Kampfgeschwader 153

Geschwaderkommodoren:

• Oberst Walter Sommé, 1 Apr 1936 - 1 May 1939

Stab:

Formed 1 Apr 1936 in Merseburg. The entire Geschwader converted to the Ju 86 in Mar 1937 and Apr 1937.

On 1 May 1939 moved to Elbing and was redesignated Stab/KG3.

Airfields and Air Base Locations

Date	Location	Gruppe	Aircraft Used
1 Apr 1936 - 1 May 1939	Merseburg		Ju 52, Ju 86

I. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• Obstlt Walter Schwabedissen, 1 Oct 1935 - 1 Oct 1936
• Obstlt Otto Hoffmann von Waldau, 1 Oct 1936 - 30 Sep 1937
• Obstlt Erich-Erdmann Fitzau, 1 Oct 1937 - 1 Apr 1939
• Maj Balcke, 1 Apr 1939 - 1 May 1939

Formed 1 Oct 1935 in Merseburg. Known as Fliegergruppe Merseburg, 1 Oct 1935 - 1 Apr 1936.

Stab I./KG153
1./KG153
2./KG153
3./KG153

On 1 May 1939 redesignated I./KG77 with :

Stab I./KG153 became Stab II./KG77
1./KG153 became 1./KG77
2./KG153 became 2./KG77
3./KG153 became 3./KG77

Airfields and Air Base Locations

Date	Location	Gruppe	Aircraft Used
1 Oct 1935 - Apr 1939	Merseburg		Ju 52, Do 11, Ju 86
Apr 1939 - 1 May 1939	Prag-Kbely		Ju 86, Do 17

II. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• Maj Günther Ziegler, 1 Oct 1935 - 28 Feb 1937
• Hptm Ernst Exss, 1 Mar 1937 - 1 Dec 1938
• Oberst Viktor Seebauer, 1 Dec 1938 - 1 May 1939

Formed 1 Oct 1935 in Finsterwalde. Known as Fliegergruppe Finsterwalde, 1 Oct 1935 - 1 Apr 1936.

Stab II./KG153
4./KG153
5./KG153
6./KG153

On 1 May 1939 moved to Heiligenbeil and was redesignated II./KG3 with :

Stab II./KG153 became Stab II./KG3
4./KG153 became 4./KG3
5./KG153 became 5./KG3
6./KG153 became 6./KG3

Airfields and Air Base Locations

Date	Location	Gruppe	Aircraft Used
1 Oct 1935 - 1 May 1939	Finsterwalde		Ju 52, Do 23, Ju 86, Do 17

III. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• Obstlt Robert Fuchs, 1 Apr 1936 - 31 Mar 1938
• Obstlt Hans Grund, 1 Apr 1938 - 1 May 1939

Formed 1 Apr 1936 in Altenburg with:

Stab III./KG153 new
7./KG153 new
8./KG153 new
9./KG153 new

On 1 May 1939 moved to Heiligenbeil and was redesignated III./KG3 with :

Stab III./KG153 became Stab III./KG3
7./KG153 became 7./KG3
8./KG153 became 8./KG3
9./KG153 became 9./KG3

Airfields and Air Base Locations

Date	Location	Gruppe	Aircraft Used
1 Apr 1936 - 1 May 1939	Heiligenbeil		Ju 52, Ju 86, Do 17

IV. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• Obstlt Wolfram von Richthofen, 1 Apr 1937 - 30 Sep 1937
• Obstlt Horst Merz (acting), 1 Jun 1937 - 30 Aug 1937
• Oberst Bernhard Georgi, 1 Oct 1937 - 1 Nov 1938

Formed 1 Apr 1937 in Liegnitz with:

Stab IV./KG153 new
10./KG153 new
11./KG153 new
12./KG153 new

In May 1937 converted to the Ju 86.

On 1 Nov 1938 redesignated II./KG252 with :

Stab IV./KG153 became Stab II./KG252
10./KG153 became 4./KG252
11./KG153 became 5./KG252
12./KG153 became 6./KG252

Airfields and Air Base Locations

Date	Location	Gruppe	Aircraft Used
1 Apr 1937 - 1 Nov 1938	Liegnitz		Ju 52, Ju 86