Kampfgeschwader 3 'Blitz'

Geschwaderkommodoren:

  • Oberst Wolfgang von Chamier-Glisczinski, 1 May 1939 - Sep 1941
  • Oberst Heinrich Conrady, Sep 1941 - Nov 1942
  • Oberst Erich Rathmann (acting), 1942
  • Maj Jobst-Hinrich von Heydebreck, Nov 1942 - 3 Jan 1943
  • Obstlt Walter Lehwess-Litzmann, Jan 1943 - 7 Sep 1943
  • Maj Fritz Auffhammer, 23 Sep 1943 - Jul 1944

Stab:

Formed 1 May 1939 in Heiligenbeil from A Stabs-Staffel existed Apr 1940 - Aug 1944.

Disbanded Jul 1944.

Airfields and Air Base Locations
Date Location Gruppe Aircraft Used
May 1939 - Oct 1939 Elbing   Do 17Z
Oct 1939 - Jun 1940 Würzburg   Do 17Z
Jun 1940 - Mar 1941 Le Culot   Do 17Z
Mar 1941 - May 1941 Wunstorf   Do 17Z, Ju 88A
May 1941 - Jun 1941 Le Culot   Ju 88A
Jun 1941 - Jul 1941 Deblin-Irena   Ju 88A
Jul 1941 - Aug 1941 Orscha   Ju 88A
Sep 1941 - Feb 1942 Schatalowka   Ju 88A
Feb 1942 - Jun 1942 Dno   Ju 88A
Jun 1942 - Jul 1942 Orscha   Ju 88A
Jul 1942 - Dec 1942 Schatalowka   Ju 88A
Dec 1942 - Mar 1943 Saporoshje   Ju 88A
Mar 1943 - Jul 1943 Munstter-Handorf(?)   Ju 88A
Jul 1943 - Aug 1943 Poltawa   Ju 88A
Aug 1943 - Oct 1943 Kirowograd   Ju 88A
Oct 1943 - Dec 1943 Kalinowka   Ju 88A
Dec 1943 - 15 May 1944 Terespol   Ju 88A
15 May 1944 - 2 Jun 1944 Baranowitschi   Ju 88A
2 Jun 1944 - 9 Jul 1944 Burg   Ju 88A
9 Jul 1944 - 20 Jul 1944 Altenburg   Ju 88A

I. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

  • Obstlt Rudolf Gabelmann, 1 Mar 1940 - 23 Jul 1940
  • Maj Wilhelm-Georg von Kunowski, 23 Jul 1940 - 5 Aug 1940
  • Obstlt Carl Freiherr von Wechmar, 5 Aug 1940 - 1941
  • Maj Heinze, 1941 - 12 Jul 1941
  • Hptm Hans Bader, 12 Jul 1941 - Oct 1941
  • Hptm Ernst Nitsche (acting), Oct 1941
  • Obstlt Fridtjof Pasquay, Oct 1941 - 25 Nov 1941
  • Hptm Heinz Laube, Dec 1941 - Nov 1942
  • Maj Joachim Jödicke, 14 Nov 1942 - 15 Apr 1944
  • Obstlt Bernhard von Dobschütz, 15 Apr 1944 - Jul 1944

Formed 1 Mar 1940 in Burg-Magdeburg with:

Stab I./KG3 new
1./KG3 new



2./KG3 new

3./KG3 new

Disbanded Jul 1944.

