Zerstörergeschwader 1

Zerstörergeschwader 1
Messerschmitt Bf 110C of Zerstörergeschwader 1 in flight.
Active	1939–44
Country	Nazi Germany
Branch	Luftwaffe
Type	Heavy fighter
Role	Air superiority
Size	Air Force Wing
Nickname(s)	Wespe (Wasp)
Fighter Aircraft	Messerschmitt Bf 110
Engagements	Defense of the Reich
Insignia
Identification symbol	Geschwaderkennung of 2N
Aircraft flown
Fighter	Bf 109, Bf 110, Me 210

Zerstörergeschwader 1 (ZG 1) (lit. destroyer wing) was a Luftwaffe heavy/destroyer Fighter Aircraft-wing of World War II.

Zerstörergeschwader 1 was formed in May 1939 as a Geschwader without a Geschwaderstab. The I. Gruppe (1st group) was formed from I./ZG 141 and stationed in Damm, II. Gruppe (2nd group) in Fürstenwalde. The II. Gruppe was being equipped with Messerschmitt Bf 109 single engine fighters during the mobilization in World War II and renamed to Jagdgruppe 101 (101st fighter group), II gruppe re-equipping with the Messerschmitt Bf 110 in March 1940.

On the outbreak of war the unit was based with 1. Flieger Division in Central Germany. During the invasion of Poland ZG 1 was part of Luftflotte 3.

By April 1940 the unit was part of X. Fliegerkorps operating over Northern Germany and Scandinavia. The Bf 110s of ZG 1 and Zerstörergeschwader 76 (ZG 76) saw considerable action during Operation Weserübung (the invasion of Denmark and Norway). The Bf 110 strafed and destroyed over two dozen Danish military aircraft on the Værløse airbase on 9 April. One Danish Fokker D.XXI did manage to get airborne but was immediately shot down. Oblt. Victor Mölders, brother of Werner Mölders, took the official surrender of Aalborg after landing at the local airfield.