The fighter units of the Luftwaffe can roughly be divided into three distinct categories: Tagjagdgeschwader, Nachtjagdgeschwader and Zerstörergeschwader.
Tagjagdgeschwader
Bluntly spoken, the Tagjagdgeschwader – or just Jagdgeschwader (JG) – is what almost everyone understands if the topic comes to discussing fighter wings. They are – with no disrespect intended – the “regular” fighter wings. The typical planes of these units have been the Messerschmitt Bf 109, Focke Wulf Fw 190 or Messerschmitt Me 262.
- Jagdgeschwader 1 “Oesau”
- Jagdgeschwader 2 “Richthofen”
- Jagdgeschwader 3 “Udet”
- Jagdgeschwader 4
- Jagdgeschwader 5 “Eismeer”
- Jagdgeschwader 6 “Horst Wessel”
- Jagdgeschwader 7
- Jagdgeschwader 10
- Jagdgeschwader 11
- Jagdgeschwader 25
- Jagdgeschwader 26 “Schlageter”
- Jagdgeschwader 27
- Jagdverband 44
- Jagdgeschwader 50
- Jagdgeschwader 51 “Mölders”
- Jagdgeschwader 52
- Jagdgeschwader 53 “Pik As”
- Jagdgeschwader 54 “Grünherz”
- Jagdgeschwader 76
- Jagdgeschwader 77 “Herz As”
- Jagdgeschwader 200
- Jagdgeschwader 300, 301, 302 “Wilde Sau”
- Jagdgeschwader 400
Nachtjagdgeschwader
The Nachtjagdgeschwader (NJG) have been the night fighter wings of the Luftwaffe– specialized in night-time operations against the allied bomber force.
- Nachtjagdgeschwader 1
- Nachtjagdgeschwader 2
- Nachtjagdgeschwader 3
- Nachtjagdgeschwader 4
- Nachtjagdgeschwader 5
- Nachtjagdgeschwader 6
- Nachtjagdgeschwader 7
- Nachtjagdgruppe 10
- Nachtjagdgeschwader 11
- Nachtjagdgeschwader 100
- Nachtjagdgeschwader 200
Zerstörergeschwader
The Zerstörergeschwader (ZG) – which literally translates into “Destroyer wing” – have been the heavy fighter wings of the Luftwaffe. These units (usually) have been flying planes that have been designed to carry heavier weapons and heavier armor and/or operate on long-distance missions. In the Luftwaffe, the Zerstörergeschwader usually operated aircrafts such as the Messerschmitt Bf 110, Me 210 and Me 410.
- Zerstörergeschwader 1
- Zerstörergeschwader 2
- Zerstörergeschwader 26
- Zerstörergeschwader 76
Sources
[1]: Wolfgang Dierich: “Die Verbände der Luftwaffe 1935 – 1945” (ISBN: 3-87943-437-9)
