Jagdgeschwader 1 (World War II) - Notable Successes and Losses

Notable Successes and Losses

One of the most famous group commanders (Gruppenkommandeure) of JG 1 was Major Heinz "Pritzl" Bär, before he was promoted as wing commander of JG 3. Credited with 220 kills, Bär was the 8th ranking aerial "Ace" of all time. Other notable aces were Oberstleutnant Georg-Peter Eder, the highest-scoring Luftwaffe ace against the USAAF, who would go on to become a "jet ace", scoring at least 12 and possibly 24 victories in an Me 262 while serving with Kommando Nowotny and JG 7.

The Gruppe's 700th victory occurred on 29 April 1944, credited to Oberlt. von Kirchmayr as his 15th kill. There were several high-scoring pilots associated with JG 1. For example, Alfred Grislawski had a score of 134 to his name, Georg-Peter Eder had 78, and Walter Oesau had 127 confirmed prior to his death.

However, losses were also high. Five of the fourteen Group commanders (Gruppenkommandeure) of II./JG 1 were killed in action while serving with II./JG 1. The notable losses were Oberleutnant Rohwer, and Hauptmanns Kijewski, Wickop, Seegatz and Dähne. During early 1944, prior to D-Day, II./JG 1 was led by one of its four experienced formation commanders. These were Hauptmann Segatz, Major Bär, and Oberleutnants von Kirchmayr and Eder. Yet the unit suffered heavy losses (along with most other wings in the West) of 48 pilots killed, 23 wounded, and 158 aircraft destroyed for 164 confirmed victories. Of these, 119 were USAAF four-engined bombers.

Significantly, the highly experienced and irreplaceable experts were among the losses. The most notable loss of II./JG 1 was its Kommandeur, Hauptmann Seegatz (KIA 8 March 1944, 40 kills). The Group also lost seven experienced team leaders (Rottenführer) and flight leaders (Schwarmführer).

• Unteroffizier Erich Negraszus (KIA 11 February 1944, 3 Kills),
• Feldwebel Heinz Fuchs (KIA 24 February 1944, 11 Kills),
• Unteroffizier Hans-Joachim Tünger (KIA 3 March 1944, 4 Kills),
• Feldwebel Heinz Kahl (KIA 12 May 1944, 9 Kills),
• Unteroffizier Helmut Stiegler (KIA 12 May 1944, 6 Kills),
• Unteroffizier Heinrich Weber (KIA 16 May 1944, 3 Kills),
• Leutnant Gunther Buchholz (KIA 31 May 1944, 5 Kills).

When 8./JG 1 (originally 7./JG 51) was transferred from Eastern front, it had 15 pilots in May 1944. By August, twelve pilots had been killed, one captured and another severely wounded; only Lieutenant Günther Heckmann was the sole pilot remaining.

The Luftwaffe units committed to battle after the D-Day landings suffered further catastrophic losses against the overwhelming numbers of allied fighters present. In the ten weeks of action following D-Day, II./JG 1 lost 106 aircraft (41 in air combat) and 30 pilots, for just 32 air claims. Many experienced and irreplaceable Experte were killed during this time. Hauptmann Karl-Heinz Weber, Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 1 (136 claims) was killed in action against Polish Wing Mustangs on 7 June 1944, north of Paris, while on 17 June 1944, Leutnant 'Toni' Piffer (35 claims) was shot down and killed in aerial combat with USAAF fighters over La Cordonnerie.

On 16 June 1944, while 8./JG 1 was moving from Le Mans to Essay, France came under attack by the P-51s of 354th Fighter Wing, near Alençon. In the ensuing dogfight, 8./JG 1 lost three pilots and one mechanic riding passenger. Those were Uffz. Günther Henschel, Uffz. Franz Zechner, and Feldwebel Helmuth Heidemann. The mechanic was Uffz. Herbert Redlich. Also lost were two other aircraft without loss of life.

Total pilot losses in World War II were 464 killed in action, 174 wounded, 94 killed in accidents, and 16 POW.