[Doug Stankey]

Here is brief description of the activitiers of KG 3 during the period of the Polish campaign:

Stab/KG 3
01.09.39: reported having 9(7) Do 17 Z at Elbing/East Prussia under Lw.Kdo. Ost Preussen.
01 to 21.09.39: supported invasion of Poland.

I./KG 3
19.09.39: Gruppe formed at Burg near Magdeburg from contributions from II. and III./K.G. 3 and new personnel.
1939/40: spent winter working up with Do 17 Z
01.03.40: became operational probably at Burg

II./KG3
01.09.39: reported having 38(36) Do 17 Z at Heiligenbeil /East Prussia under Lw.Kdo. Ostpreussen.
09.39: initial operations were against enemy airfields and transportation, then supported advance of the army in the areas of Tczew (Dirschau), Graudenz (Grudziądz), Bzura pocket, Narew, Praga, Warsaw, and Modlin; other targets probably included Plock, Lida and Biała Podlaska;
late 09.39: ordered to the west.

III./KG 3
01.09.39 reported having 39(30) Do 17 Z at Heiligenbeil /East Prussia under Lw.Kdo. Ostpreussen / Lfl. 1. 09.39: initially struck airfields and lines of communication, then supported army’s advance near Tczew, Grudziądz, Bzura pocket, Narew, Praga, Warsaw, Modlin, Plock, Lida, Biała Podlaska.
c 21.09.39: ceased missions in Poland.

Unfortunately, KG 3 is the least known of the major bomber units and the above is all that is know about its time in the Polish campaign.