Jagdgeschwader 1 (World War II)

Jagdgeschwader 1
Later emblem of Jagdgeschwader 1 introduced by Walter Oesau.
Active	1939–45
Country	Nazi Germany
Branch	Luftwaffe
Type	Fighter Aircraft
Role	Air superiority
Size	Air Force Wing
Nickname(s)	Oesau
Patron	Walter Oesau
Fighter Aircraft	Messerschmitt Bf 109, Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Heinkel He 162
Engagements	Defence of the Reich, Operation Bodenplatte
Decorations	Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht (1)
Disbanded	4 May 1945
Commanders
Notable commanders	Oberst Hans Philipp (1 April 1943 – 8 October 1943), Major Hermann Graf (October 1943 – 10 November 1943), Oberst Walter Oesau (12 November 1943 – 11 May 1944), Major Heinz Bär (acting) (12 May 1944 – 20 May 1944), Oberst Herbert Ihlefeld (20 May 1944 – 8 May 1945)
Aircraft flown
Fighter	Bf 109, Fw 190, He 162

Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1) was a German World War II fighter unit or "wing" which used the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190 aircraft, between 1940–1944. The name of the unit derives from Jagd, meaning "hunt" and Geschwader, meaning "wing". First formed in May 1939 in eastern Prussia, I./JG 1 was one of the original groups created by the Luftwaffe as part of its expansion plans.

Between 1940 and 1942, JG 1 operated primarily over the Western Front and northern occupied Europe. During the initial days of the war, JG 1 faced little resistance, apart from occasional Royal Air Force (RAF) excursions. The unit was rarely engaged in large-scale confrontations during this time. From late 1942 onwards it was tasked with defence of the Reich. After D-Day, elements of JG 1 were moved to France and were tasked with air support to the Wehrmacht Heer, along with their air defence role. Operation Bodenplatte severely reduced the strength of JG 1.

Towards the end of the war, the unit was disbanded and its remaining pilots and aircraft were re-organized. What remained of these groups surrendered to Allied forces at the end of the war.

JG 1 was the first unit to attempt 'aerial bombing' techniques against the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) heavy bomber formations. It was the only unit to be equipped with the Heinkel He 162 jet fighter.

In 1944 the "Oesau" suffix was added to the unit's title, after its late Geschwaderkommodore Oberst Walter Oesau, who was killed in action.

Some 700 Allied aircraft were claimed shot down during the war by the unit.

In 1938 the Luftwaffe envisaged a five-year expansion plan that utilized the single-engined Messerschmitt Bf 109s for short-range domestic defence duties and the twin-engined Messerschmitt Bf 110 for external long-range offensive roles. In the summer of 1939, Luftwaffe replaced its long-term expansionist plans for fast mobilization with creation of five new Geschwader starting in July 1939. Even those plans failed to materialize and several groups (Gruppen) were created from existing groups. One such group, I./Jagdgeschwader 131 (JG 131), was thus created from II./Jagdgeschwader 132 "Richthofen" (JG 132). The new group, I./JG 131, was commanded by Major Bernhard Woldenga, and was based in Jesau, East Prussia (modern Nivenskoye in Russia). The unit was re-equipped with the Bf 109E by June 1939.