Luftflotte 3
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Luftflotte 3[1] (Air Fleet 3) was one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was formed on February 1, 1939 from Luftwaffengruppenkommando 3 in Munich and redesignated Luftwaffenkommando West on September 26, 1944. This Luftwaffe detachment was based in...
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Military Wiki
Luftflotte 3[1] (Air Fleet 3) was one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was formed on February 1, 1939 from Luftwaffengruppenkommando 3 in Munich and redesignated Luftwaffenkommando West on September 26, 1944. This Luftwaffe detachment was based in German-occupied areas of Northern France, Netherlands, Belgium, and Vichy France, to support the Axis power's forces in area. Its command offices were in Paris, France (on June 26, 1944).

Strategic Reconnaissance[]

Stab/FAGr.123 (Toussus le Noble - Buc)

4.(F)/123 (Saint-André-de-l'Eure)

5.(F)/123 (Monchy–Breton)

1.(F)/121 (Toussus le Noble - Buc)

II.Fliegerkorps (II.Air Corps) Chartres[]

Fliegerfuhrer West (Flight Director in West Area/Land Air Attack)[]

Tactical Reconnaissance[]

Stab/NAGr.13 (Chartres)

1./NAGr.13 (Chartres)

3./NAGr.13 (Laval)

Land Air Attack[]

III./SG.4 (Clermont-Ferrand)

III./SG.4(Detach) (Avord)

IX. Fliegerkorps (IX.Air Corps) Beauvais-Lille[]

Strategic Reconnaissance[]

3.(F)/122 (Soesterberg)

6.(F)/123 (Cormeilles)

Bombers(Medium)[]

Stab/KG.2 (Gilze en Rijen)

I./KG.2 (Gilze en Rijen)

II./KG.2 (Gilze en Rijen)

III./KG.2 (Hesepe)

Stab/KG.6 (Melun-Villaroche)

I./KG.6 (Melun-Villaroche)

II./KG.6 (Melun-Villaroche)

III./KG.6 (Melun-Villaroche)

16./KG.6(JABO/Rapid) (Soesterberg)

Stab./KG.30 (Zwischenhan)

I./KG.30 (Leck)

4./KG.51(JABO/Rapid) (Soesterberg)

5./KG.51(JABO/Rapid) (Gilze en Rijen)

6./KG.51(JABO/Rapid) (Soesterberg)

Stab/KG.54 (Eindhoven)

I./KG.54 (Eindhoven)

III./KG.54 (Eindhoven)

III./KG.66 (Montdidier)

(Eins)St. IV./KG.101 (Saint-Dizier)

Stab/(KG)LG.1 (Melsbroek)

I./(KG)LG.1 (Le Culot)

II./(KG)LG.1(Melsbroek)

JABO (Fighter-Bombers/Incursion strike groups)[]

I.(Jb)/SKG.10 (Tours)

X.Fliegerkorps (X.Air Corps) Angers[]

Special duties/long-distance operations[]

1./KG 200 (Mont-de-Marsan)

1./KG.200(Detach) (Bordeaux–Merignac)

II/KG 200 (Biscarrosse)

Strategic/Maritime Reconnaissance (Ultra Long Range)[]

Stab/FAGr.5 (Mont-de-Marsan)

1.(F)/5 (Mont-de-Marsan)

2.(F)/5 (Mont-de-Marsan)

4.(F)/5 (Nantes)

3.(F)/123 (Corme-Écluse)

1.(F)/SAGr.129 (Biscarrosse)

Bombers (Heavy) Submarine Support/Merchant Strike (Long Range)[]

Stab/KG.40 (Bordeaux–Merignac)

1./KG.40 (Toulouse–Blagnac)

2./KG.40 (Bordeaux–Merignac)

II./KG.40 (Bordeaux–Merignac)

7./KG.40 (Saint-Jean-d'Angély)

8./KG.40 (Cognac)

9./KG.40 (Cognac)

