Jagdgeschwader 51
| Jagdgeschwader 51 | |
|---|---|
JG 51 Mölders
|
|
| Active | 1939–45 |
| Country |
 Nazi Germany
|
| Branch |
 Luftwaffe
|
| Type | Fighter Aircraft |
| Role | Air superiority |
| Size | Air Force Wing |
| Nickname(s) | Mölders (after Werner Mölders) |
| Decorations | references in the Wehrmachtbericht (6) |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Heinz Lange |
Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51) was a Luftwaffe fighter wing of the Luftwaffe during World War II. JG 51's pilots won more awards than any other Jagdgeschwader, and flew combat from 1939 in all major theatres of war flying Bf 109s and then Fw 190s. Its members included Anton Hafner, Heinrich Hoffmann, Heinz Bär, Richard Leppla, Karl-Gottfried Nordmann, and Günther Schack.
Formed in August 1939, and commanded by 48-year-old World War I ace Theo Osterkamp, JG 51 was based in the early months of the war in the West, fighting in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain. From late June to mid July JG 51 was the only fighter Geschwader engaged continuously against the RAF. During the battle JG 51 lost 68 pilots, the highest casualty rate of the Luftwaffe fighter units engaged.
On 12 July 1940, JG 51 moved to Saint-Inglevert, Stab JG 51 was at Saint-Inglevert until November. Whilst based at the Mardyck airfield (near Dunkirk) in late 1940, the German ace Josef Priller was a Staffelkapitän with JG 51. Priller went on to score over 100 victories, the third highest among Luftwaffe day fighters on the Western Front, fighting solely against the Western Allies. Major Werner Mölders became the unit's commander in July 1940 and led the unit at the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941.
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