Jagdgeschwader 11

Jagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11) was a German fighter wing (German: Jagdgeschwader) of the Luftwaffe during World War II. Its primary role was the defense of Northern Germany against Allied day bomber raids. Formed in April 1943, the unit primarily used the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190.

The growing daylight bomber offensive of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) 8th Air Force forced the Luftwaffe to augment its day fighter strength. It countered these bombing raids by expanding the number of daylight fighter units assigned to the Defense of the Reich (German: Reichsverteidigung). Due to a scarcity of resources and trained pilots, the Luftwaffe increased its strength by splitting Jagdgeschwader 1 to form Jagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11). JG 11 was initially based along the North German coast, protecting the northern flank of occupied Europe. During the summer of 1943, as the unescorted bombers penetrated deeper into Germany, JG 11 saw intensive action, with about 40 percent of some 1,200 'kill' claims submitted by the Western Front fighter wings in this period being credited to JG 1 and JG 11 .

JG 11 trialled new tactics such as dropping 250 kg bombs on top of the bomber formations or using underwing rockets. In spring of 1944 the introduction of P-51 Mustang made the job of units such as JG 11 very difficult as they fought through the escorts to reach the bombers. Several measures were introduced to counter the bomber offensive such as the introduction of Bf 109–G high altitude aircraft with a pressurized cockpit.

In January 1945, the Luftwaffe made a last-ditch counterattack to stem the Allied offensives with Operation Baseplate. JG 11 targeted the USAAF base at Asch called Y–29 and Ophoven. What followed became known as the "Legend of Y–29". JG 11 lost its commander and several group commanders with many pilots. In mid 1945 JG 11 moved to Poland, although it later withdrew back to the Western Front and surrendered to British forces in early May 1945.