ZG 26 / NJG 4

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Dean Wick
I and II/ZG-26
Wed Aug 4, 2026 16:49
216.209.123.86

Hi Folks: Wondering if any one can help me. I know that I and II/ZG-26 were supposed to, or did, become I and II/NJG-4, only to revert back to thier original "Zerstorer" numbers prior to the Balkans invasion. Does anyone know the dates this occurred? The published sources I have are either vaque, or at odds and Mike Holms' site doesn't mention it in either ZG-26 or NJG-4 unit profiles. Thanks in advance for any info available. Dean

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Steve W.
ZG 26
Wed Aug 4, 2026 18:58
205.188.116.83

Prior to the Balkan Campaign (c. Mar-Apr 41)???? I've never seen such a claim. I have the operational details for both Gruppen from original primary German sources and there is no evidence of what you suggest.

I./ZG 26: disbanded at the beginning of Jan 42 at Jesau/East Prussia and all or elements of its assets incorporated into I./NJG 4. A "new" I./ZG 26 was formed At Bad Lippspringe (ex-I./ZG 1) on 13 Oct 43.

II./ZG 26: disbanded at the beginning of Apr 42 at Laupheim/Bavaria and all or elements of its assets used to form II./NJG 4. A "new" II./ZG 26 was formed At Hildesheim near Hannover (ex-III./ZG 1) on 13 Oct 43.

HTH,

Steve W.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Dean Wick
ZG-26
Wed Aug 4, 2026 19:57
216.209.123.175

Steve: thanks for your response. Just to give you an idea of why this has me curious, Gebhard Aders, in his"Hx. of the German Nightfighter Force" states on Pg. 44 that both I and II/ZG-26 had been redesignated to their original Zerstorer ident. from being I and II/NJG-4. Only he suggests this happened in December/41 to re-enforce the Russian front. Only 5/ZG-26 left behind as a nucleus for a "new" II/NJG-4. John Weal makes the suggestion that both units had converted, or were about to be converted to nightfighters, but this was posponed prior to the Balkans invasion in early April/41. Weal's book is in agreement with you, and Mike Holms' site, that they were reabsorbed in 1942, only, he states back into the nightfighter arm. I know Theodore Rossiwall (5/ZG-26) did make claims as a nightfighter... So, you can see why I'm curious. Thanks again for your prompt response. Dean

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Dean Wick
ZG-26
Wed Aug 4, 2026 20:03
216.209.123.175

Sorry: I meant to say that unlike Mike Holms info., which states both units were "absorbed into ZG-1 and ZG-2", Weal states, as you do, that they went into the nightfighter arm. Cheers; Dean

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Steve W.
II./ZG 26
Wed Aug 4, 2026 21:23
205.188.116.83

Dean -

There is a big, unexplained gap in its activities between 5 Nov 41 and 6 Jan 42. It is shown to have been at Fp. Dugino near Vyazma in support of the advance on Moscow during that time frame, but there is no mention of any losses, which I find to be highly unusual. Since that time period also represents the onset of bad flying weather along the central sector of the Eastern Front, and the withdrawal of flying units belonging to II. Fliegerkorps for redeployment to the Mediterranean and the withdrawal of other units to the Reich for a long overdue rest and refit, then it is entire possible that all or elements of II./ZG 26 may have been pulled out at that time, too, as implied by Gebhard Aders at the top of page 44. In fact, there's an ULTRA intercept from early Dec 41 stating that the Gruppe had orders to transfer from Dugino to Laupheim. This suggests that it was still there during the first week of December. The Soviet counterattack west of Moscow that errupted in early December forced a cancellation of the Gruppe's planned transfer and conversion to the night fighter role and it remained at or was ordered back to Dugino post haste. It was not until mid-Mar 42 that it finally began leaving Dugino for Laupheim.

In conclusion, it seems from the above that the conversion mentioned by Aders was planned but it never materialized until Apr 42 due to the crisis that developed west of Moscow.

Steve W.