Unit insignia, featuring the "Green Heart" of Thuringia
Active
1939–1945
Country
Nazi Germany
Branch
Luftwaffe
Type
Fighter Aircraft
Role
Air superiority
Size
Air Force Wing
Nickname(s)
Grünherz, Green Hearts
Engagements
Western Front
Battle of France
Battle of Britain
Eastern Front (World War II)
German-Soviet air war 22 June 1941
Operation Barbarossa
Battle of Kursk
Commanders
Notable commanders
Hannes Trautloft
Aircraft flown
Fighter
Bf 109, Fw 190, Me 262
Military unit
Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54) was a Luftwaffe fighter wing that was founded in late 1936 and operated from 1939, the entire length of the Second World War. It later existed under the reformed Luftwaffe from 1947 to 1991 as BG54/B54 A B and C. Originally, JG 54 flew most of its missions on the Eastern Front where it claimed more than 9,600 aircraft shot down. It was the second-highest scoring wing in the Luftwaffe after JG 52 (+10,000 victories). Notable pilot aces (Experten) that flew with JG 54 included Walter Nowotny, Walter Boerner,Otto Kittel, Hans-Ekkehard Bob, Max-Hellmuth Ostermann, Hugo Broch and Hannes Trautloft.
JG 54 participated in the Invasion of Poland in 1939, and the Battle of Britain and invasion of the Balkans in 1940. The unit was transferred to the Eastern Front in the spring of 1941 in preparation for the invasion of the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa. It remained there for the rest of the Second World War.
JG 54 first flew Bf 109Fs before changing to the more powerful Fw 190.
Jagdgeschwader54 (JG 54) was a Luftwaffe fighter wing that was founded in late 1936 and operated from 1939, the entire length of the Second World War...
fighter pilot training in 1941, after which he was posted to Jagdgeschwader54 "Grünherz" (JG 54) on the Eastern Front. Nowotny was the first pilot to achieve...
the Eastern Front to serve in World War II as part of Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing), and he claimed his first victory two months...
Battle of Britain, Trautloft was given command of Jagdgeschwader54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing). He led JG 54 in Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of...
as a fighter pilot. Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) in November 1943. Flying with this wing, Dortenmann...
Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) was a German World War II fighter Geschwader (wing) that exclusively used the Messerschmitt Bf 109 throughout the war. The unit...
joined the Luftwaffe in 1939, and, in spring 1941, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) supporting Army Group North on the Eastern Front...
Wien-Aspern with only I. Gruppe (1st group). The Geschwader was renamed II./Jagdgeschwader54 on 4 July 1940. The Geschwader was recreated in July 1944 at Salzburg...
September, it formed the nucleus of the newly created I Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) which had been placed under command of Major...
Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27) "Afrika" was a fighter wing of the Luftwaffe during World War II. The wing was given the name "Africa" for serving in the North...
the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He commanded the fighter wing Jagdgeschwader54 in 1944. Mader was born on 7 January 1913 in Castelnuovo, at the time...
Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany. Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) in 1941, operating on the Eastern Front. He...
leader) in the Battle of France. His unit was reformed as II./Jagdgeschwader54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) in June 1940. He was awarded the Knight's Cross...
Global Information
Nazi Germany
Luftwaffe