Kampfgeschwader 26

Geschwaderkommodore:

GenMaj Hans Siburg, 1939 - 9.39
GenMaj Robert Fuchs, 29.9.39 - 15.10.40
GenLt Alexander Holle, 15.10.40 - 6.41
Ob Martin Harlinghausen, 6.1.42 - 11.42
Ob Karl Stockmann, 12.42 - 2.43
ObLt Werner Klümper, 3.43 - 11.44
ObLt Wilhelm Stemmler, 11.44 - 1.45
ObLt Georg Teske, 2.45 - 5.45

Stab:

Formed 1.5.39 in Lüneburg from Stab/KG257. In June 1941 redesignated Stab/Fliegerführer Nord. Reformed 11.42 in Grosseto, Italy. Began the war with He 111H, but converted to Ju88 in 4.44.

Bases:

1.5.39 - 24.8.39
24.8.39 - 27.8.39
27.8.39 - 7.9.39
7.9.39 - 12.9.39
12.9.39 - 9.39
9.39 - 8.4.40
8.4.40 - 9.4.40
9.4.40 - 17.4.40
17.4.40 - 29.4.40
29.4.40 - end.7.40
7.40 - 9.40
9.40 - end.2.41
2.41 - mid.3.41
3.41 - 6.41

11.42 - end.5.43
5.43 - 4.44
4.44 - 5.44
5.44 - 8.44
8.44
8.44 - 9.44
9.44 - 11.44
11.44 - 8.5.45

Lüneburg
Werneuchen
Gabbert/Pommern
Neudorf/Oppeln
Lübeck-Blankensee
Westerland
Varel
Aalborg-West
Stavanger-Sola
Trondheim-Vaernes
Stavanger-Sola
Beauvais
Aalborg-West
Stavanger-Sola

Grosseto
Salon de Province
Lübeck-Blankensee
Montpellier
Valence, Lyon
Lübeck-Blankensee, via München-Riem
Bardufoss
Trondheim-Vaernes

I. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

Maj Walter Loebel, 5.39 - 12.9.39
ObLt Hans Alefeld, 13.9.39 - 20.4.40
ObLt Hermann Busch, 20.4.40 - 3.42
Hptm Bert Eicke (acting), 3.42 - 7.42
Maj Werner Klümper, 7.42 - 1.43
Hptm Herbert Vater, 1.43 - 7.43
Hptm Klaus Toball (acting), 7.43 - 8.43
Hptm Helmut von Rabenau, 8.43 - 11.11.43
Hptm Jochen Müller, 12.11.43 - 7.44
Maj Willi Sölter, 7.44 - 2.45

Formed 1.5.39 at Lübeck-Blankensee from I./KG257. Began the war with He 111H bombers, but from 1.42 began converting to He 111H torpedo bombers, with one staffel converting at Grosseto at a time, beginning with 3./KG26. Converted to Ju 88A-4 LT torpedo bombers from 4.44. The aricraft and crews from I./KG77 was absorbed on 20.7.44.

Bases:

1.5.39 - 25.9.39
25.9.39 - 8.4.40
8.4.40 - 9.4.40
9.4.40 - 16.4.40
16.4.40 - 29.4.40
29.4.40 - end.7.40
7.40 - 9.40
9.40 - end.2.41
2.41 - 9.41
9.41 - 10.41
10.41 - 12.41
12.41 - 1.42
1.42 - 3.42
3.42 - 8.11.42
8.11.42 - 1.43
1.43 - end.5.43
5.43 - 4.44
4.44 - 7.44
7.44 - 8.44
20.8.44 - 9.44
9.44 - 1..45
1.45 - 5.45

Lübeck-Blankensee
Schleswig*
Varel
Aalborg-West
Stavanger-Sola
Trondheim-Vaernes
Stavanger-Sola
Beauvais
Aalborg-West**
Kemi
Petsamo
Bardufoss
Trondheim-Vaernes
Bardufoss
Grosseto
Decimomanu (Sardinia)
Salon de Province***
Grove (Karup)
Salon de Province
Memmingen, via München-Riem
Bardufoss
Vandel (Vejle)

* 1./KG26 was detached at Westerland
** 2. and 3./KG26 moved to Stavanger-Sola in 3.41. 2./KG26 moved to Banak in 8.41, followed by 3./KG26 in 10.41. The whole group was united again in 12.41 at Bardufoss.
*** Detachment at Piacenza, 1.44 - 2.44, to combat the allied landings at Anzio.

II. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

ObLt von Bushe, 1.5.39 - 10.39
ObLt Hans Hefele, 10.39 - 3.4.40
Maj Martin Vetter, 6.4.40 - 20.8.40
Maj Eckhard Christian, 21.8.40 - 31.12.40
Maj Helmut Bertram, 1.1.41 - 17.1.41
Hptm Robert Kowalewski, 18.1.41 - 14.5.41
Maj W. Beyling, 15.5.41 - 11.2.43
Maj Georg Teske, 12.2.43 - 10.8.44
Maj Otto Werner, 11.8.44 - 2.12.44
Maj Rudolf Schmidt, 3.12.44 - 8.5.45

Formed 1.5.39 in Lüneburg from II./KG257. Began the war with He 111H bombers. In 2.41 6./KG26 converted to He111H-4/6 (torp.) torpedo bombers. The rest of the Gruppe converted to torpedo bombers from 4.42 at Grosseto (one staffel at a time). The Gruppe began converting to Ju 88A torpedo bombers from 6.43.

