Me410-carnage over Oder 1945

[Leo Etgen]

Hello guys

I am glad that this thread has begun to discuss the existence of the "new" III./JG 54 formed after the redesignation of the "old" III./JG 54 as IV./JG 26. I have been interested in this unit for some time but information is hard to come by. A while ago I was lucky enough to come by the following link to the French translation of The Luftwaffe im Focus Special Nr. 2. http://www.luftfahrtverlag-start.de/...anzoesisch.pdf On page 4, when discussing Photo 4, it has a paragraph describing the setting up of the "new" III./JG 54. From what I understand, II./ZG 76 was redesignated III./JG 54 on 18 February 1945. However, it was not until 25 February 1945 that the "old" III./JG 54 was redesignated IV./JG 26. Thus, for seven days there were two Gruppen known as III./JG 54! To avoid confusion, the "new" unit was listed as III./JG 54 (II./ZG 76) during this time. This is a dramatic example of the confusion and disintegration of the Luftwaffe at this time of the war. Note that according to the article, there has been much confusion of this "new" III./JG 54 with IV./JG 54, which was redesignated II./JG 7 in February 1945, by some authors that mistake the one unit for the other. I hope that my interpretation of the information included in the article is correct and would more than welcome any comments.

Horrido!

Leo