Jagdgeschwader 4

Jagdgeschwader 4

Jagdgeschwader 4 (JG 4) was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. JG 4 was formed as a full Geschwader on June 15, 1944 in Ansbach from Stab/Jagdgeschwader z.b.V. and its first Geschwaderkommodore was Major Gerhard Schöpfel.

I./JG 4 was formed earlier on August 7, 1942 in Mizil, Romania from the Ölschutzstaffel/JG 77, with 2./JG 4 formed December 1, 1942. Stab I, 3. and 4./JG 4 were formed on January 10, 1943 at Mizil, and the I Gruppe was now complete. II. Gruppe was formed in July 1944 at Salzwedel from I./ZG1 and partially from Sturmstaffel 1. III. Gruppe was formed in July 1944 at Rotenburg from III./ZG1. IV./JG 4 was formed on October 20, 1944 at Finsterwalde from II./JG 5.

I./JG 4 was assigned in early 1943 as defensive protection of the Mizil and Ploesti Oil complexes in Romania. I./JG 4 first saw action in combat against the force of B-24 Liberators dispatched on the low-level attack against Ploesti on 1 August 1943, code-named Operation “Tidal Wave”, claiming 12 B-24 bombers downed.

The unit saw further action over the Balkans against the USAAF 15th Air Force heavy bombers flying from bases in North Africa and Italy. The unit was later deployed to the defence of Rome and northern Italy. I./JG 4 first saw action in combat against a strike force of B-24 Liberators dispatched on the celebrated low level attack against Ploesti on 1 August 1943 as Operation “Tidal Wave”. Stab and I./JG 4 claimed twelve B-24 bombers shot down.

JG 4 was then deployed in the German defensive campaign in Italy during the first half of 1944, prior to being shifted to the France for the Normandy invasion. Over the Lake Bracciano area on 7 May 1944, I./ JG4 encountered Spitfires of No. 72 Squadron, who claimed nine Bf 109's shot down; I gruppe lost 4 killed and 2 wounded in the action. During their Italian campaign, I./JG 4 lost 40 men killed or missing, 26 wounded, and 7 taken prisoner.

JG 4 were then withdrawn after heavy losses back to the Reich in September 1944.

4./JG 4 was the Rumanian Staffel Escadrilla 53, which left again in December 1943. A new 4./JG 4 was formed in June 1944. In September 1944 2./JG 4 and 8./JG 53 exchanged designations. I./JG 4 was disbanded on March 19, 1945.