Bases:

1.5.39 - 24.8.39
24.8.39 - 27.8.39
27.8.39 - 7.9.39
7.9.39 - 12.9.39
12.9.39 - 25.9.39
25.9.39 - 10.39
10.39 - 21.2.40
21.2.40 - 3.40
3.40 - 8.4.40
8.4.40 - 9.4.40
9.4.40 - 16.4.40
16.4.40 - 4.40
4.40 - 5.40
5.40 - end.8.40
8.40 - 6.1.41
6.1.41 - 1.41
1.41 - 5.41
5.41 - 11.41
11.41 - 3.42
3.42 - 12.42
12.42 - 1.43
1.43 - 5.43
5.43 - 6.43
6.43 - 5.44
5.44 - 8.44
8.44 - 9.44
9.44 - 11.44
11.44 - 5.45

Lüneburg
Werneuchen
Gabbert/Pommern
Nieder-Ellgut/Oppeln
Lüneburg
Schwerin
Westerland
Neumünster
Westerland
Marx
Aalborg-West
Stavanger-Sola
Trondheim-Vaernes
Aalborg-West
Amiens
Catania
Comiso*
Eleusis**
Kalamaki**
Saki**
Grosseto
Villacidro (Sardinia)
Salon de Provence
Großenbrode***
Valence
Neubiberg, Großenbrode
Banak
Trondheim-Vaernes

* 4. and 5./KG26 was based at Foggia 6.4.41 - 20.4.41
** 6./KG26 moved to Buzeau (Romania) 9.41, and to Saki 12.41. In 10.42 moved to Catania, and joined the rest of the Gruppe in Grosseto on 9.11.42.
*** 4./KG26 detached at Focsani, 4.44 - 5.44

III. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

Maj Viktor von Lossberg, 1.11.39 - 31.5.40
Maj Günther Wolfien, 1.6.40 - 2.41
Maj Viktor von Lossberg, 2.41 - 30.8.41
Maj K. Lersche, 1.9.41 - 10.41
Maj S. Böhme, 10.41 - 2.42
Hptm Ernst Thomsen, 2.42 - 21.7.42
Hptm Möller, 22.7.42 - 9.42
Maj G. Hielscher, 9.42 - 11.42
Maj Horst Kayser, 11.42 - 19.12.42
Hptm Klaus Nocken, 20.12.42 - 2.44
Maj Ernst Thomsen, 2.44 - 10.44
Maj Wolf Harseim, 10.44 - 8.5.45

Began forming 12.9.39 in Jesau with He 111H bombers. Formation was completed in 2.40, but the gruppe was immediately renamed KGr126, and was reformed from I./KG28. On 15.12.41 while in Setschinskaja, was renamed II./KG100, and was reformed from the new I./KG28. On 8.6.42 again renamed, now becoming I./KG1, and was reformed from Kü.Fl.Gr. 506, now with Ju88A-4 bombers. In 4.44 converted to Ju 88A-17, and in 8.44 - 11.44 to Ju 188A-3.

12.9.39 - 1.40
1.40 - 2.40
2.40 - 8.4.40
8.4.40 - 9.4.40
9.4.40 - 16.4.40
16.4.40 - 4.40
4.40 - 7.40
7.40 - 9.40
9.40 - 16.2.41
16.2.41 - 3.3.41
3.3.41 - 20.7.41
20.7.41 - 9.41
9.41 - 10.41
10.41 - 2.42
2.42 - 4.42
4.42 - 6.42
6.42 - 8.11.42
8.11.42 - end.5.43
5.43 - 6.7.44
6.7.44 - 8.44
8.44
8.44 - 10.44
10.44 - 5.45

Jesau
Gotha
Schwerin
Westerland
Aalborg-West
Stavanger-Sola
Trondheim-Vaernes
Stavanger-Sola
Poix-Nord
Achiet
Le Bourget
Brest-Litovsk
Bobruisk
Setschinskaja, Baranovicze
Grosseto
Rennes
Banak
Grosseto
Montpellier*
Garsons
Valence, Lyon
Kaufbeuren, Leck
Trondheim-Vaernes

* Detachment at Piacenza, 1.44 - 2.44, to combat the allied landings at Anzio.

IV. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

Maj Ziemann, 3.41 - 9.41
Maj Fritz Gehring, 9.41 - 3.44
Maj Klaus Nocken, 3.44 - 9.44
Maj Peter Schnoor, 10.44 - 12.44

Ergänzungsgruppe, for the operational training of bomber crews for KG26. 10./KG26 formed 10.40, and increased to Gruppe strength in 3.41 with 10., 11. and 12./KG26. Stationed at Lübeck-Blankensee. From 1943 known as Ergänzungskampfgruppe LT (Lufttorpedo). On 25.12.44 redesignated II./EKG1 at Kolberg, and ended the war at Beldringe/Odense.