Airfields and Air Base Locations
Date Location Gruppe Aircraft Used
Mar 1940 - Apr 1940 Burg   Do 17Z
Apr 1940 - Jun 1940 Aschaffenburg   Do 17Z
Jun 1940 - Mar 1941 Le Culot   Do 17Z
Mar 1941 - May 1941 Wunstorf   Do 17Z, Ju 88A
May 1941 - Jun 1941 Le Culot   Ju 88A
Jun 1941 - Jul 1941 Deblin-Irena   Ju 88A
Jul 1941 - Aug 1941 Orscha   Ju 88A
Aug 1941 - Dec 1941 Schatalowka   Ju 88A
Dec 1941 - Feb 1942 Munstter-Handorf   Ju 88A
Feb 1942 - Jun 1942 Dno   Ju 88A
Jun 1942 - Dec 1942 Schatalowka   Ju 88A
Dec 1942 - Mar 1943 Saporoshje   Ju 88A
Mar 1943 - Jul 1943 Munstter-Handorf   Ju 88A
Jul 1943 - Aug 1943 Poltawa   Ju 88A
Aug 1943 - Oct 1943 Kirowograd   Ju 88A
Oct 1943 - Dec 1943 Kalinowka   Ju 88A
Dec 1943 - 1 Apr 1944 Terespol   Ju 88A
1 Apr 1944 - 15 May 1944 Biala-Podlaska   Ju 88A
15 May 1944 - 2 Jun 1944 Baranowitschi   Ju 88A
2 Jun 1944 - Jun 1944 Altenburg   Ju 88A

II. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

  • Oberst Viktor Seebauer, 1 May 1939 - 1 Jul 1939
  • Obstlt Erich Munske, 1 Jul 1939 - 1 Apr 1940 
  • Obstlt Albrecht Jahn, 1 Apr 1940 - 16 May 1940
  • Hptm Otto Pilger, 16 May 1940 - 7 Jan 1941
  • Hptm Johannes Hübner, 7 Jan 1941 - 1941
  • Hptm Kurt Peters, 1941 - 21 Dec 1941
  • Maj Waldemar Krüger, Dec 1941 - 22 May 1942
  • Maj Günther Dörffel, May 1942 - 29 Oct 1942
  • Maj Jurgen de Lalande, 29 Oct 1943 - 20 Oct 1943
  • Hptm Willi Muller, 20 Oct 1943 - Jul 1944

Formed 1 May 1939 in Heiligenbeil from with:

Stab II./KG3 from Stab II./KG153
4./KG3 from 4./KG153



5./KG3 from 5./KG153
6./KG3 from 6./KG153

Disbanded Jul 1944.

Airfields and Air Base Locations
Date Location Gruppe Aircraft Used
May 1939 - Oct 1939 Heiligenbeil   Do 17Z
Oct 1939 - Jun 1940 Schweinfurt   Do 17Z
Jun 1940 - Mar 1941 Antwerpen-Deurne   Do 17Z
Mar 1941 - May 1941 Oldenburg   Do 17Z, Ju 88A
May 1941 - Jun 1941 Le Culot   Ju 88A
Jun 1941 - Aug 1941 Deblin-Irena   Ju 88A
Jul 1941 - Aug 1941 Bojary(?)   Ju 88A
Aug 1941 - Aug 1941 Orscha   Ju 88A
Aug 1941 - Feb 1942 Schatalowka   Ju 88A
Feb 1942 - Jun 1942 Orscha-Süd   Ju 88A
Jun 1942 - Dec 1942 Schatalowka   Ju 88A
Dec 1942 - Apr 1943 Posen(?)   Ju 88A
Apr 1943 - Jul 1943 Poltawa   Ju 88A
Aug 1943 - Sep 1943 Kirowograd   Ju 88A
Sep 1943 - Dec 1943 Orscha-Süd   Ju 88A
Dec 1943 - 17 May 1944 Terespol   Ju 88A
17 May 1944 - 4 Jun 1944 Baranowitschi   Ju 88A
4 Jun 1944 - 9 Jul 1944 Burg   Ju 88A
9 Jul 1944 - 20 Jul 1944 Lübeck-Blankensee   Ju 88A

III. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

  • Obstlt Hans Grund, 1 May 1939 - 1 Jul 1939
  • Obstlt Karl Neuhüttler, 1 Jul 1939 - 2 Mar 1940
  • Oberst Albrecht Jahn, 2 Mar 1940 - 1 Apr 1940
  • Maj Wilhelm-Georg von Kunowski, 1 Apr 1940 - 21 May 1940
  • Hptm Erich Rathmann, 21 May 1940 - Sep 1941
  • Maj Wladimir Graowaes, Sep 1941 - 7 Dec 1941
  • Hptm Ernst-Wilhelm Ihrig, 7 Dec 1941 - 30 Nov 1942
  • Hptm Siegfried Jungklaus, Dec 1942 - 22 Apr 1943
  • Maj Horst Bengsch, 18 May 1943 - Feb 1944
  • Hptm Martin Vetter, Feb 1944 - Sep 1944

Formed 1 May 1939 in Heiligenbeil from with:

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

In Feb 1944 redesignated with :

Stab III./KG3 became Stab I./NJG7
7./KG3 became 1./NJG7
8./KG3 became 2./NJG7
9./KG3 became 3./NJG7

Reformed Feb 1944 in Germany from with:

Stab III./KG3 from Stab II./KG51
7./KG3 from 4./KG51
8./KG3 from 5./KG51
9./KG3 from 6./KG51

Used for for airborne V1 launchings. On 9 Sep 1944 redesignated with :

Stab III./KG3 became Stab I./KG53



7./KG3 became 1./KG53



8./KG3 became 2./KG53



9./KG3 became 3./KG53

Airfields and Air Base Locations
Date Location Gruppe Aircraft Used
May 1939 - Oct 1939 Heiligenbeil   Do 17Z
Oct 1939 - Jun 1940 Würzburg   Do 17Z
Jun 1940 - 28 Mar 1941 St. Trond   Do 17Z
28 Mar 1941 - 13 Apr 1941 Münchendorf   Do 17Z
13 Apr 1941 - 14 Apr 1941 Skoplje   Do 17Z
14 Apr 1941 - 23 Apr 1941 Krumovo   Do 17Z
23 Apr 1941 - 29 Apr 1941 Saloniki   Do 17Z
29 Apr 1941 - Jun 1941 Athens-Tatoi   Do 17Z
Jun 1941 - 26 Jun 1941 Suwalki   Do 17Z
26 Jun 1941 - 9 Jul 1941 Dubowo   Do 17Z
9 Jul 1941 - 1 Aug 1941 Parafjanowo   Do 17Z
1 Aug 1941 - 30 Aug 1941 Wereteni   Do 17Z
30 Aug 1941 - 1 Oct 1941 Rjelbitzy   Do 17Z
1 Oct 1941 - Nov 1941 Witebsk   Do 17Z
Nov 1941 - Dec 1941 Wjasma   Do 17Z
Nov 1941 - May 1942 Gütersloh   Do 17Z, Ju 88A
May 1942 - Jun 1942 Orscha   Ju 88A
Jul 1942 - Dec 1942 Schatalowka-Ost   Ju 88A
Dec 1942 - Jan 1943 Starobelsk   Ju 88A
Jan 1943 - Mar 1943 Tschugujew(?)   Ju 88A
Mar 1943 - May 1943 Saporoshje-Ost   Ju 88A
May 1943 - Jun 1943 Poltawa   Ju 88A
Jun 1943 - Aug 1943 Konotop   Ju 88A
Aug 1943 - Jan 1944 Munstter-Handorf   Ju 88A
Jan 1944 - 26 Mar 1944 Lublin   Ju 88A
26 Mar 1944 - 21 Jun 1944 Grieslienen   Ju 88A, He 111H
21 Jun 1944 - 25 Jun 1944 Rheine   He 111H
25 Jun 1944 - 28 Jun 1944 Hesepe   He 111H
28 Jun 1944 - 9 Sep 1944 Venlo*   He 111H

* 9./KG3 at Eindhoven (28 Jun 1944 - 30 Jun 1944) and at Gilze Rijen (30 Jun 1944 - 3 Sep 1944)

