III./JG 54 in March 1945

[Leo Etgen]

Hi guys

I saw that Neil Page recently updated his excellent blog with an article by Peter Kassak regarding the "new" III./JG 54 which was formed from II./ZG 76 in February 1945. My question is related to the number of Staffeln this Gruppe had; three or four? We only have black and white photographs to work with and some limited loss list information but it's pretty clear from both sources that 9./JG 54 used white numbers and 10./JG 54 used black numbers. We then have several photographs of what the article states is Fw 190 A-8 "Blue 7" (W.Nr. 350 859) which I have also seen described as having been "Red 7" and which possibly was of 12./JG 54. We then have an aircraft that appears with a number of derelict fighters in a wreck yard at Flensburg and the article states this is "White 11" and thus almost certainly belonged to 9./JG 54. However, I've also seen this described as "Yellow 11" and if that’s true then it possibly belonged to 11./JG 54. I have to say that although I’m no expert in black and white photographs, nor anything else for that matter, it does appear to me that the colors of the number and the Wellenlinie are a different shade than the white stripe on the tail fin. I’m also aware these machines may have been repainted when the Gruppe was disbanded and its aircraft were taken over by IV./JG 51 in April 1945. Any comments on this are greatly appreciated!

Horrido!

Leo

[Peter Kassak]

Hi Leon...
from the los list of 22.3.1945 it seems that 11. Staffel JG 54 had yellow marking of tactical numbers:
Fw 190 A-8 738205 ge 18 +
Fw 190 A-8 739223 ge 3 +
Fw 190 A-8 960263 ge 19 +

all I can add without speculations
Br

Peter

[Leo Etgen]

Hi Peter

Many thanks for your message and the additional details of the losses of 22 March 1945. I think that it can be stated that there were indeed four Staffel in the Gruppe as confirmed by the loss lists and photographs.

2 February 1945 - Unteroffizier Horst Peiffer shot down and killed in aerial combat in Fw 190 A-8 "White 8" (W.Nr. 739 543) the Küstrin area
3 February 1945 - Leutnant Ulrich Neitzke shot down and killed in aerial combat in Fw 190 A-8 "Black 5" (W.Nr. 350 858) in the Küstrin area
9 March 1945 - Feldwebel Georg Stahlberg shot down and killed by Flak in Fw 190 A-8 "Yellow 9" (W.Nr. 739 559) in the Küstrin area
2 February 1945 - Oberleutnant Werner Maul (5 victories, EP) shot down and killed in aerial combat in Fw 190 A-8 "Blue 10" (W.Nr. 960 663) in the Küstrin area

I should point out that most sources I’ve seen state that Maul was flying a white coded machine when he was lost so I believe that last entry to be in error. I have always been surprised by the amount of photographs of this short-lived, late war unit as such documentation seems to be very rare for 1945.

Horrido!

Leo