Books on JG 26

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Dirk
Photograph in book "JG26 Top guns of the Luftwaffe"
Fri Nov 23 22:01:50 2026


Hi

Finally bought the excellent book "JG 26 : Top Guns of the Luftwaffe ".

There is a photograph of a FW-190 A-3 , with the pilot Lt.Hegenauer being inside the cockpit . The caption gives the date and location as being 1942 , St.Omer.

What's interesting about this photograph is that high above the FW-190 , vapour trails is visible .

Now here's the question : Is an aerial battle in progress , or is it just Luftwaffe aircraft flying a CAP to prevent surprise attacks ?

Thanks in advance :-)

Dirk

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Philippe DM
JG 26 through the eyes of Priller
Tue Feb 19 18:56:17 2026
195.238.2.213

I saw his book in a store today. As the shopkeeper sells it at a quite huge price, I would like to ask you if this book is worth the expense.

German is not my first language, so this too restrains me to buy it.

TIA

Best regards,

Philippe

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Don Caldwell
Unique when written, unique today...
Wed Feb 20 17:24:37 2026
204.136.184.34

...as the only fighter unit history written (in part) by a senior Luftwaffe commander. It's worth reading for that reason only. Most of his research material was given to the BA-MA. As a result Freiburg has more material on JG 26 than any other fighter unit, one of the reasons I picked JG 26 as the subject of my first book. But some material didn't make it to Freiburg, and such things as Muencheberg's letters and Radener's diary can be found only in Priller's book. Points to consider:

1. It's a product of its times (late 1950s) in its tone and choice of material. There's no attempt at a balanced presentation. (On second thought, histories out of Germany haven't changed much in that regard.)

2. There's lots of padding - the book could be shortened by 25%.

3. The book has at least a dozen authors, each with his own style. Some dispatches by WWII correspondents are included, unedited, and these are incredibly bombastic by today's standards. This is a problem for non-Germans such as you (and me.) I found it at least ten times as hard to read as Prien's books, which are are uniform in style and have a relatively small vocabulary.

4. OTOH, it's a classic.

5. Motorbuch keeps the book in print, or nearly so, and you shouldn't have to pay an outrageous "collector" price for a copy. Check the internet first.

HTH

Don Caldwell

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

NickM
On the other hand, Don:
Thu Feb 21 01:19:16 2026
152.163.197.214

It must be said that the participants' recollections were much more fresh (10-15 years, instead of 40-60); sure, the close proximity of the war colored their perceptions, but like you say, it is a 'classic'; On a side comment, I too have noticed that Unit histories for the LW tend to lack a perspective from the 'other side of the fence' as it were; sometimes, it can make reading a bit 'distracting', but then again, that's what multiple sources are for!
By the way, what does 'HTH' mean??

Thanks, ahead of time, for letting me run my trap;


NickM

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Don Caldwell
HTH = "Hope This Helps" (n/t)
Thu Feb 21 13:55:49 2026
204.136.184.34

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Philippe DM
Priller's book
Thu Feb 21 06:51:39 2026
195.238.2.213

Thank you for the outstanding information. I shall try to locate a Motorbuch Verlag copy.
Fine to have such an authoritive comment from such a great writer. Did I mention I have your JG 26 books in my collection?

Very best regards and thank you!

Philippe

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Philippe DM
Don, your comment really helped ...
Thu Feb 21 23:34:25 2026
195.238.2.211

... me to sort things out. Again Thank you Don.

Best regards,

Philippe

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Franek Grabowski
Jagdeschwader M1944
Fri Mar 1 20:22:15 2026
217.98.20.195

Hello
Does anyone know what was the statutory strenght/number of a/c and airmen (officers & NCOs) for the Jagdgeschwader of the late Summer of 1944? I know the actuall numbers could differ significantly but what was expected from just refreshed and refitted unit?
Also, are there any reliable data on serviceability of a/c in the Normandy Campaign? Considering the conditions it must have been pretty low.
Thanks
Franek

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Dave Clark
pilot strength/utilization
Fri Mar 1 23:25:37 2026
154.20.73.111

Hi Franek,
In Don Caldwell's excellent "JG 26" there is an appendix that shows that in June '44 authorized aircraft and authorized pilot-count was 68 for each gruppe ... (4 staffelen x 17 = 68). The figure for December '44 is the same. But the interesting figures are those of actual availability. In June availability of pilots was I./JG 26 = 39, II./JG 26 = 23, III./JG 26 = 36. By December the pilot figures were 41, 41, and 29 (notice the devastating impact of flying Bf 109s in III./JG 26!!).

