Jagdgeschwader 26

Geschwaderkommodore:

• Ob Eduard Ritter von Schleich, 1.11.38 – 9.12.39
• Maj Hans Hugo Witt, 14.12.39 – 23.6.40
• Maj Gotthardt Handrick, 24.6.40 – 21.8.40
• ObLt Adolf Galland, 22.8.40 – 5.12.41
• Maj Gerhard Schöpfel, 6.12.41 – 10.1.43
• Ob Josef Priller, 11.1.43 – 27.1.45
• Maj Franz Götz, 28.1.45 – 7.5.45

Stab:

Formed 1.5.39 in Odendorf from Stab/JG132.

I. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• Maj Gotthardt Handrick, 1.5.39 – 23.6.40
• Hptm Kurt Fischer, 24.6.40 – 21.8.40
• Hptm Rolf Pingel, 22.8.40 – 10.7.41
• Maj Johannes Seifert, 11.7.41 – 31.5.43
• Hptm Fritz Losigkeit, 1.6.43 – 22.6.43
• Hptm Karl Borris, 23.6.43 – 14.5.44
• Hptm Hermann Staiger, 15.5.44 – 31.7.44
• Maj Karl Borris, 1.8.44 – 7.5.45

Formed 1.5.39 in Odendorf from I./JG132. On 21.9.43 increased to fourstaffeln, when 8./JG26 was redesignated 4./JG26, and became part of theI. Gruppe (1. – 4. /JG26). 4./JG26 was disbanded 15.2.45.

II. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• Hptm. Werner Palm, 1.5.39 – 27.6.39
• Hptm Herwig Knüppel, 28.6.39 – 19.5.40
• Hptm Karl Ebbighausen, 20.5.40 – 31.5.40
• Hptm. Erich Noack, 1.6.40 – 24.7.40
• Hptm Karl Ebbighausen, 25.7.40 – 16.8.40
• Hptm Erich Bode, 17.8.40 – 3.10.40
• Hptm Walter Adolph, 4.10.40 – 18.9.41
• Hptm Jochen Müncheberg, 19.9.41 – 21.7.42
• Hptm Conny Meyer, 22.7.42 – 2.1.43
• Maj Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland, 3.1.43 – 17.8.43
• Hptm Hans Naumann, 18.8.43 – 8.9.43
• ObLt Johannes Seifert, 9.9.43 – 25.11.43
• Maj Wilhelm Gäth, 26.11.43 – 1.3.44
• Hptm Hans Naumann, 2.3.44 – 28.6.44
• Hptm Emil Lang, 29.6.44 – 3.9.44
• Hptm Georg Peter Eder, 4.9.44 – 8.10.44
• Maj Anton Hackl, 9.10.44 – 29.1.45
• ObLt Waldemar Radener, 30.1.45 – 22.2.45
• Hptm Paul Schauder, 23.2.45 – 1.5.45

Formed 1.5.39 in Bönninghardt from II./JG132. On 1.10.43 increasedto 4 staffeln (5. – 8./JG26), the new 5./JG26 was formed from the old 4./JG26,new 6./JG26 from old 5./JG26, new 7./JG26 from old 6./JG26, and the new8./JG26 from the old 10./JG26. 8./JG26 was disbanded 15.2.45.

III. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• Hptm Walter Kienitz, 23.9.39 – 31.10.39
• Maj Ernst Freiherr von Berg, 1.11.39 – 5.6.40
• Maj Adolf Galland, 6.6.40 – 20.8.40
• Maj Gerhard Schöpfel, 21.8.40 – 5.12.41
• Hptm Josef Priller, 6.12.41 – 10.1.43
• Hptm Fritz Geisshardt, 11.1.43 – 6.4.43
• Hptm Kurt Ruppert, 7.4.43 – 13.6.43
• Hptm Rolf Hermichen, 15.6.43 – 4.7.43
• Maj Klaus Mietusch, 5.7.43 – 17.9.44
• Hptm Paul Schauder, 18.9.44 – 26.9.44
• Hptm Walter Krupinski, 27.9.44 – 25.3.45

