# Jagdgeschwader 51

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Jagdgeschwader 51 Unit insignia Active 1939–1945 Country Nazi Germany Branch Luftwaffe Type Fighter Aircraft Role Air superiority Size Air Force Wing Nickname Mölders Patron Werner Mölders Engagements 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 Commanders Notable commanders Theo Osterkamp Werner Mölders Heinz Lange

Military unit

***Jagdgeschwader* 51 (JG 51)** was a German fighter [wing](/source/Wing_(air_force_unit)) during [World War II](/source/World_War_II). JG 51's pilots won more awards than any other fighter wing of the [Luftwaffe](/source/Luftwaffe), and operated in all major theatres of war. Its members included [Anton Hafner](/source/Anton_Hafner), [Heinz Bär](/source/Heinz_B%C3%A4r), [Karl-Gottfried Nordmann](/source/Karl-Gottfried_Nordmann), and [Günther Schack](/source/G%C3%BCnther_Schack).

## World War II

Formed in August 1939 and commanded by [Theo Osterkamp](/source/Theo_Osterkamp), JG 51 was based in the early months of the war in the West, fighting in the [Battle of France](/source/Battle_of_France) and the [Battle of Britain](/source/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.

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](/source/Saint-Inglevert_Airfield) in [Saint-Inglevert, France](/source/Saint-Inglevert).[1] Major [Werner Mölders](/source/Werner_M%C3%B6lders) became the unit's commander in July 1940 and led the unit during the [invasion of the Soviet Union](/source/Operation_Barbarossa) in June 1941.

During [Operation Barbarossa](/source/Operation_Barbarossa), JG 51 was positioned in the centre of the 4,480 km-long front. Its task was to support [Panzer Group 2](/source/Panzer_Group_2), which formed the right flank of [Army Group Centre](/source/Army_Group_Centre), advancing northeast towards Moscow.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] 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](/source/Eastern_Front_(World_War_II)) 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.[2]

General [Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen](/source/Wolfram_Freiherr_von_Richthofen)'s [8th Air Corps](/source/8th_Air_Corps_(Germany)) 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.

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](/source/Oryol), [Bryansk](/source/Bryansk) and Dugino (west of [Kursk](/source/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](/source/Mediterranean_Theatre_of_Operations), fighting over [Tunisia](/source/Tunisia), [Sicily](/source/Sicily) and [Italy](/source/Italy) before leaving for Sardinia in April 1943. 3. / [JG 1](/source/Jagdgeschwader_1_(World_War_II)) were also transferred in, and subordinated to II. *Gruppe* as 6. *Staffel*.[3] The unit handed over its remaining aircraft to [JG 77](/source/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.[4] In July, the unit flew from [Trapani](/source/Trapani) against the American forces in Sicily. In March 1944, it moved to [Yugoslavia](/source/Yugoslavia) and the Balkans in order to cover the [Ploiești](/source/Ploie%C8%99ti) oil fields.

Later in 1943 II. *Gruppe* was part of the German efforts to thwart the [USAAF](/source/USAAF) bomber offensive by [15th Air Force](/source/15th_Air_Force). It was stationed at various times in Hungary, Greece and Austria until late 1944. During the [Battle of Kursk](/source/Battle_of_Kursk) in southern Russia, *Gruppe* I., III., and IV. / JG 51 were based at [Oryol](/source/Oryol) with *[Luftflotte 6](/source/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](/source/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](/source/East_Prussia).

## Commanding officers

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

### *Geschwaderkommodore*

• Oberst Theo Osterkamp 19 September 1939 – July 1940[5] • Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders 27 July 1940 – 19 July 1941[5] • Oberst Theo Osterkamp (acting) 28 July 1940 – 7 August 1940 • Oberstleutnant Friedrich Beckh 19 July 1941 – 10 April 1942[5] • Major Günther Lützow (acting) September 1941 – 8 November 1941 • Oberstleutnant Karl-Gottfried Nordmann 10 April 1942 – 30 March 1944[5] • Major Fritz Losigkeit 1 April 1944 – 31 March 1945[5] • Major Heinz Lange 2 April 1945 – disbandment[5]

### *Gruppenkommandeure*

#### I. *Gruppe* of JG 51

On 1 May 1939, I. *Gruppe* was created from I. *Gruppe* of [*Jagdgeschwader* 233](/source/Jagdgeschwader_233).[6]