The really interesting figures though, deal with aircraft availability. In June '44 the number of servicable aircraft were I./JG 26 = 10, II./JG 26 = 6, III./JG 26 = 18. Compared to an authorizeed strength of 68 for each gruppe the available strength was about 12!!

By December '44 the number of servicable aircraft increased to 32, 32 and 21. Although much has been made of the increase in German aircraft production that occurred as the war progressed, it appears they were not there when they were needed. The invasion of Europe demanded that they should be able to respond, but every Jagdeschwader was under-provided at the very moment when the maximum was needed.

I hope my interpretation of the figures is correct.

Cheere

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

laurent
Aces scores on 17/8/43
Wed Mar 6 18:40:35 2026
195.6.104.32

Hello

After reading books on aerial WWII for years, it strikes me that in any experienced unit, there will be a good proportion of ace pilots.

I mean in 1943, a typical German staffel will count between 2 and 4 aces in its rank. Counting the Kommandeur (that in most cases was an Expert), about 10 aces will be in the Gruppe. Bad new for any Allied rookie.

The same is true for RAF and USAAF, and the German rookie in 1944 has much less flying hours than his Allied counterpart. And when an Allied pilot will see enemy planes one time on twenty missions, the German will fight for his live very often.

I just try to prove my toughts by number and search info on a given date. I choose 17/8/43 because of the well-known battle and because of the MTO claim list of Tony Wood.

Here are my results.

________________________________________________

JG 26 (from Caldwell books)

Stab JG 26 : Obstlt. Josef Priller (Kommodore) 91

Stab I./JG 26 : Hptm. Karl Borris (Kommandeur) 28, Lt Heinrich Jessen 6
1./JG 26 : Ofw. Alfred Heckmann 57, Oblt. Arthur Beese (Staffelkapitän) 15, Ofw. Waldemar Söffing 10
2./JG 26 : Fw. Karl Willius 34, Hptm. Wilhelm Gäth (Staffelkapitän) 9
3./JG 26 : Hptm. Rolf Hermichen (Staffelkapitän) 35, Fw. Eric Scheyda 13, Fw.Peter Ahrens 6
8./JG 26 : Hptm. Kurt Ebersberger (Staffelkapitän) 29, Ofw. Hans Heitmann 8

Stab II./JG 26 : Maj. Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland (Kommandeur) 54
4./JG 26 : Ofw. Adolf Glunz 39, Ofw. Willi Roth 19, Lt. Heinz Hoppe (Staffelkapitän) 15
5./JG 26 : Fw. Wilhelm Freuwörth 58, Oblt. Horst Sternberg (Staffelkapitän) 19, Fw. Peter Crump 10, Lt. Walter Matoni 6
6./JG 26 : Hptm. Hans Naumann (Staffelkapitän) 20, Fw. Gerhard Vogt 13, Uffz. Heinz Gomann 5, Lt. Waldemar Radener 5
10./JG 26 : Oblt. Rudolf Leuschel (Staffelkapitän) 5

Stab III./JG 26 : Hptm. Kurt Mietusch (Kommandeur) 45
7./JG 26 : Ofw. Heinz Kemethmüller 74, Oblt. Georg Dippel 16
9./JG 26 : Oblt. Paul Schauder (Staffelkapitän) 13, Hptm. Peter-Paul Steindl 9, Fw. Franz Dörre 8, Uffz.Walter Holl 5-13
11./JG 26 : Lt. Karl-Heinz Kempf 57
12./JG 26 : Hptm. Hermann Staiger (Staffelkapitän) 31

Result : 35 aces, including 14 Experten (20+ victories) : total 867-875 victories

__________________________________________________ _____

JG 53 (from 'Spitfires over Sicily' and Tony Wood's MTO list)

