Luftwaffe Reconnaissance Units

[Laurent Rizzotti]

The Schwarm was used by fighter units only AFAIK. While Geschwader, Gruppe and Staffel were administrative and command divisions, Schwarm and Rotte were tactical formations. What I mean is that a pilot and AC was attached to a Staffel, but not to a Schwarm or a Rotte.

Recon units were usually managed on the Staffel level. They were part of an above structure (a Gruppe or a Geschwader) but it was mainly administrative. Each Staffel was used independently and often attached to another command, either a ground one (for tactical recon) or an air HQ (for strategic recon).

Recon AC flew usually alone, except the tactical recon missions done by Bf 109 later in the war that were often flown in Rotte. By the way these AC had guns and could fight air battles.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Laurent Rizzotti

Recon AC flew usually alone,

At least early in the war some Ku.Fl.Gr armed recon operations were flown in staffel strength, but not in what could be described as formations. Instead aircraft would follow a similar track through various way points/general areas but would fly in a much extended lateral formation with each aircraft usually within 10 - 20 minutes flight of each other: otherwise known as a "fan search." (Imagine the fins of a hand-waved fan) Although the same general area was covered by aircraft, whether this could be considered formation or staffel-strength reconnaissance is open to interpretation.

[Matzos]

Thank you both for the information.