Kampfgeschwader 55

Geschwaderkommodore:

• GenMaj Wilhelm Süssmann, 1.5.39 – 6.3.40
• Ob Alois Stoeckl, 7.3.40 – 14.8.40
• ObLt Hans Korte, 15.8.40 – 31.1.41
• ObLt Benno Kosch, 1.2.41 – 26.8.42
• ObLt Dr. Ernst Kühl, 27.8.42 – 7.8.43
• ObLt Wilhelm Antrup, 8.8.43 – 21.11.44
• Maj Richard Brunner, 22.11.44 – 8.5.45

Stab:

Formed 1.5.39 in Giessen from Stab/KG155. The Stabsstaffel wasdisbanded on 7.3.42. On 13.11.44 redesignated Stab/KG(J)55. 3.45 orderedto convert to Me 262A, but never received any of the jet fighter. Disbanded9.4.45.

* served under I. Fliegerkorps,6.42 – 7.42

** the bases Seschtschinskaja and Karatschow was alsoused.

I. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• Ob Joseph Brunner, 1.5.39 – 2.7.39
• Maj Max Heyna, 3.7.39 – 10.1.40
• Maj Walter Marienfeld, 11.1.40 – 24.6.40
• Maj Joachim Roeber, 25.6.40 – 13.2.41
• Hptm Otto Bodemeyer, 14.2.41 – 9.4.41
• Maj Rudolf Kiel, 10.4.41 – 6.1.43
• Hptm Hans-Günther Nedden, 6.1.43 – 1.5.43
• Maj Walter Traub, 2.5.43 – 20.10.43
• Maj Richard Brunner, 21.10.43 – 7.9.44
• Maj Joseph Schirmböck, 8.9.44 – 8.5.45

Formed 1.5.39 in Langendiebach from I./KG155. On 1.5.43 redesignatedIII./LG1 and moved to Barth. Reformed on the same date in Stalino, fromKGrzbV.5. On 13.11.44 redesignated I./KG(J)55. 3.45 ordered to convertto Me 262A, but never received any of the jet fighter. Disbanded 9.4.45.

* Mlynow as also used.

** with an initially short stay at Wien-Aspern

II. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• ObLt Otto von Lachemair, 1.5.39 – 27.7.40
• Maj Friedrich Kless, 28.7.40 – 27.10.40
• Maj Hans-Joachim Gabriel, 28.10.40 – 31.3.41
• Maj Dr. Ernst Kühl, 31.3.41 – 26.8.42
• Maj Hans-Joachim Gabriel, 27.8.42 – 20.11.42
• Maj Heinz Höfer, 27.11.42 – 2.7.44
• Maj Wilhelm Mylius, 3.7.44 – 29.12.44
• Maj Johannes Herrmann, 30.12.44 – 8.5.45

Formed 1.5.39 in Giessen from II./KG155. On 13.11.44 redesignatedII./KG(J)55. 3.45 ordered to convert to Me 262A, but never received anyof the jet fighter. Disbanded 9.4.45.

* also used Tonndorf

III. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• Maj Hans Schemmell, 2.12.39 – 30.9.40
• Hptm Heinrich Wittmer, 1.10.40 – 1.9.41
• ObLt Hermann Freiherr von dem Bongart, 2.9.41 – 7.9.42
• ObLt Wolfgang Queisner, 8.9.42 – 5.5.43
• Maj Wilhelm Antrup, 6.5.43 – 7.8.43
• Maj Alfred Bollmann, 8.8.43 – 30.11.44
• Maj Gerhard Schrödter, 1.12.44 – 8.5.45

Formed 1.12.39 in Neudorf/Oppeln from parts of I. and II./KG55. In early1943 the 9./KG55 used Ju 88C-6 fighters and specialised in destroying trains,and on 1.6.43 it was redesignated 14.(Eis)/KG55. 9./KG55 was then reformed.On 13.11.44 redesignated III./KG(J)55. 3.45 ordered to convert to Me 262A,but never received any of the jet fighter. Disbanded 9.4.45.

* Karankut was also used.

IV. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• ObLt Joseph Schirmböck, 2.8.40 – 31.12.40
• Hptm Rudolf Kiel, 1.1.41 – 10.4.41
• ObLt Hermann Freiherr von dem Bongart, 10.4.41 – 1.9.41
• Maj Herbert Furchtmann, 2.9.41 – 2.2.42
• ObLt Hans-Carl von Linsingen, 3.2.42 – 31.3.43
• Maj Richard Brunner, 1.4.43 – 15.4.43
• Maj Joseph Schirmböck, 15.4.43 – 31.7.44
• Hptm Grassemann, 1.8.44 – 1.12.44
• Hptm Egon Schmidt, 1.12.44 – 8.5.45

Formed 1.8.40 in Chartres as the Ergänzungsstaffel/KG55, and on1.3.41 was redesignated 10./KG55. Stab IV./KG55 was formed on 7.3.41, followedby 11./KG55 on 21.3.41. The last staffel (12./KG55) of the Ergänzungsgruppe(IV./KG55) was formed on 1.7.41.

On 21.11.44 redesignated Ergänzungsgruppe (J) IX. Fliegerkorps,and on 1.12.44 IV./Ergänzungskampfgruppe (J)

An Ausbildungsstaffel existed between 1.4.40 and 10.5.40 in Ulm-Dornstadt.

* part of the Gruppe moved to Gerdauen 28.11.43, and thenmoved to Neuhausen on 19.2.44. The Gruppe was united there 4.5.44.

14. (Eis)/KG55:

Staffelkapitäne:

• ObLt Mathias Bermadinger, 1.6.43 – 18.2.44
• Hptm Franz Schmidt, 19.2.44 – 8.5.45

Formed 1.6.43 in Dnjepropetrowsk from 9.(Eis)/KG55. The staffel wasindependent and only loosly attached to KG55. Mainly used Ju88C fightersbut also various He 111 versions. Disbanded 27.4.45.