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 redesignatedStab/Fliegerführer Nord. Reformed 11.42 in Grosseto, Italy. Beganthe 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 warwith He 111H bombers, but from 1.42 began converting to He 111H torpedobombers, with one staffel converting at Grosseto at a time, beginning with3./KG26. Converted to Ju 88A-4 LT torpedo bombers from 4.44. The aricraftand 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 Banakin 8.41, followed by 3./KG26 in 10.41. The whole group was united againin 12.41 at Bardufoss.
*** Detachment at Piacenza, 1.44 – 2.44, to combat the allied landingsat 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 He111H 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 torpedobombers 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 10.42moved 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 completedin 2.40, but the gruppe was immediately renamed KGr126, and was reformedfrom 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 becomingI./KG1, and was reformed from Kü.Fl.Gr.506, now with Ju88A-4 bombers. In 4.44 converted to Ju 88A-17, andin 8.44 – 11.44 to Ju 188A-3.

Bases
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 alliedlandings 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 crewsfor KG26. 10./KG26 formed 10.40, and increased to Gruppe strength in 3.41with 10., 11. and 12./KG26. Stationed at Lübeck-Blankensee. From 1943known as Ergänzungskampfgruppe LT (Lufttorpedo).On 25.12.44 redesignated II./EKG1 at Kolberg, andended the war at Beldringe/Odense.