{{more citations needed|date=July 2016}} {{DISPLAYTITLE:''Jagdgeschwader'' 51}} {{Infobox military unit |unit_name=''Jagdgeschwader'' 51 | image= Jagdgeschwader 51.svg | image_size = 160 |caption=Unit insignia |dates=1939–1945 |country={{flag|Nazi Germany}} |branch=[[Luftwaffe]] |type=[[Fighter Aircraft]] |role=[[Air superiority]] |size=Air Force Wing |command_structure= |garrison= |nickname=''Mölders'' |patron=[[Werner Mölders]] |motto= |colors= |march= |mascot= |battles=[[Western Front (World War II)|Western Front]] * [[Battle of France]] * [[Battle of Britain]] [[Eastern Front (World War II)]] * [[German-Soviet air war 22 June 1941]] * [[Operation Barbarossa]] * [[Battle of Kursk]] |notable_commanders=[[Theo Osterkamp]]<br/> [[Werner Mölders]] <br/> [[Heinz Lange]] <!-- Insignia --> |identification_symbol= |identification_symbol_label= |decorations= }}

'''''Jagdgeschwader'' 51 (JG 51) ''' was a German fighter [[Wing (air force unit)|wing]] during [[World War II]]. JG 51's pilots won more awards than any other fighter wing of the [[Luftwaffe]], and operated in all major theatres of war. Its members included [[Anton Hafner]], [[Heinz Bär]], [[Karl-Gottfried Nordmann]], and [[Günther Schack]]. {{TOC limit}}

==World War II== Formed in August 1939 and commanded by [[Theo Osterkamp]], JG 51 was based in the early months of the war in the West, fighting in the [[Battle of France]] and the [[Battle of Britain]]. From late June 1940 to mid July 1940, JG 51 was the only fighter Geschwader engaged continuously against the RAF. During the battle JG 51 lost 68 pilots, the highest casualty rate of the Luftwaffe fighter units engaged.

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-058-1784A-14, Frankreich, Jagdflugzeuge Me 109 auf Feldflugplatz.jpg|thumb|right|Four Bf 109 of JG 51 in France 1940]] From 12 July 1940 until November 1940, Stab JG 51 was located at [[Saint-Inglevert Airfield]] in [[Saint-Inglevert|Saint-Inglevert, France]].<ref name=inglevert>{{cite web |url=http://old.anciens-aerodromes.com/terrains%20aviations/StInglevert.htm |title=Saint-Inglevert |publisher=Old Anciens Aerodromes |language=fr |access-date=18 March 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Major [[Werner Mölders]] became the unit's commander in July 1940 and led the unit during the [[Operation Barbarossa|invasion of the Soviet Union]] in June 1941.

During [[Operation Barbarossa]], JG 51 was positioned in the centre of the 4,480&nbsp;km-long front. Its task was to support [[Panzer Group 2]], which formed the right flank of [[Army Group Centre]], advancing northeast towards Moscow.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}} After achieving more than 100 victories (the first time an aviator ever had done so), Mölders was forced to stop flying (for propaganda reasons) and was made an inspector of fighter aircraft. After Mölders's departure in September 1941 and death later that year, the unit adopted his name in early 1942. The unit remained on the centre sector of the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] throughout the rest of 1941. In the period 22 June - 5 December 1941 the unit destroyed 1,881 Soviet aircraft against 84 losses in aerial combat and a single aircraft on the ground.{{sfn|Bergström|2007|p=116}}

General [[Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen]]'s [[8th Air Corps (Germany)|8th Air Corps]] was in charge of air support for the Wehrmacht's Army Group Centre. In early January 1942, among the fighter units available to Richthofen were ''Gruppe'' II., III., and IV. / JG 51. With the onset of the sub-zero winter conditions, the majority of JG 51's available aircraft were grounded.

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1997-026-32A, Flugzeug Me 109, Wartung und Bewaffnung.jpg|thumb|upright|Aircraft of 8./JG 51 being armed.]] Most of early 1942 was spent in defensive missions against counter-attacks on Army Group Center's left flank. Its situation had by now stabilised after severe losses in personnel and materiel. Night bomber attacks during June 1942 put a part of JG 51's aircraft out of commission on the airfields at [[Oryol]], [[Bryansk]] and Dugino (west of [[Kursk]]). In August 1942, JG 51 suffered heavier losses than anything previously during the conflict; 101 Bf 109s were destroyed or written off from all causes during the month, with 17 pilots killed, missing, or hospitalized.

