Zerstörergeschwader 26

Geschwaderkommodore:

• Ob Kurt Bertram von Döring, 1.5.39 – 14.12.39
• ObLt Joachim-Friedrich Huth, 14.12.39 – 1.11.40
• Ob Johann Schalk, 1.11.40 – 29.9.41
• ObLt Karl Boehm-Tettelbach, 10.43 – 6.44
• ObLt Johann Kogler, 6.44 – 7.44

Stab:

Formed 1.5.39 in Dortmund from Stab/JG142. On 29.9.41 redesignated Stab/NJG3.

Reformed 13.10.43 in Wunstorf. In 7.44 redesignated Stab/JG6.

I. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• Hptm Karl Kaschka, 1.5.39 – (?)4.40
• Hptm Wilhelm Makrocki, 4.40 – 5.41
• Hptm Herbert Kaminski, 5.41 –
• Hptm Wilhelm Spies, ? – 27.1.42

Formed 1.5.39 in Dortmund from I./JG142. Disbanded 4.42, and was absorbedby ZG1 and ZG2.

Reformed 13.10.43 in Bad Lippspringe from I./ZG1.In 7.44 redesignated I./JG6.

II. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• Maj Friedrich Vollbracht, 1.5.39 – 4.40
• Hptm Ralph von Rettberg, 4.40 – 4.42(?)

Formed 1.5.39 in Werl from II./JG142. Disbanded 4.42, and was absorbedby ZG1 and ZG2.

Reformed 13.10.43 in Hildesheim from III./ZG1.In 7.44 redesignated II./JG6.

* 6./ZG26 remained at Pfaffenhofen until 10.4.44.

III. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• Hptm Johann Schalk, 1.5.39 – 1.9.40
• Maj Karl Kaschka, 1.9.40 – 4.12.41
• Hptm Thomas Steinberger, 4.12.41 – 24.12.41
• Hptm Georg Christl, 24.12.41 – 1943

Formed 1.5.39 in Lippstadt from III./JG142. Known as JGr. 126 between8.39 and 1.2.40. In 5.44 some crews were used to form Erprobungskommando262 (8. and 9./ZG26), but some crews apparently remained, because bothstaffeln are still in the strength lists until 26.9.44, were the remanantswere absorbed by III./JG6.

7./ZG26 remained intact, but was absorbed by JG76 on 26.9.44.

* 7./ZG26 moved to Derna 12.41 (replacing 8./ZG26), 21.12.41to Sirte, 2.42 to Derna

* 8./ZG26 moved to Bir Dufan on 13.2.41 (Fl.Fü. Afrika),15.3 to Sirte, 30.3 to En Nofilia, 4.41 to Derna, 12.41 to Germany, 22.2.42to Derna, 21.3.42 to Trapani

* 9./ZG26 at Derna, 6.41 to 6.41; and again 11.41 – 11.41,11.41 to Malemes (Crete), 21.3.42 to Trapani

** 8./ZG26 at Derna, 8.42 – 11.42.

*** 7./ZG26 at Fels-am-Wagran (13.5.44 – 12.6.44) andat Seyring (12.6.44 – 20.7.44); 8./ZG26 remained at Leipheim until 27.9.44;9./ZG26 was based at Schwäbisch-Hall (12.7.44 – 27.9.44).

10./ZG26:

Formed 4.42 in Derna(?). Disbanded 7.43, and was absorbed by 7./ZG26.

11./ZG26:

Formed 6.43 in Eleusis. On 18.7.44 became part of the new IV./ZG26.

IV. Gruppe:

Formed 18.7.44 in Oerlandet (10. and 12./ZG26 only):

Stab IV./ZG26 formed 5.9.44 in Oerlandet from Stab/SAGr.125 (Bf 110G)
10./ZG26 in Herdla from 13(Z)./JG5 (Bf110G)
11./ZG26 existed already, but did not arrive in Oerlandet until 8.44 (Ju88C)
12./ZG26 in Gossen from Küstenfliegerstaffel Krim (Bf 110G).

Bases 25.12.44:

Stab IV./ZG26 and 10./ZG26 at Trondheim-Lade
10./ZG26 is not mentioned after 27.11.44, and might have been disbanded.
11./ZG26 at Gardermoen, now converting to Me 410A
12./ZG26 at Herdla

Disbanded 23.2.45, and became the new 7./JG5.Only 11./ZG26 remained until the end (based at Oerlandet, 2.45 – 5.45,with Me 410A).

Known bases:

* only half of 10./ZG26; the other half was based at Opstad(1st half of 9.44) and at Lister (2nd half of 9.44).

* detachment at Stavanger-Sola, 2.45

Ergänzungsgruppe:

Erg.Staffel was formed 10.40 in Langendiebach. In 3.41 became Erg. Gruppe/ZG26(Stab new, Ausbildungsstaffel from Erg.Sta./ZG26, Einsatzstaffel new).Apparently also known as IV./ZG26 from 6.41.

In 9.41 disbanded, and became Ergänzungsgruppe/NJG1.