Zerstörergeschwader 26
German Luftwaffe heavy fighter wing of World War II / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Zerstörergeschwader 26?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Zerstörergeschwader 26 (ZG 26) "Horst Wessel" was a Luftwaffe heavy fighter wing of World War II.
Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel" | |
---|---|
Active | 1 May 1939– September 1944 |
Country | Nazi Germany |
Branch | Luftwaffe |
Type | Heavy fighter |
Role | Air superiority Offensive counter air close air support |
Size | Air Force Wing |
Patron | Horst Wessel |
Equipment | Messerschmitt Bf 110 Messerschmitt Me 410 |
Engagements | World War II |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Joachim-Friedrich Huth |
Insignia | |
Identification symbol | Geschwaderkennung of 3U |
Formed on 1 May 1939, ZG 26 was initially armed with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 single-engine interceptor due to production shortfalls with the Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer-class aircraft. The wing served on the dormant Western Front during the Phoney War stage in 1939 and 1940. During this phase ZG 26 was equipped with the Bf 110. It formed part of Luftflotte 2 and fought in the Battle of the Netherlands, Battle of Belgium and Battle of France in May and June 1940. The wing continued to operate in the Battle of Britain, albeit in a much reduced role owing to losses.
In 1941 ZG 26 served again with success in the German invasion of Yugoslavia and Battle of Greece and then Battle of Crete in April and May. From June 1941, the bulk of ZG 26 fought on the Eastern Front from Operation Barbarossa which began the war on the Soviet Union. ZG 26 supported Army Group Centre and Army Group North. A group of ZG 26 flew and served in the Battle of the Mediterranean and North African Campaign from January 1941 through to May 1943.
From mid-1943, ZG 26 served and fought against the US Eighth Air Force and Fifteenth Air Force in the Defence of the Reich campaign with moderate success until US long-range fighters made further operations too costly. ZG 26 was disbanded in September 1944 and re-designated a Bf 109-unit, Jagdgeschwader 6.