• Major Ernst Freiherr von Berg 1 May 1939 – 22 September 1939[5] • Hauptmann Hans-Heinrich Brustellin 23 September 1939 – 17 October 1940[5] • Hauptmann Hermann-Friedrich Joppien 18 October 1940 – 25 August 1941[5] • Hauptmann Wilhelm Hachfeld 26 August 1941 – • Hauptmann Josef Fözö 3 May 1942 – 31 May 1942[5] • Hauptmann Heinrich Krafft 1 June 1942 – 14 December 1942 †[5] • Hauptmann Rudolf Busch 15 December 1942 – 17 January 1943 †[5] • Major Erich Leie 18 January 1943 – 28 December 1944[5] • Hauptmann Günther Schack 29 December 1944 – 23 April 1945[5]

#### II. *Gruppe* of JG 51

• Major Ernst Günther Burgaller 16 October 1939 – 2 February 1940 †[7] • Hauptmann Günther Matthes 3 February 1940 – 20 February 1941[7] • Hauptmann Josef Fözö 21 February 1941 – 11 July 1941[7] • Hauptmann Hartmann Grasser September 1941 – 6 June 1943[7] • Major Karl Rammelt 6 June 1943 – 23 December 1944[7] • Oberleutnant Otto Schultz 24 December 1944 – 12 April 1945[7]

#### III. *Gruppe* of JG 51

On 4 July 1940, III. *Gruppe* was created from I. *Gruppe* of [*Jagdgeschwader* 20](/source/Jagdgeschwader_20).[8]

• Hauptmann Hannes Trautloft 4 July 1940 – 24 August 1940[9] • Hauptmann Walter Oesau 25 August 1940 – 10 November 1940[9] • Hauptmann Richard Leppla 11 November 1940 – 7 August 1942[9] • Hauptmann Karl-Heinz Schnell 8 August 1942 – 22 June 1943[9] • Hauptmann Fritz Losigkeit 26 June 1943 – 30 April 1944[9] • Hauptmann Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber 1 May 1944 – 24 August 1944[9] • Hauptmann Joachim Brendel 1 September 1944 – 8 May 1945[9]

#### IV. *Gruppe* of JG 51

On 21 November 1940, IV. *Gruppe* was created from I. *Gruppe* of [*Jagdgeschwader* 77](/source/Jagdgeschwader_77).[10]

• Hauptmann Johannes Janke 21 November 1940 – 18 February 1941[11] • Major Friedrich Beckh 1 March 1941 – 19 July 1941[11] • Hauptmann Karl-Gottfried Nordmann 20 July 1941 – 9 April 1942[11] • Hauptmann Hans Knauth 10 April 1942 – 28 February 1943[11] • Major Rudolf Resch 1 March 1943 – 11 July 1943 †[11] • Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob 1 August 1943 – 8 May 1944[11] • Major Heinz Lange 9 May 1944 – 11 April 1945[11] • Oberleutnant Günther Josten 12 April 1945 – 28 April 1945[11] • Major Heinz Lange 29 April 1945 – 8 May 1945[11]

## References

### Citations

1. **[^](#cite_ref-inglevert_1-0)** ["Saint-Inglevert"](http://old.anciens-aerodromes.com/terrains%20aviations/StInglevert.htm) (in French). Old Anciens Aerodromes. Retrieved 18 March 2011.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBergström2007116_2-0)** [Bergström 2007](#CITEREFBergström2007), p. 116.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWeal200695_3-0)** [Weal 2006](#CITEREFWeal2006), p. 95.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWeal200698_4-0)** [Weal 2006](#CITEREFWeal2006), p. 98.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993247_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993247_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993247_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993247_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993247_5-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993247_5-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993247_5-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993247_5-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993247_5-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993247_5-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993247_5-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993247_5-11) [***m***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993247_5-12) [***n***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993247_5-13) [Aders & Held 1993](#CITEREFAdersHeld1993), p. 247.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPrienStemmerRodeikeBock2000206_6-0)** [Prien et al. 2000](#CITEREFPrienStemmerRodeikeBock2000), p. 206.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993248_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993248_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993248_7-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993248_7-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993248_7-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993248_7-5) [Aders & Held 1993](#CITEREFAdersHeld1993), p. 248.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPrienStemmerRodeikeBock200273_8-0)** [Prien et al. 2002](#CITEREFPrienStemmerRodeikeBock2002), p. 73.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993250_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993250_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993250_9-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993250_9-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993250_9-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993250_9-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993250_9-6) [Aders & Held 1993](#CITEREFAdersHeld1993), p. 250.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPrienStemmerRodeikeBock200296_10-0)** [Prien et al. 2002](#CITEREFPrienStemmerRodeikeBock2002), p. 96.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993251_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993251_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993251_11-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993251_11-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993251_11-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993251_11-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993251_11-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993251_11-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAdersHeld1993251_11-8) [Aders & Held 1993](#CITEREFAdersHeld1993), p. 251.

