Independent 8.(Pz)/SchlG 1
Although 8.(Pz)/SchlG 1 was officially a Staffel of I/SchlG 1 from January 1942, it operated independently. It returned to Germany in April 1942, and re-equipped with Bf 109E-7s, and their Hs 123 biplanes turned over to 7th Staffel. After its conversion to the Hs 129 in January 1943 it was categorized as a "tank-buster" unit.
8.(Pz)/SchlG 1 returned to southern Russia in February 1943. By April it was sent to the North Caucasus to support the Kuban bridgehead. Very heavy losses were suffered in the fighting over Kuban, nine aircraft being lost by the end of May.
8.(Pz)/SchlG 1 withdrew the southern Ukraine in June 1943 to re-equip. In July, the Staffel was deployed for Operation Zitadelle, the German offensive against the Kursk salient.
Losses were again heavy as the Staffel attacked Soviet armour east of Kursk. The unit was ordered to Orel-West on 15 July to counter the powerful attack toward Orel which begun two days earlier. In September 1943, the Staffel was committed in the rear-guard fighting between Kharkov and Kiev. After losing five Hs 129s that month, it moved to Kiev.
Read more about this topic: Schlachtgeschwader 1
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