Kampfgeschwader 51 "Edelweiss"

Geschwaderkommodoren:

Stab:

Formed 1.5.39 in Landsberg/Lech from Stab/KG255. A Stabs-Staffel existed 1939 - 4.45.

Ordered disbanded 24.4.45.

Bases:

I. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

Formed 1.5.39 in Landsberg/Lech from I./KG255 with:

Stab I./KG51 from Stab I./KG255
1./KG51 from 1./KG255
2./KG51 from 2./KG255
3./KG51 from 3./KG255

Bases:

* converted to He 111, 15.8 - 30.8.39; converted to Ju 88A, 9.4.40 - 10.5.40

** 1./KG51 at St. André and 2./KG51 at Dreux. 1./KG51 moved to Evreux on 29.2.44.

*** 3./KG51 to Chateaudun as Kommando Schenk with 9 Me 262A. The rest of KG51 was apparently based at Schwäbisch-Hall until 5.9.44.

**** apparently only 2./KG51 existed at this time

II. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

Formed 1.4.40 in München-Riem with:

Stab II./KG51 new
4./KG51 new
5./KG51 new
6./KG51 new

In 1.44 renamed III./KG3:

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

Reformed 2.44 in Lublin from V./KG2 with:

Stab II./KG51 from Stab V./KG2
4./KG51 from 14./KG2
5./KG51 from 15./KG2
6./KG51 from 16./KG2

Ordered disbanded 24.4.45.

Bases:

* 6./KG51 was based at Hesepe, 20.12.44 - 10.1.45.

III. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

Formed 1.5.39 in Memmingen from III./KG255 with:

Stab III./KG51 from Stab III./KG255
7./KG51 from 7./KG255
8./KG51 from 8./KG255
9./KG51 from 9./KG255

7. (Eis.)/KG51 converted to Ju 88C-6 fighters in Krosno 7.6 - 19.7.43.

III./KG51 was disbanded 31.12.43. I./SKG10 operated under Stab/KG51, as III./KG51 from 30.6.44, but was not renamed III./KG51 until 20.10.44:

Stab III./KG51 from Stab I./SKG10
7./KG51 from 1./SKG10
8./KG51 from 2./SKG10
9./KG51 from 3./SKG10

On 31.10.44 redesignated NSGr. 20:

Stab III./KG51 became Stab/NSGr.20
7./KG51 became 1./NSGr.20
8./KG51 became 2./NSGr.20
9./KG51 became 3./NSGr.20

Bases:

* converted to He 111, 15.8 - 30.8.39; converted to Ju 88A in 6.40.

** For activities in 1944, see SKG10.

IV. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

Formed 30.7.40 in Schwäbisch-Hall as Erg.Sta/KG51. On 22.3.41 increased to Gruppe strength with:

Stab IV./KG51 new
10./KG51 from Erg.Sta./KG51
11./KG51 new
12./KG51 new

On 24.2.44 12./KG51 became 4./NJG7, and was reformed from 13./KG2.

On 28.12.44 IV./KG51 became IV./EKG1:

Stab IV./KG51 became Stab IV./EKG1
10./KG51 became 13./EKG1
11./KG51 became 14./EKG1
12./KG51 became 15./EKG1

Bases:

Flughafenbetriebskompanien der KG51



© 1997-2003 Michael Holm