### Bibliography

- Aders, Gebhard; Held, Werner (1993). *Jagdgeschwader 51 'Mölders' Eine Chronik – Berichte – Erlebnisse – Dokumente* [*Fighter Wing 51 'Mölders' A Chronicle - Reports - Experiences - Documents*] (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-613-01045-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-613-01045-1).

- Bergström, Christer (2007). *Barbarossa—The Air Battle: July–December 1941*. Hersham, Surrey: Classic Publications. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-85780-270-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-85780-270-2).

- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2000). *Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 1—Vorkriegszeit und Einsatz über Polen—1934 bis 1939* [*The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 1—Pre-War Period and Action over Poland—1934 to 1939*] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-923457-54-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-923457-54-0).

- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). *Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26 June 1940 bis 21 June 1941* [*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*] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-923457-64-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-923457-64-9).

- Weal, John (2006). *Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"*. Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 22. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84603-045-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84603-045-1).

v t e Jagdgeschwader (fighter wings) of the Luftwaffe Named 1 "Oesau" 2 "Richthofen" 3 "Udet" 5 "Eismeer" 6 "Horst Wessel" 7 "Nowotny" 26 "Schlageter" 27 "Afrika" 51 "Mölders" 53 "Pik As" 54 "Grünherz" 77 "Herz As" 134 "Horst Wessel" 142 "Horst Wessel" 234 "Schlageter" Numbered 4 11 20 21 25 28 50 52 70 71 72 76 80 130 131 132 133 135 136 137 138 141 142 143 144 231 232 233 234 300 301 302 331 333 334 400 433 Training 101 103 104 Ergänzungs-Jagdgeschwader Special Jagdgeschwader z.b.V. Jagdverband 44 Kommando Nowotny

v t e Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" Heinrich Bär (Oak Leaves & Swords) Friedrich Beckh Franz-Josef Beerenbrock (Oak Leaves) Wolfgang Böwing-Treuding Adolf Borchers Joachim Brendel (Oak Leaves) Kurt Dombacher Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber Erwin Fleig Josef Fözö Herbert Friebel Otto Gaiser Bernd Gallowitsch Hartmann Grasser (Oak Leaves) Anton Hafner (Oak Leaves) Heinrich Höfemeier Heinrich Hoffmann (Oak Leaves) Erich Hohagen Wilhelm Hübner Herbert Huppertz1 (Oak Leaves) Josef Jennewein Hermann-Friedrich Joppien (Oak Leaves) Günther Josten (Oak Leaves) Peter Kalden Heinrich Klöpper Kurt Knappe Hans Kolbow Heinrich Krafft Heinz Lange Heinz Leber Richard Leppla Anton Lindner Fritz Losigkeit Max-Hermann Lücke Fritz Lüddecke Heinz Marquardt Maximilian Mayerl Wilhelm Mink Werner Mölders2 (Oak Leaves, Swords & Diamonds) Joachim Müncheberg3 (Oak Leaves & Swords) Karl-Gottfried Nordmann (Oak Leaves) Walter Oesau4 (Oak Leaves & Swords) Josef Priller5 (Oak Leaves & Swords) Herbert Puschmann Karl Rammelt Alfred Rauch Oskar Romm Günther Rübell Günther Schack (Oak Leaves) Karl-Heinz Schnell Helmut Schönfelder Otto Schultz Georg Seelmann Hermann Staiger Hubert Straßl Hans Strelow (Oak Leaves) Otto Tange Kurt Tanzer Edwin Thiel Horst Tietzen Bernhard Vechtel Edmund Wagner Rudolf Wagner Karl-Heinz Weber (Oak Leaves) Ernst Weismann Walther Wever Otto Würfel 1 Oak Leaves with JG 2. 2 Knight's Cross with JG 53. 3 Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves with JG 26. 4 Oak Leaves and Swords with JG 3. 5 Oak Leaves and Swords with JG 26.

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