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Jagdverband 44

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Jagdverband 44
Unit insignia
ActiveMarch 1945 – May 1945
Country Nazi Germany
Branch Luftwaffe
TypeSpecial operations forces
RoleAerial reconnaissance
Aerial warfare
Air combat manoeuvring
Airstrike
Close air support
Special operations
Tactical bombing
Garrison/HQAinring
EngagementsDefense of the Reich
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Adolf Galland
Heinz Bär
Aircraft flown
FighterMe 262, Fw 190D

Jagdverband 44 (JV 44) was a German Luftwaffe special operations unit during World War II. It was formed during the last months of World War II to operate the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter.[1]

History

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The commander of JV 44 was General Adolf Galland, the former General der Jagdflieger (General of Fighter pilots) who had recently been sacked from his staff post by Hermann Göring for criticizing the operational policies, strategic doctrine, and tactics mandated by the Luftwaffe High Command in the "Fighter Pilots' Revolt". Galland was charged with setting up a small Me 262 unit to demonstrate the capabilities of the jet fighter, as Göring taunted him to "prove what you've always said about the 262's great potential."[2] Additionally, Göring saw this as a way of possibly disposing of Galland and fellow members of the Fighter Pilot's Revolt, rather than forcing their suicides, which had been overruled by Hitler.[2]

JV 44 comprised a core of experienced pilots (Experten) chosen from Galland's former staff or recruited from units which had been disbanded or were being re-equipped. JV 44 performed well during its brief history, achieving a 4-to-1 kill ratio. However, it had relatively few operational jet planes available for any single sortie and was repeatedly forced to relocate due to the approach of Allied ground forces. Its complement included 50 pilots and 25 airplanes.

Galland was injured on 26 April after attacking B-26 bombers, and Heinrich Bär assumed command of the unit. As the German surrender approached, Galland disbanded the unit, releasing any pilots willing to leave, and lead the rest to the American occupation zone.[3] This "whole-unit" defection was a major part of Operation LUSTY, as the Americans gained a wealth of knowledge about jet technology (similar to Operation Paperclip).

Many JV-44 pilots went on to fly for the Bundesluftwaffe post-war, and formed the backbone of the establishment of the Bundeswehr.

Notable pilots

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JV-44 was renowned among the late-war Luftwaffe for being a "Squadron of Experts," as many aces transferred to the unit in the final months of the war. A (false) rumor was even started to the effect that having the Knight's Cross was a prerequisite to joining the unit.[4] Some of the most notable pilots were:

References

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References

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  1. ^ Forsyth 2008.
  2. ^ a b Makos 2012, p. 283
  3. ^ Makos 2012, pp. 338-339
  4. ^ Makos 2012, p.298

Bibliography

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  • Forsyth, Robert (2008). Jagdverband 44 : Squadron of Experten. Aviation Elite Units 28. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-294-3. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  • Makos, Adam, and Larry Alexander. A Higher Call. New York, Berkley Books, 2013.

Further reading

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