Formed 23.9.39 in Werl from parts of I. and II./JG26. In 1.10.43 increasedto 4 staffeln (9. – 12./JG26), with the 9./JG26 formed from the old 7./JG26,the new 10./JG26 from the old 9./JG26, and the independent 11. and 12./JG26became part of the Gruppe. The old 8./JG26 had been redesignated 4./JG26on 21.9.43 and became part of I. Gruppe. III./JG26 was disbanded on 25.3.45.

* 7./JG26 (Bf 109E) moved to North Africa on 9.2.41. Stationedat Gela 9.2.41 – 6.4.41, Tarent 6.4.41 – 8.4.41, Gela again 8.4.41 – 31.5.41and Ain-el-Gazala 1.6.41 – 31.7.41. The staffel then returned to Liegescourt,joining the rest of III./JG26, and began conversion to Bf 109F.

** 7./JG26 operated under JG54 in Russia, 17.2.43 – 7.43.Left France 17.2.43 and arrived at Krasnowardeisk on 28.2.43. Remainedthere until it returned to III./JG26 in July 1943. While 7./JG26 was inRussia, 4./JG54 was attached to JG26.

*** 10. and 12./JG26 was in Valenciennes until about 11.43.

IV. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeur:

• Maj Rudolf Klemm, 25.2.45 – 17.4.45

Formed 25.2.45 in Varrelbusch from III./JG54, with 3 staffeln (13./JG26from 10./JG54, 14./JG26 from 11./JG54 and 15./JG26 from 9./JG54). IV./JG26was disbanded on 17.4.45.

10. Staffel:

10. (Nacht)/JG26 was formed 1.9.39 in Bonn-Hangelar, apparently fromparts of 1./LG1. 18.2.40 redesignated 11./JG2 (as part of IV.(N)/JG2).

10. (Jabo)/JG26 was formed 10.3.42 in St. Omer-Arques. On 17.2.43 redesignated10. (Jabo)/JG54.

A new 10./JG26 was formed 1.5.43 in Vitry from parts of II./JG26. Attachedto II./JG26, 1.10.43 redesignated 8./JG26, and officially became part ofII. Gruppe.

For bases 1.5.43 – 1.10.43, see II./JG26.

* part of the staffel had used Caen-Carpiquet since 3.42.

11. Staffel:

Formed 8.8.42 at Norrent-Fontes, as Höh. Staffel. 30.11.42 disbanded,and was absorbed by II./JG51.

A new 11./JG26 (Endausbildungsstaffel) was formed 10.12.42 at Wewelghem.Attached to III./JG26 and on 1.10.43 officially became part of III. Gruppe.

For bases 10.12.42 – 1.10.43, see III./JG26.

12. Staffel:

Formed 11.4.43 in Wewelghem from parts of III./JG26. Attached to III./JG26and on 1.10.43 officially became part of III. Gruppe.

For bases, see III./JG26.

Ergänzungsgruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• ObLt Baron von Holtey, 25.3.41 – 17.5.41
• Hptm Fromme, 17.5.41 – 27.1.42

The Erg.Staffel/JG26 was formed in late 9.40 at Reims-Betheny, fromparts of JG26 and Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Merseburg. On 5.3.41 increasedto Erg.Gruppe with 2 staffeln (1. Einsatzstaffel and 2. Ausbildungsstaffel(ex.-Erg.Staffel)). Disbanded 27.1.42, 2. Staffel became 2./Erg. JagdgruppeWest, while the 1. staffel moved to Norway and was absorbed by JG5.

* The Stab/Erg. Gruppe was formed in Vannes 5.3.41, butmoved to Cognac shortly thereafter. 1. (Einsatz) Staffel was formed 5.3.41,and was based at Düsseldorf during its existence.