III./JG 400

[CJE]

Does anyone know who was Gruppenkommandeur III./JG 400?

Thanks in advance.

Chris

[Merlin]

Chris,

a III./JG 400 did not exist.

There was only an I.Gruppe with four Staffeln, a II.Gruppe with three Staffeln and finally the Ergänzungsstaffel.

[CJE]

I don't say you're wrong, but what about that ?
http://www.ww2.dk/air/jagd/jg400.htm

Chris

[Larry deZeng]

The Erg.Staffel/JG 400 (formed Sep 44) was expanded to Gruppe strength at Udetfeld o/a 1 Nov 44 when it received approximately 400 student pilot graduates from various schools, especially JG 102, and organized them into 3 Schulstaffeln to provide them with theoretical classroom instruction on the Me 163 Komet. From that date forward, it was referred to as III./JG 400 although no formal orders to that effect have been found.

Kommandeure:
Oblt. Franz Medicus (Sep 44 - Nov 44)
Hptm. Nuller* (Nov 44 - Mar 45?)
Hptm. Robert Olejnik (Mar 45 - May 45)

*There was no one by this name so "Nuller" may be a typo for "Moeller" or "Mueller".

Sources:
Späte, Wolfgang, Top Secret Bird: The Luftwaffe’s Me-163 COMET (Missoula (MT), 1989), p.249
Flugzeug Magazin, Heft 6/1991, pp.49-54.

L.

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Hptm Hans NOCHER - formerly 1./ZG2 (Poland 1939). 1st vic 4 Sept. '39 P-37P - Lodz. Later IV./EJG2

http://www.aircrewremembered.com/Kra...anPilotsN.html

and...

Me 163 Rocket Interceptor Vol Two. Ransom & Cammann pp.338-9 - 'Reinhard Opitz remembers."

col.

[Larry deZeng]

Your web site link says NOCHER, Hans was Kdr. of IV./Erg.JG 2. It makes no mention of III./JG 400. So where does it say he was Kdr. of III./JG 400? In the Ransom/Cammann book you referenced? We (deZeng/Stankey) have:

NOCHER, Hans. 04.09.39 Lt., with 1./ZG 2. 01.09.43 in Stab/Jagdfliegerführer Berlin-
Mitteldeutschland, promo to Hptm. (Tr.O.). 14.10.44 Hptm., appt Kdr. IV./Erg.JG 2 (to 11.44). 11.44
Hptm., appt acting Staka Erg.St./JG 400 (to 12.44). Credited with one victory.

But that is something Stakey found somewhere and I am not sure where it came from. If NOCHER was acting, then it was just for a week or two, so there still must be someone between him and Hptm. OLEJNIK.

L.

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

I didn't say Nocher was Kommandeur III./JG400.

Here is what Reinhard Opitz had to say:

"My initial contact with the pilots of EKdo 16 awoke mixed feelings in me. From my previous experienceswith fighter groups l had expected a certain amont of military discipline but even this was not present. Franz Medicus, as Oberleutnant and Staffelfuehrer, was in command of a group that included every rank from Major to Unteroffizier. Medicus was a good pilot. his replacement, which took place in September for reasons that were not very clear to us, was nevertheless regrettable. Hauptmann Nocher, who took over command of the staffel, was not respected and did not have much idea about flying."

Make of it, what you will!

Col.

[RT]

ErgGr. ein Hptm Falderbaum for beg. of 45 ,,??

An II.JG400 is existing ??

Rémi