Stab JG 53 : ObstLtn Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn 68 (Kommodore)

Stab I./JG 53 : Hptm. Friedrich-Karl Müller 118 (Kommandeur)
1./JG 53 : Fw. Heinz Sieg 13, Uffz. Erich Wagner 5
2./JG 53 : Oblt. Dietrich Kasten 17-18, Uffz. Hermann Holstein 6
3./JG 53 : Fw. Kurt Braasch 8

Stab II./JG 53 : Maj. Gerhard Michalski 58 (Kommandeur), Ltn. Alfred Hammer 6
4./JG 53 : Fw. Heinrich Frankenberger 8
5./JG 53 : Ofw. Herbert Rollwage 47, Oblt. Martin Laube 10, Ltn. Karl Paashaus 7
6./JG 53 : Ofw. Rudolf Ehrenberger 42, Fw. Hans Feyerlein 10, Ltn. Rolf Schlegel 5

Stab III./JG 53 : Hptm. Franz Götz 46, Ltn. Rolf Klippgen 14
7./JG 53 : Obfw Günther Seeger 40
8./JG 53 : Oblt. Franz Schiess 55, Ofw. Alfred Seidl 20, Uffz. Jens Bahnsen 18
9./JG 53 : Ltn. Franz Barten 45 (Staffelkapitän), Fw. Johannes Kuehl 13, Fw. Max Nairz 12, Fw. Otto Russ 9

At leats 26 aces, including 10 Experten (20+ victories) : total 698-699 victories.

Oblt Julius Meimberg (32 vic) was recovering from Tunisia wounds at the time and is not counted here. Is it right ?

My list is less reliable than my JG26 data.

______________________________________
JG 3 (based on Web researches)

Stab JG 3 : Obstlt. Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke (Kommodore) 156

Stab I./JG 3 : Hptm. Klaus Quaet-Faslem (Kommandeur) 47
1./JG 3 : Oblt. Helmut Mertens 52, Fw. Hubert Buschmann 21, Fw. Theodor Kaiser 20
2./JG 3 : Lt. Franz Schwaiger 55, Ofw. Gerhard Schütte 41, Oblt. Alfred Humer 20
3./JG 3 : Hptm. Rudolf Gemeroth 6

Stab II./JG 3 : Hptm. Kurt Brändle (Kom

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Laurent Viton
Josef Priller's claims
Fri Mar 8 15:58:21 2026
195.93.32.186

Could anyone help ?
As I do not read German ,I'll be grateful to the nice fellow who can translate for me (either in English or French) some pages of "Pips" Priller's book "JG 26 : Geschichte eines Jagdgeschwaders" about two of his claims :
-December 20,1942 on a 91stBG B-17 near Rouen, Normandy.
-June 26,1943 on a 384thBG B-17 near Dieppe , Normandy.
Both planes are identified.

Thank you.
Laurent.

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Anne Hobbs
Exchanged POW Victory Scores
Fri Mar 22 15:36:03 2026
152.163.207.199

Hptm Walter Blume, JG27 was POW 1940, exchanged 1943 and saw further operations. How would have additional victories 1943-45 been handled - officially, not officially, not at all. If it can be determined Blume had additional victories beyond 14 of record, he may be the pilot who saved the life of a P47 pilot 25 Apr 45 in Holzkirchen. Anyone know anything at all about Blume.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Mike Young
Walter Blume
Fri Mar 22 16:45:30 2026
195.92.67.71

Walter Blume,born on 1 June 1915, served with 7./JG26 where he achieved 6 "kills" before he was shot down and captured wounded on 18 August 1940.
He was repatriated in 1943 and returned to combat with I/JG27 in early 1944.He served as Staffelkapitän 3./JG27 and later became Kommandeur I/JG27. He was promoted to Major on 1 January 1945, and finished the war with a total of 14 "kills".(See Donald Caldwell's book "JG26 War Diary" and also Prien's book unit history of Stab and I/JG27)
Hope this helps
Mike

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Wayne Santiago
April 14, 1943
Mon Apr 29 05:52:33 2026
64.114.78.49

