luftwaffe during World War II.For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces Günther Radusch is credited with 65 aerial victories...
, 12 November 1944 – 8 May 1945
I. Gruppe
- Hauptmann Günther RaduschGünther RaduschGünther Radusch was a German aircraft pilot, the sixth highest scoring night fighter flying ace in the German Luftwaffe during World War II.For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces Günther Radusch is credited with 65 aerial victories...
, 7 October 1940 - 2 October 1941 - Hauptmann Hans-Dietrich Knoetzsch, 3 October 1941 - 30 September 1942
- Major Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-WeißenfeldEgmont Prinz zur Lippe-WeißenfeldEgmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld was a Luftwaffe night fighter flying ace of aristocratic descent during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat...
, 1 October 1942 - 31 May 1943 - Hauptmann Erhard Peters, 1 June 1943 - 14 August 1943
- Hauptmann Walter Mylius, 15 August 1943 - 13 December 1943
- Hauptmann Paul Szameitat, 14 December 1943 - 2 January 1944
- Major Werner Husemann, 4 January 1944 - 8 May 1945
II. Gruppe
- Hauptmann Günther Radusch, 3 October 1941 – 1 August 1943
- Major Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-WittgensteinHeinrich Prinz zu Sayn-WittgensteinHeinrich Alexander Ludwig Peter Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein was a German of aristocratic descent and a Luftwaffe night fighter flying ace during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat...
, 15 August 1943 – November 1943 - Hauptmann Paul Szameitat, December 1943 – 14 December 1943
- Major Klaus Havenstein, 15 December 1943 – September 1944
- Hauptmann Hüschens, September 1944 – February 1945
III. Gruppe
- Oberstleutnant Heinz NackeHeinz NackeHeinz Nacke was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
, 1 November 1941 - 21 April 1943 - Hauptmann Walter Mylius, 22 April 1943 - 14 August 1943
- Hauptmann Rudolf SigmundRudolf SigmundRudolf Sigmund was a German Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
, 15 August 1943 - 4 October 1943 - Major Walter Barthe, 15 October 1943 - 8 May 1945
IV. Gruppe
- Major Erich Simon, 1 November 1942 - 7 October 1943
- Hauptmann Albert Schulz, 8 October 1943 - January 1944
- Hauptmann Franz Buschmann, January 1944 - July 1944
- Hauptmann Heinz Ferger, July 1944 - November 1944
- Major Berthold Ney, November 1944 - 4 March 1945
- Hauptmann Freidrich Tober, 5 March 1945 - 8 May 1945