Nachtjagdgeschwader 3

Nachtjagdgeschwader 3
Active1941 – 1945
Country Nazi Germany
BranchLuftwaffe
TypeNight Fighter
RoleAir superiority
SizeAir Force Wing
EngagementsWorld War II
Insignia
Identification
symbol
Geschwaderkennung of
L1 (inherited from LG 1), later D5

Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 (NJG 3) was a Luftwaffe night fighter-wing of World War II. NJG 3 was formed on 29 September 1941 in Stade from Stab./Zerstörergeschwader 26. Pilots of NJG 3 claimed approximately 820 aerial victories by day and night.[1]

Commanding officers

Geschwaderkommodore

Gruppenkommandeur

Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4 from 9./NJG 3

I. Gruppe

II. Gruppe

  • Hauptmann Günther Radusch, 3 October 1941 – 1 August 1943[2]
  • Major Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, 15 August 1943 – November 1943[2]
  • Hauptmann Paul Szameitat, December 1943 – 14 December 1943[2]
  • Major Klaus Havenstein, 15 December 1943 – September 1944[2]
  • Hauptmann Hüschens, September 1944 – February 1945[2]

III. Gruppe

IV. Gruppe

  • Major Erich Simon, 1 November 1942 – 7 October 1943[2]
  • Hauptmann Albert Schulz, 8 October 1943 – January 1944[2]
  • Hauptmann Franz Buschmann, January 1944 – July 1944[2]
  • Hauptmann Heinz Ferger, July 1944 – November 1944[2]
  • Major Berthold Ney, November 1944 – 4 March 1945[2]
  • Hauptmann Freidrich Tober, 5 March 1945 – 8 May 1945[2]

Surviving aircraft

A Bf 110 G-4, formerly of NJG 3, at the RAF Museum in London.
Ju 88 R-1, Werk Nr. 360043, RAF Museum (2008), formerly of NJG 3

Two aircraft that served with NJG 3 are displayed together at the Royal Air Force Museum London, one of the two sites of the Royal Air Force Museum. These are Messerschmitt Bf 110 G Werk Nr. 730301, which was surrendered to the British at the end of the war in 1945, and Junkers Ju 88 R-1, Werk Nr. 360043,[3] which came into British hands in 1943. Both aircraft are almost unique - each is one of only two intact survivors of their type.

References

  1. ^ Aders 1978, p. 239.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Aders 1978, p. 228.
  3. ^ Simpson, Andrew. "INDIVIDUAL HISTORY MESSERSCHMITT Bf110G - 4/R6 W/NR.730301 AIR MINISTRY 34; 8479M MUSEUM ACCESSION NUMBER 78/AF/954" (PDF). Retrieved 13 April 2015.

Bibliography