In The JG 26 War Diary Volume Two, it is stated that JG 2 lost seven pilots in opposing an RAF Circus to Le Havre on April 14, 1943, and that the RAF lost none. In my recently purchased copy of John Foreman's Fighter Command War Diaries January 1942 to June 1943, there is no mention of such a one-sided encounter on this date. Can someone provide some facts about JG 2's activities on this date?
Thank you,
Wayne

[Richard T Eger]

From within a thread on favorite books on 12 O'Clock High!:

Jim P.
I know, I know, they're 'so' expensive....
Mon Jun 17 23:52:31 2026
209.237.196.248

but for bang for the buck any and all of the various Prien books are the best of show for single-engined fighters. The latest 'Jagdverbande' series is particularly recommended. At about $60 per they really aren't that expensive (list for a typical Schiffer volume being about the same) given all that is contained within - photos illustrating various camo schemes, markings and ace's aircraft, detailed unit losses, claims, bases and unit commanders - really superb stuff here.

Add to that volumes from guys doing thorough unit histories such as Don Caldwell, Eric Mombeek, Walter Waiss, Ulf Balke, etc. one gets a full accounting of LW activities of the subject units.

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Steve Butte
[email protected]
Addi Glunz
Sat Jul 13 02:47:26 2026
142.177.108.126

Friends,

I am interested to learn if Addi Glunz, of JG 26, is still alive or if he has passed away.

I recently read Don Caldwell's book on the unit and learned from his accounts that I was in action against him and colleagues over Brussels-Evere on January 1, 1945.

In advance on any reponses, many thanks.

Steve Butte
RCAF 403 Sqn.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

John Manrho
Glunz
Sat Jul 13 10:48:49 2026
213.75.77.74

Hello Steve, Addi Glunz is still alive but has been ill (Alzheimer) for many years and has no recollections of his wartime career.

[Richard T Eger]

From within a thread on 12 O'Clock High!:

Stefan Vetteriek
Blue 6
Mon Jul 22 16:41:16 2026
62.214.53.125

Hi Franek,

Thanx for your answer. Great help.

The Caldwell-book I was refering to was „JG 26 Photographic History“ published in 1994. Should have been more specific on this one. The picture of 175140 is on p. 143.

When looking at the publishing dates (Rodeike 1998, Caldwell War Diary 1999 and Walk Around 2026) I assume that Mr. Calldwell simply dug up some new evidence in the shape of the drawing you mention. So „blue 6“ it is. However I still wonder about the contrast between the blue and the black trim in some the b&w photos of this bird.

Just to make sure that I understood your post corectly: There is a pic in Don Caldwell‘s „JG 26 War Diary Vol. 2“ that shows the port side of W.Nr. 175140. Could you give me a „yes“ or „no“ on this one (It’s an expensive investment)?

Best regards

Stefan

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Kai-Mikael Jää-Aro
Müncheberg's Bf 109E-7
Tue Aug 27 19:21:07 2026
130.237.10.36

Comments, please:

All the profiles I've seen of Müncheberg's mount on Sicily indicate it is "Weiße 12", but looking for further photographic documentation I found a photo on p 121 of Nowarra's Messerschmitt Bf 109 where the caption refers to "yellow 12" and indeed there is a clear tonal difference between the insides of the "12" and the white part of the Balkenkreuz. As I understand it yellow became the Staffel colour of 7th Staffel only later in the war, or..?

There is also a photograph of presumably the same plane on p 205 in Rosch's Luftwaffe Codes, etc, which seems to indicate that the plane does not have a white tailband, but rather a IIIrd Gruppe vertical bar. Now, this picture could of course have been taken before 7./JG26 moved to Sicily, but otherwise, what would they have done with white bars on white bands - black outlines?

Finally, does anyone know what the W.Nr. of the aircraft would have been?

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

G.R.Morrison
Weisse 12
Tue Aug 27 20:53:43 2026
204.238.196.51

It is certainly WHITE 12. Nowarra may have assembled a large photo collection, but his captions are not to be taken as always accurate.

I do not know the WNr.

If you can find a copy, 7./JG 26 tour on Sicily is covered in Caldwell's history of JG 26 _Top Guns of the Luftwaffe_, and several pictures appear in his photo history of the unit as well.