SKG 54

[Jim P.]

I have a number of 110 losses for the Stuka units. These were used, in many cases, as recon aircraft for weather, observation of strike results and as train strafers, this last per some neat photos of one such machine from e-Bay some months ago.

[Richard Mills]

I have seen sight of a Luftwaffe Soldbuch which lists a Bordfunkers service in 5./SKG 54 from 24-11-44 through to 17-01-45.

He transferred from Stab/Kampfgeschwader 30, and I do not consider the entry to be an 'add-on' in the Soldbuch.

Puzzling indeed. Any further thoughts?

Regards Richard.

[Schlageter]

I think SKG 54 might have been an alternative name for KG(J) 54.

Best

Michael

[Richard Mills]

Originally Posted by Schlageter

I think SKG 54 might have been an alternative name for KG(J) 54. Best Michael

Michael, thank you for your reply.

I have looked high and low and can find no information anywhere on this particular unit and the described nomenclature, I really have come to a dead end.

Is anyone else able to help with this at all?

Regards Richard.

[Juha]

Hello Richard
KG(J) 54 was the Ju 88A equipped KG 54 converted to a jet fighter unit equipped with Me 262s. See: http://www.ww2.dk/air/kampf/kg54.htm

It was not a great success.

HTH
Juha

[Merlin]

Richard,

the old II./KG 54 handed over their Ju 88A-4 bombers during April 1944 to III./KG 54, the crews were transferred to II./KG 66 on 25.04.44.

A new II./SKG 54 was formed from personal of IV./KG 54 on 20.10.44 at Gardelegen. If I remember correctly, the group was intended to be equipped with the Do 335. No aircraft were received by the group until 5.01.45 when they became remamed II./(KG(J) 54. The next week they were transferred to Kitzingen, where the first Me 262A-1a were taken over the next days.

[Richard Mills]

Originally Posted by Juha

Hello Richard
KG(J) 54 was the Ju 88A equipped KG 54 converted to a jet fighter unit equipped with Me 262s. See: http://www.ww2.dk/air/kampf/kg54.htm

It was not a great success. HTH Juha

Juha

Thank you for your reply however, I think that I did not make it clear that it was SKG 54 that I could not find any information on, and not KG(J) 54.

That said, I did appreciate your intention to help.

Regards Richard.

Originally Posted by Merlin

A new II./SKG 54 was formed from personal of IV./KG 54 on 20.10.44 at Gardelegen. If I remember correctly, the group was intended to be equipped with the Do 335. No aircraft were received by the group until 5.01.45 when they became remamed II./(KG(J) 54. The next week they were transferred to Kitzingen, where the first Me 262A-1a were taken over the next days.

Merlin

Thank you very much for your post as it certainly VERY interesting indeed!

Since first posting I did see an entry in book 'Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945. A Reference Source' - by Henry L. de Zang IV & Douglas G. Stankey mentioning that IV/KG 54 was sometimes referred to as SKG 54 however, so far that is all I can find in print.

The time frame for the original Soldbuch owner certainly 'fits' with what you have desrcibed as he was assigned from Stab/KG 30 to 5./SKG 54 on 24-November-44, and then assigned to a Luftwaffe signals unit in Jan-45.

Can I ask your source material for the II./SKG 54 information came from? The Do 335 input certainly caught my eye!

Regards Richard.