In November 1942, II. / JG 51 was transferred to the [[Mediterranean Theatre of Operations|Mediterranean theatre]], fighting over [[Tunisia]], [[Sicily]] and [[Italy]] before leaving for Sardinia in April 1943. 3. / [[Jagdgeschwader 1 (World War II)|JG 1]] were also transferred in, and subordinated to II. ''Gruppe'' as 6. ''Staffel''.{{sfn|Weal|2006|p=95}} The unit handed over its remaining aircraft to [[JG 77]] and left the continent on 19 April 1943. The unit had lost 26 pilots killed, almost a 100% loss rate since their arrival.{{sfn|Weal|2006|p=98}} In July, the unit flew from [[Trapani]] against the American forces in Sicily. In March 1944, it moved to [[Yugoslavia]] and the Balkans in order to cover the [[Ploiești]] oil fields.

Later in 1943 II. ''Gruppe'' was part of the German efforts to thwart the [[USAAF]] bomber offensive by [[15th Air Force]]. It was stationed at various times in Hungary, Greece and Austria until late 1944. During the [[Battle of Kursk]] in southern Russia, ''Gruppe'' I., III., and IV. / JG 51 were based at [[Oryol]] with ''[[Luftflotte 6]]'', flying in support of Army Group Centre. On 5 July 1943, the Soviet forces launched concentrated air attacks against the German airfields, and as all available ''[[Luftflotte 4]]'' and 6 fighters scrambled, one of the largest air battles in history began. As Germany was losing the war, JG 51 retreated together with the rest of the Wehrmacht and by May 1945 operated out of [[East Prussia]].

==Commanding officers== Given below is a list of commanding officers of JG 51.

===''Geschwaderkommodore''=== {| | {{*}}''Oberst'' [[Theo Osterkamp]] || 19 September 1939 || – || July 1940{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=247}} |- | {{*}}''Oberstleutnant'' [[Werner Mölders]] || 27 July 1940 || – || 19 July 1941{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=247}} |- | {{*}}''Oberst'' Theo Osterkamp (acting) || 28 July 1940 || – || 7 August 1940 |- | {{*}}''Oberstleutnant'' [[Friedrich Beckh]] || 19 July 1941 || – || 10 April 1942{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=247}} |- | {{*}}''Major'' [[Günther Lützow]] (acting) || September 1941 || – || 8 November 1941 |- | {{*}}''Oberstleutnant'' [[Karl-Gottfried Nordmann]] || 10 April 1942 || – || 30 March 1944{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=247}} |- | {{*}}''Major'' [[Fritz Losigkeit]] || 1 April 1944 || – || 31 March 1945{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=247}} |- | {{*}}''Major'' [[Heinz Lange]] || 2 April 1945 || – || disbandment{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=247}} |}

===''Gruppenkommandeure''=== ====I. ''Gruppe'' of JG 51==== On 1 May 1939, I. ''Gruppe'' was created from I. ''Gruppe'' of [[Jagdgeschwader 233|''Jagdgeschwader'' 233]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000|p=206}} {| | {{*}}''Major'' Ernst Freiherr von Berg || 1 May 1939 || – || 22 September 1939{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=247}} |- | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' Hans-Heinrich Brustellin || 23 September 1939 || – || 17 October 1940{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=247}} |- | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' [[Hermann-Friedrich Joppien]] || 18 October 1940 || – || 25 August 1941{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=247}} |- | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' Wilhelm Hachfeld || 26 August 1941 || – || |- | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' [[Josef Fözö]] || 3 May 1942 || – || 31 May 1942{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=247}} |- | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' [[Heinrich Krafft]] || 1 June 1942 || – || 14 December 1942{{KIA}}{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=247}} |- | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' Rudolf Busch || 15 December 1942 || – || 17 January 1943{{KIA}}{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=247}} |- | {{*}}''Major'' [[Erich Leie]] || 18 January 1943 || – || 28 December 1944{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=247}} |- | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' [[Günther Schack]] || 29 December 1944 || – || 23 April 1945{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=247}} |}

====II. ''Gruppe'' of JG 51==== {| | {{*}}''Major'' Ernst Günther Burgaller || 16 October 1939 || – || 2 February 1940{{KIA}}{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=248}} |- | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' Günther Matthes || 3 February 1940 || – || 20 February 1941{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=248}} |- | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' Josef Fözö || 21 February 1941 || – || 11 July 1941{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=248}} |- | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' [[Hartmann Grasser]] || September 1941 || – || 6 June 1943{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=248}} |- | {{*}}''Major'' [[Karl Rammelt]] || 6 June 1943 || – || 23 December 1944{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=248}} |- | {{*}}''Oberleutnant'' [[Otto Schultz]] || 24 December 1944 || – || 12 April 1945{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=248}} |}

