Fighter unit deployments during the Phony War
 

Guys:

I was re-reading some of my old material & a thought just suddenly popped into my head. Can anybody tell me where the various German fighter gruppen/Geschwadern were deployed along the Western Border during the Phony War? I am especially interested in the units opposite the French Border.

Thanks, ahead of time.

NM

Re: Fighter unit deployments during the Phony War
 

Hi,

are you talking about specific dates or the entire 8 months period? I know I can help you out for at least the earlier period.

Will come back to you late this evening.

Have you checked www.ww2.dk?

Regards,
Andreas B

Re: Fighter unit deployments during the Phony War
 

Good evening

Short before May 10th, 1940, you find in the northern section (land-border Luxemburg and France) the units of Jagdfliegerführer 3 (Ja Fü 3):

- Stab, I. + III./JG 2 in Frankfurt
- Stab + III./JG 53 in Wiesbaden
- I./JG 76 in Mainz
- Stab + I./ZG 2 and I./JG 53 in Darmstadt-Griesheim
- II./JG 53 and Stab + III./JG 52 in Mannheim-Sandhofen
- I./JG 52 in Lachen-Speyerdorf
- II./JG 52 in Speyer

In the southern part (Rhine-river border to France), V. Flieger Korps was responsible:

- Stab + I./JG 54 and II./JG 51 in Böblingen

Hope this helps.

Best wishes !

Horst Weber

Re: Fighter unit deployments during the Phony War
 

The entire 8 months, if it's possible. I know the Moelders claimed a number of vics over French (or were they?) fighters & recon craft during the Phony War...I also wanted to know what units were in a position to either contest Anglo/French Incursions or escort recon missions of their own over the border during that time period. For Example I know JG26 was too far north to get a lot of chances;

Re: Fighter unit deployments during the Phony War
 

Hi,

for the early period - September through October - I have the distribution of units weekly.

As this is not my main period of interest I have not focused attention on it.

I would use the www.ww2.dk site as this has a lot of information on the topic - Horst has also provided good information.

In addition to a lot of published sources.

I will transform the information on the first two months and post it here as soon as possible.

Regards,
Andreas B

Re: Fighter unit deployments during the Phony War
 

many thanks to all who replied;

I recently stumbled across an offering from Osprey (be that as it may) RE: ME109 aces during early in the war; it appears JG-53 & something called JGr 152 were the fighter units who got the lions' share of combat against the French & the BEF during the time period in question.

NM

Re: Fighter unit deployments during the Phony War
 

Nick-the Osprey book, written by me, skates over 1939 but there will shortly be an article in Flypast on JG 53 in Sep 39

Re: Fighter unit deployments during the Phony War
 

Nick,

If you are looking for published works what about "Fledgling Eagles" by Shores, Foreman et al. First published in 1991 but covers the period of your interest and may give a background and context to the information that you are after.

Re: Fighter unit deployments during the Phony War
 

I will try to see if my local library does interlibrary loans.

Re: Fighter unit deployments during the Phony War
 

And also Der "Sitzkrieg" 1.9.1939 bis 9.5.1940, part 2 of the work Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945, by Dr Jochen Prien et al.