2.Fliegerdivision (2.Air Division) Montfrin[]

Strategic/Tactical/Maritime Reconnaissance (Medium-Short Range)[]

1.(F)/33 (St.Martin)

2./NAGr.13 (Cuers)

2./SAGr.128 (Berre)

Bombers (Medium)[]

Stab/KG.26 (Montpellier)

II./KG.26 (LT) (Valence)

III./KG.26 (LT) (Montpellier)

III./KG.26 (LT)(Detach) (Valence)

Stab/KG.77 (Salon-de-Provence)

I./KG.77 (LT) (Orange-Caritat)

III./KG.77 (LT) (Orange-Caritat)

6./KG.77 (Istres)

4./KG.76 (Istres)

6./KG.76 (Istres)

Stab/KG.100 (Toulouse–Francazal)

III./KG.100 (Toulouse–Francazal)

II.Jagdkorps (II.Fighter Corps) Chantilly[]

4.Jagddivision (4°Fighter Division) Metz[]

Jagdabschnittführer 4 (Fighter Direction 4°) St Pol-Brias[]

Fighters[]

Stab/JG.1 (St.Quentin–Clastres)

I./JG.3 (St.Quentin–Clastres)

I./JG.5 (St.Quentin–Clastres)

II./JG.11 (Mons en Chaussée)

I./JG.301 (Épinoy)

Stab/JG.27 (Champfleury)

I./JG.27 (Vertus)

III./JG.27 (Connantre)

IV./JG.27 (Champfleury)

Night Fighters[]

Stab/NJG.4 (Chenay)

I./NJG.4 (Florennes)

III./NJG.4 (Junvincourt)

Stab/NJG.5 (Haguenau)

I./NJG.5 (Saint-Dizier)

III./NJG.5 (Athies-sous-Laon)

5.Jagddivision (5° Fighter Division) Jouy-en-Josas[]

Jagdabschnittführer 5 (Fighter Director 5) Bernay[]

Fighters[]

Stab/JG.2 (Creil)

I./JG.2 (Creil)

II./JG.2 (Creil)

III./JG.2 (Creil)

Stab/JG.3 (Évreux)

II./JG.3 (Guyancourt)

III./JG.3 (Mareilly)

Stab/JG.11 (Le Mans)

I./JG.11 (Le Mans)

I0./JG.11 (Le Mans)

I./JG.1 (Alençon)

II./JG.1 (Alençon)

Stab/JG.26 (Guyancourt)

I./JG.26 (Guyancourt)

II./JG.26 (Guyancourt)

Night Fighters[]

Stab/NJG.2 (Coulommiers)

I./NJG.2 (Châteaudun)

II./NJG.2 (Coulommiers)

II./NJG.4 (Coulommiers)

Jagdabschnittführer Bretagne (Fighter Direction in Britain) Brest[]

Fighters[]

II./JG.53 (Vannes)

Jagdabschnittführer Südfrankreich (Souther France Fighter Direction) Aix[]

Fighters[]

1./JGr.200 (Orange-Caritat)

2./JGr.200 (Avignon)

3./JGr.200 (Orange-Caritat)

Jagdlehrer-Gr Bordeaux (Instruction Wing in Bordeaux sector)[]

JG (Eins. Teile/Lehr) (Marignane)

Jagdabschnittführer Bordeaux (Fighter Direction in Bordeaux) Bordeaux-Merignac[]

Zerstorer (Heavy Fighters)[]

Stab/ZG.1 (Bordeaux–Merignac)

1./ZG.1 (Corme-Écluse)

3./ZG.1 (Corme-Écluse)

2./ZG.1 (Châteauroux)

III./ZG.1 (Cazaux)

Luftwaffe Special Strike Units[]

This was the Luftwaffe section charged with managing the advanced equipment:

Fieseler Fi 103 (V-1)

Messerschmitt Me 262 A

Arado Ar 234 B;

they also used the Special Attack aircraft Junkers "Mistel 1".