====III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 51==== On 4 July 1940, III. ''Gruppe'' was created from I. ''Gruppe'' of [[Jagdgeschwader 20|''Jagdgeschwader'' 20]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|p=73}} {| | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' [[Hannes Trautloft]] || 4 July 1940 || – || 24 August 1940{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=250}} |- | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' [[Walter Oesau]] || 25 August 1940 || – || 10 November 1940{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=250}} |- | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' [[Richard Leppla]] || 11 November 1940 || – || 7 August 1942{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=250}} |- | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' [[Karl-Heinz Schnell]] || 8 August 1942 || – || 22 June 1943{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=250}} |- | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' Fritz Losigkeit || 26 June 1943 || – || 30 April 1944{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=250}} |- | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' [[Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber]] || 1 May 1944 || – || 24 August 1944{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=250}} |- | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' [[Joachim Brendel]] || 1 September 1944 || – || 8 May 1945{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=250}} |}

====IV. ''Gruppe'' of JG 51==== On 21 November 1940, IV. ''Gruppe'' was created from I. ''Gruppe'' of [[Jagdgeschwader 77|''Jagdgeschwader'' 77]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|p=96}} {| | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' Johannes Janke || 21 November 1940 || – || 18 February 1941{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=251}} |- | {{*}}''Major'' Friedrich Beckh || 1 March 1941 || – || 19 July 1941{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=251}} |- | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' Karl-Gottfried Nordmann || 20 July 1941 || – || 9 April 1942{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=251}} |- | {{*}}''Hauptmann'' Hans Knauth || 10 April 1942 || – || 28 February 1943{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=251}} |- | {{*}}''Major'' [[Rudolf Resch]] || 1 March 1943 || – || 11 July 1943{{KIA}}{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=251}} |- | {{*}}''Major'' [[Hans-Ekkehard Bob]] || 1 August 1943 || – || 8 May 1944{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=251}} |- | {{*}}''Major'' Heinz Lange || 9 May 1944 || – || 11 April 1945{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=251}} |- | {{*}}''Oberleutnant'' [[Günther Josten]] || 12 April 1945 || – || 28 April 1945{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=251}} |- | {{*}}''Major'' Heinz Lange || 29 April 1945 || – || 8 May 1945{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=251}} |}

==References==

===Citations=== {{Reflist|25em}}

===Bibliography=== {{refbegin}} * {{Cite book |last1=Aders |first1=Gebhard |last2=Held |first2=Werner |year=1993 |title=Jagdgeschwader 51 'Mölders' Eine Chronik&nbsp;– Berichte&nbsp;– Erlebnisse&nbsp;– Dokumente |trans-title=Fighter Wing 51 'Mölders' A Chronicle&nbsp;- Reports&nbsp;- Experiences&nbsp;- Documents |language=de |location=Stuttgart, Germany |publisher=Motorbuch Verlag |isbn=978-3-613-01045-1 }} * {{Cite book |last=Bergström |first=Christer |year=2007 |title=Barbarossa—The Air Battle: July–December 1941 |location=Hersham, Surrey |publisher=Classic Publications |isbn=978-1-85780-270-2 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Prien |first1=Jochen |last2=Stemmer |first2=Gerhard |last3=Rodeike |first3=Peter |last4=Bock |first4=Winfried |year=2000 |title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 1—Vorkriegszeit und Einsatz über Polen—1934 bis 1939 |trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 1—Pre-War Period and Action over Poland—1934 to 1939 |language=de |location=Eutin, Germany |publisher=Struve-Druck |isbn=978-3-923457-54-0 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Prien |first1=Jochen |last2=Stemmer |first2=Gerhard |last3=Rodeike |first3=Peter |last4=Bock |first4=Winfried |year=2002 |title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26 June 1940 bis 21 June 1941 |trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941 |language=de |location=Eutin, Germany |publisher=Struve-Druck |isbn=978-3-923457-64-9 }} * {{Cite book |last=Weal |first=John |year=2006 |title=Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" |series=Aviation Elite Units |volume=22 |location=Oxford, UK |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=978-1-84603-045-1 }} {{refend}}

{{Jagdgeschwader of the Luftwaffe}} {{Knight's Cross recipients of JG 51}} {{Subject bar | portal1=Aviation | commons=y | commons-search=Category:Jagdgeschwader 51 }} {{Authority control}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

[[Category:Fighter wings of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945|Jagdgeschwader 051]] [[Category:Military units and formations established in 1939]] [[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945]]