''Jagdgeschwader'' 132 (JG 132) was a fighter wing of

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...

Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German '' Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the '' Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabt ...

before

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

. Formed in 1934 under the cover of ''Reklamestaffel Mitteldeutschland des DLV''. In 1938, the wing was renamed ''Jagdgeschwader'' 131 and in May 1939 became ''Jagdgeschwader'' 2 "Richthofen". The second formation of JG 132 in November 1938 was initiated by renaming ''Jagdgeschwader'' 234 to JG 132 which then became ''Jagdgeschwader'' 26 "Schlageter" in May 1939. I. ''Gruppe'' of JG 132 was given the honorary name "Richthofen", named after

Manfred von Richthofen Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (; 2 May 1892 – 21 April 1918), known in English as Baron von Richthofen or the Red Baron, was a fighter pilot with the German Air Force during World War I. He is considered the ace-of-aces of t ...

, in March 1935. With the reformation of JG 132 in November 1938, the ''Geschwader'' carried the honorary name "Schlageter", named after Albert Leo Schlageter.

History

JG 132 was the oldest fighter unit of the

, its roots dating back to 1934. The first element of JG 132 formed was I. '' Gruppe'' (1st group) under the cover name ''Reklamestaffel Mitteldeutschland des DLV'' (Advertisement Squadron Middle Germany of the German Air Sports Association) on 1 May 1934 in Döberitz. The ''Gruppe'' was placed under the command of ''Major''

Robert Ritter von Greim Robert ''Ritter'' von Greim (born Robert Greim; 22 June 1892 – 24 May 1945) was a German field marshal and First World War flying ace. In April 1945, in the last days of World War II, Adolf Hitler appointed Greim commander-in-chief of the ''L ...

. On 1 April 1935, II. ''Gruppe'' of JG 132 was created at

Jüterbog Airfield Jüterbog Airfield (also known as Altes Lager airfield) was a military air base located west of the town of Jüterbog, in Brandenburg, Germany. Nowadays paragliders and hang gliders start from Altes Lager. History Developed as part of the Nazi G ...

and placed under the command of ''Hauptmann''

Johann Raithel Johann Raithel (11 March 1897 – 29 January 1961) was a German general of the Luftwaffe, who commanded the ''Kampfgeschwader'' 77 during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. On 1 April 1936, ...

. The ''Geschwaderstab'' (headquarters unit) of JG 132 was established on 1 April 1936, making it the first ''Geschwaderstab'' of the Luftwaffe. Now a ''Major'', Raithel was appointed JG 132s first '' Geschwaderkommodore'' (wing commander). Command of II. ''Gruppe'' was then handed to ''Major'' Carl-August von Schoenebeck. On 1 July 1938, III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 132 under the command of ''Major'' Ernst Bormann was formed at Jüterbog Airfield. Tenure of the ''Gruppe'' with JG 132 ended on 1 November 1938 when the unit was detached and became the II. ''Gruppe'' of ''Zerstörergeschwader'' 141 (ZG 141—141st Destroyer Wing). IV. ''Gruppe'' of JG 132 was also formed on 1 July 1938 and headed by ''Oberstleutnant'' Theo Osterkamp. The ''Gruppe'' left JG 132 on 3 November to form the nucleus of a new ''Jagdgeschwader'', becoming the I. ''Gruppe'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 331 (JG 331—331st Fighter Wing) which later became the I. ''Gruppe'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing). On 1 November 1938, JG 132 was renamed and became ''Jagdgeschwader'' 131 (JG 131—131st Fighter Wing). On 1 November 1938, the same day JG 132 was renamed to JG 131, ''Jagdgeschwader'' 234 "Schlageter" (JG 234—234th Fighter Wing), under the command of ''Oberst'' Eduard Ritter von Schleich, was also renamed and became the second instance of JG 132. On 1 May 1939, JG 132 was again renamed and became ''Jagdgeschwader'' 26 "Schlager".

Commanding officers

Wing commanders

On 1 November 1938, JG 132 was renamed and became the newly formed JG 131 while on the same day elements of JG 234 became the second instance of JG 132.

Group commanders

I. ''Gruppe'' of JG 132

On 1 November 1938, I. ''Gruppe'' of JG 132 was renamed and became the newly formed I. ''Gruppe'' of JG 131 while on the same day I. ''Gruppe'' of JG 234 became the second instance of I. ''Gruppe'' of JG 132.

II. ''Gruppe'' of JG 132

On 1 November 1938, II. ''Gruppe'' of JG 132 became the I. ''Gruppe'' of ZG 141 while on the same day II. ''Gruppe'' of JG 234 became the second instance of II. ''Gruppe'' of JG 132.

III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 132

On 1 November 1938, III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 132 became the II. ''Gruppe'' of ZG 141.

IV. ''Gruppe'' of JG 132

On 3 November 1938, IV. ''Gruppe'' of JG 132 became the I. ''Gruppe'' of JG 331.

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * Fighter wings of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945 Military units and formations established in 1934 Military units and formations disestablished in 1939 {{Germany-mil-unit-stub