Mentioned section poses your bases in France and Dutch areas.

Jet Bombers/Jet Fighter-Bombers[]

(R)"Blitz" KG.76 (Istres)

II.St.(JABO)/KG.51 (Soesterberg)

Mistel Special Section[]

2. (Mistel I) /KG 101 (Saint-Dizier)

II. (Mistel I) -(Detach)/KG 200 (Saint-Dizier)

Bombers with V-1 Launchers[]

Stab/KG 3 (Venlo)

II./KG 3 (also known as I./KG.5) (Venlo)

I./KG.53 "Legion Condor" (Gilze en Rijen)

III./KG.53 "Legion Condor" (Gilze en Rijen)

Luftwaffe V-1 fixed/mobile ramps units[]

These units operated near Calais (France), and in Belgium and Holland.

Untergruppenbezeichnung FZG (Flakzielgerät) 76 (also known as 5.Flak Division (W), later as Armeekorps zur Vergeltung)

I./155 Artillerie Abt (W)

II./155 Artillerie-Abt (W)

III./155 Artillerie-Abt (W)

Luftwaffe special transport units(1944-45)[]

These units were based in Muhldorf, Bavaria, and composed of Helicopters:

Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 Drachen

Flettner Fl 265

Flettner 282B Kolibri

for operations in western and eastern front areas, with airfields in France (West) and East Prussia (East) for realizing some special liaisons, personal transport, rescue of wounded personnel, watching/air patrol, and other similar missions in the last days of the war.

Transportstaffeln 40 (West area)

Wehrmacht/Luftwaffe V-2 mobile ramps sections[]

Division zur Vergeltung(Div.z.V.)[]

This special unit was led by Wehrmacht and SS Commanders, working along with Luftwaffe personnel and facilities. They operated in France, Belgium and Holland.

"Div.z.V." Nordgruppe[]

444° Artillerie-Abt

485° Artillerie- Abt (also known as Artillerie Regiment z. V. 902)

2°./485° Artillerie-Abt

"Div.z.V." Südgruppe[]

500° Waffen SS Artillerie-Abt (also known as 500° SS Werfer Abt.)

836° Artillerie-Abt (also known as Artillerie Regiment zur Vergeltung 901)

Wehrmacht V-4 "Rheinbote" Mobile ramps units[]

I./709 Artillerie Abt

Wehrmacht V-3 Artillery group[]

705° Artillerie Abt.

Abbreviations[]

FAGr = Fernaufklärungsgruppe = Reconnaissance aircraft.

Gruppe = equivalent to a RAF Wing.

JG = Jagdgeschwader = Fighters.

Geschwader = equivalent to a Royal Air Force Group.

JGr = Jagdgruppe = Fighters.

KG = Kampfgeschwader = Bombers.

LG = Lehrgeschwader = Operational Training.

NAGr = Nahaufklärungsgruppe = Observation aircraft.

NJG = Nachtjagdgeschwader = Night Fighters

SAGr = Seeaufklärungsgruppe = Maritime Patrol aircraft

SKG = Schnellkampfgeschwader = Fast Bombers.

St = Staffel = equivalent to a RAF Squadron.

ZG = Zerstörergeschwader = Twin engined day fighters.

Commanding officers[]

Generalfeldmarschall Hugo Sperrle, 1 February 1939 – 23 August 1944

Generaloberst Otto Deßloch, 23 August 1944 – 22 September 1944

Generalleutnant Alexander Holle, 22 September 1944 – 26 September 1944

Chief of staff[]

Generalmajor Maximilian Ritter von Pohl, 1 February 1939 – 10 June 1940

Oberst Günther Korten, 11 June 1940 – 31 December 1940

Generalmajor Karl Koller, 1 January 1941 – 23 August 1943

Generalleutnant Hermann Plocher, 1 October 1943 – 26 September 1944

Subordinated units[]

References[]

Notes

References