Luftflotte 3 ORBAT Pre-6 Jun 44

[Chris Goss]

I am trying to confirm which Luftwaffe combat/recce units were based in northern/western France, Belgium & Holland as part of Luftflotte 3 (not Luftflotte Reich) post-Steinbock and pre-Overlord-am I missing any units?:

JG 2, JG 26, I & III/ZG 1
NJG 4, Stab & III/NJG 5
Elements of II/NJG 6
KG 2, KG 6, I/KG 30, KG 40
II/KG 51
Stab, I, III/KG 66
III/SG 4, I/SKG 10
Stab, 3, 4, 6/123
NAG 13
1/121
Wekusta 51

[Merlin]

Chris,

In addition the following units were in Northern and Western France:
I/NJG 5, II & III & IV/NJG 1
III/NJG 6 (not II/NJG 6)
II/KG 30
I/KG 51
I & 5/KG 66 (Stab did not exist, III/KG 66 was formed 09.44)
I/KG 100
5/123
1/128, 1/129

[Nick Beale]

There's an order of battle in Alfred Price's "The Last Year Of The Luftwaffe". I'll dig the book out.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Gents. Most helpful

Merlin: III/KG 66 was a typo and should have been Stab, I & III/KG 54 but I had missed I/KG 66 as a result. I/KG 51 was on the verge of returning to Germany for conversion training to the Me 262. I/KG 100 was in Toulouse. 1/128 had been renamed 10/ZG 1. Were the seaplanes of 1/129 still blundering around the Bay of Biscay? 6/KG 76 was also meant to be operating over northern France

[Merlin]

1/129 was transferred from Biscarosse to Norway on 29.06.44.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Merlin

[Nick Beale]

In addition to the original post, Alfred Price includes I. and III./KG 54.

Also KG 40 was based in west and south west France, primarily to operate over the Mediterranean and Atlantic although it was available in the event of invasion and the same is true of I. and III./ZG 1, III./KG 100, FAG 5 and 3.(F)/123.

In the south (mainly for Mediterranean operations) were 1.(F)/33, I. and II./KG 77 and I. and III./KG 26. 2./NAG 13 was in the south, Stab, 1. and 3./NAG 13 were in Brittany.

Under Stab FAG 123 — Single-engined reconnaissance: 4.(F) and 5.(F)/123. Multi-engined: 1.(F)/121; 3.(F)/122; 6.(F)/123; Westa 51; Westa 2; Sonderkdo. Ob.d.L.

Parts of fighter training units in France could be activated for operations when the invasion came. Aircraft of SG 103 were also briefly sent into action.

[drgondog]

Nick - did SG 103 return to combat in the west after late afternoon/early evening engagement with the 355th?

Regards,

Bill

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by drgondog

Nick - did SG 103 return to combat in the west after late afternoon/early evening engagement with the 355th?

Regards,

Bill

Apart from that one encounter, I don't whether they attempted anything else. Sorry.