This article is about the early WWII unit. For the later group formed from it, see Kampfgeschwader 100.
Combat Group 100
Kampfgruppe 100
Country
Nazi Germany
Branch
Luftwaffe
Military unit
Kampfgruppe 100 (KGr 100) was a specialist unit of the Luftwaffe during the early stages of World War II. It is best known as the first unit to use the "pathfinder" concept, with its aircraft being equipped with the latest radio navigation aids to find their targets and then dropping flares on them to mark the target for the following bombers.
The unit first formed out of parts of Luftnachrichten Abteilung 100 at Köthen on 18 November 1939 with a HQ unit and two squadrons, 1./ and 2./KGr 100. In keeping with typical Luftwaffe organization, Kampfgruppe 100 was later expanded to three squadrons, all flying the Heinkel He 111H.
On 15 December 1941 the unit was used as the basis for the greatly expanded Kampfgeschwader 100, becoming I.Gruppe/KG 100.[1]
The distinguishing alphanumeric Geschwaderkennung code for both KGr 100 and its later wing-sized successor unit was 6N.
Kampfgruppe100 (KGr 100) was a specialist unit of the Luftwaffe during the early stages of World War II. It is best known as the first unit to use the...
515 German bombers, from Luftflotte 3 and from the pathfinders of Kampfgruppe100. The attack, code-named Unternehmen Mondscheinsonate (Operation Moonlight...
night, a large force hit Coventry. "Pathfinders" from 12 Kampfgruppe100 (Bomb Group 100 or KGr 100) led 437 bombers from KG 1, KG 3, KG 26, KG 27, KG 55...
Kampfgeschwader 100 Wiking (Viking), designated III./KG 100; the bomber wing itself evolved as the larger-sized descendant of the earlier Kampfgruppe100 unit in...
Ministry, was to ambush and kill as many pilots as possible of the Kampfgruppe100, a German Pathfinder formation stationed at Meucon airfield which spearheaded...
airfields in northern France, including Cambrai. 13 Heinkel 111s from Kampfgruppe100, the German Pathfinder unit arrived over the city at 7:41 pm and dropped...
H-3x, were equipped with Knickebein and X-Gerät and were used by Kampfgruppe100 (KGr. 100) at night during the closing stages of the battle. Y-Gerät equipped...
Eastbourne, Newhaven and Ramsgate. "Pathfinders" from 12 Kampfgruppe100 (Bomb Group 100 or KGr 100) led 437 bombers from KG 1, KG 3, KG 26, KG 27, KG 55...
September 1943. KG 100 was created from Kampfgruppe100, a specialist pathfinder unit formed on 26 August 1938 as Luftnachrichten Abteilung 100 at Köthen. On...
experimental unit Kampfgruppe100 (KGr 100) was given the task of using their X-Gerät equipment to guide other aircraft to the target. To do this, KGr 100 aircraft...
Adlerangriff ("Operation Eagle Attack"). As night fell, Sperrle sent Kampfgruppe100 (Bombing Group 100) to bomb Supermarine Spitfire factory at Castle Bromwich,...
darkness fell at the close of Adlertag, Sperrle sent nine Kampfgruppe100 (Bombing Group 100) He 111s to conduct a strategic bombing raid against the Supermarine...
entire attack. The same basic system had been used by the Luftwaffe's Kampfgruppe100 during The Blitz, for similar reasons. Target indicators were available...
selected to operate as a pathfinder unit alongside the specialist Kampfgruppe100, and III./Kampfgeschwader 26. They were referred to in the Luftwaffe...
Death's Head Division. The division was formed through the expansion of Kampfgruppe Eicke, a battle group named – in keeping with German military practice...
through the ice during the spring thaw in April 1940. He commanded Kampfgruppe100 during the German invasion of Norway, and led the air raids on Namsos...
and Norway, Kampfgruppe100 Wiking flew attacks from Nordholz with their Heinkel He 111 medium bombers, before its enlargement into KG 100. Between 1941...
III. Gruppe Junkers Ju 88 Amsterdam/Schiphol Hptm. Erich Bloedorn Kampfgruppe100 (Pathfinder bombers) Autonomous Gruppe Heinkel He 111 Vannes Hauptmann...
14/15 November, a large force hit Coventry. "Pathfinders" from 12 Kampfgruppe100 led 437 bombers from KG 1, KG 3, KG 26, KG 27, KG 55 and LG 1 which...
visual contact. Some special Pfadfinder (Pathfinder) units such as Kampfgruppe100 were equipped with the X-Gerät blind-bombing system and were used to...
The group switched to Swansea on 20/21 February. Eight He 111s from Kampfgruppe100 guided the attackers to the target that night. Cardiff was the target...
counterattack. Instead, he was provided with a Kampfgruppe of 800 men. The II Parachute Corps was tasked with contributing 100 men from each of its regiments. In...
Battle of the Bulge (16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945). Soldiers of Kampfgruppe Peiper summarily killed eighty-four U.S. Army prisoners of war (POWs)...
advance of a major raid launched by He 111s from Kampfgeschwader 26 and Kampfgruppe100, aimed at covering the German invasion of Norway. When No. 43 Squadron...
Global Information
Nazi Germany
Luftwaffe