IV. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

  • Maj Wilhelm von Kunowski, Aug 1940 - Sep 1940
  • Olt Hans Claussen, Sep 1940 - Apr 1941
  • Hptm Waldemar Krüger, Apr 1941 - 30 Sep 1941
  • Maj Erich Rathmann, 1 Oct 1941 - 14 Sep 1942
  • Maj Jurgen de Lalande, 15 Sep 1942 - 24 Oct 1942
  • Maj Paul Breu, 25 Oct 1942 - 31 May 1944
  • Maj Joachim Jödicke, 1 Jun 1944 - 18 Aug 1944

Formed Aug 1940 in Le Culot (Erg.Staffel/KG3). In Apr 1941 expanded to IV.(Erg.)/KG3:

Stab IV./KG3 new
10./KG3 from Erg.Sta./KG3
11./KG3 new
12./KG3 new

13./KG3 was probably formed Sep 1943 in Heiligenbeil, but was disbanded in the same year.

IV./KG3 was disbanded 18 Aug 1944.

Airfields and Air Base Locations
Date Location Gruppe Aircraft Used
Aug 1940 - Mar 1941 Le Culot   Do 17, Ju 88A
Mar 1941 - Jan 1943 Chievres*   Do 17, Ju 88A
Jan 1943 - Jul 1943 Istres   Ju 88A
Jul 1943 - Aug 1944 Heiligenbeil   Ju 88A

* 12./KG3 at Eindhoven, May 1941 - Mar 1942

10. (kroat.)/KG3:

Formed Aug 1941 in Greifswald.

In Jul 1942 redesignated

Airfields and Air Base Locations
Date Location Gruppe Aircraft Used
Aug 1941 - Oct 1941 Greifswald   Do 17Z
Oct 1941 - Mar 1942 Vitebsk   Do 17Z
Mar 1942 - Jul 1942 Agram   Do 17Z

Bomber operations over the Eastern Front 1941-42

Officially designated '15.(Kroatische)/KG 53'., the bomber squadron was equipped with Dornier Do 17Z aircraft. It arrived on the Eastern Front on 25 October 1941, after training at the Grosse Kampfflieger Schule 3, in Greifswald, Germany. Their first area of operations was near Vitebsk. The rest of the Bomber Squadron's assignments were in the Northern Sector of the Eastern Front, including the bombing of Leningrad and Moscow. On 9 November 1941, the Squadron was congratulated by Fieldmarshall Kesselring for its actions thus far. After flying some 1,500 sorties on the Eastern Front, the Squadron and its aircraft were re-deployed to Croatia in December 1942, to help combat the growing Yugoslav Partisan threat to the Axis foces on the Yugoslav Front.

Bomber operations over Croatia 1943-45

Upon its return the Legion's bomber squadron was redesignated 1./(Kroat.)KG after having flown its nine Dornier Do 17Z bombers from Russia back to Croatia. The Dorniers proved a welcome addition to the strike power of the Axis forces fighting the Yugoslav Partisans on the Yugoslav Front right up to the end of July 1944, when it was incorporated into the ZNDH. In late 1943, a second squadron, 2./(Kroat.)KG was formed to provide operational training. It was equipped with Italian designed and built CANT Z.1007 and Fiat BR.20 bombers.

14.(Eis)/KG3:

Formed 1 Feb 1944 in Orscha from and parts of 6./KG3.

Disbanded Oct 1944.

Airfields and Air Base Locations
Date Location Gruppe Aircraft Used
Feb 1944 - 9 Mar 1944 Orscha   Ju 88A/C
9 Mar 1944 - 10 Jun 1944 Bobruisk   Ju 88A/P
10 Jun 1944 - 27 Jun 1944 Puchowitschi   Ju 88A/P
27 Jun 1944 - 1 Jul 1944 Pinsk   Ju 88A
1 Jul 1944 - 15 Jul 1941 Terespol   Ju 88A
15 Jul 1941 - 28 Jul 1944 Padlowka   Ju 88A
28 Jul 1944 - 8 Sep 1944 Kroszewo   Ju 88A
8 Sep 1944 - Oct 1944 Graudenz   Ju 88A

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This webpage was updated 22nd April 2024

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