''Schlachtgeschwader'' 77 (SG 77) was a

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-Fliegerabtei ...

close air support In military tactics, close air support (CAS) is defined as air action such as air strikes by fixed or rotary-winged aircraft against hostile targets near friendly forces and require detailed integration of each air mission with fire and moveme ...

Geschwader This is a list of words, terms, concepts, and slogans that have been or are used by the German military. Ranks and translations of nicknames for vehicles are included. Also included are some general terms from the German language found frequently i ...

during

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 vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. It was formed on 18 October 1943 in Wassilkow from Stab/

Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 ''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 77 (StG 77) was a Luftwaffe dive bomber wing during World War II. From the outbreak of war StG 77 distinguished itself in every Wehrmacht major operation until the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942. If the claims mad ...

. With the exception of II. Group, which was redesignated as III. Group,

Schlachtgeschwader 10 ''Schlachtgeschwader'' 10 (SG 10) was a Close air support wing in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany during World War II. The Geschwader was formed on 18 October 1943 in Berdychiv from the Stab of Schnellkampfgeschwader 10. SG 10 was formed in Octo ...

, the remaining groups were renamed to Schlachtgeschwader 77. On 3 March 1945, ''9. Staffel'' equipped its Fw 190F-8s with Panzerblitz 80 mm anti-tank rockets. Adapted from the R4M rocket, these were carried under the outboard wings. On 17 April 1945 Stab and III./SG 77 were based at Kamenz, north-east of

Dresden Dresden (, ; Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; wen, label=Upper Sorbian, Drježdźany) is the capital city of the German state of Saxony and its second most populous city, after Leipzig. It is the 12th most populous city of Germany, the fourth larg ...

. A formation of P-51s of the 55th Fighter Group spotted SG 77's aircraft preparing to take-off. 116-kill 'ace' Oberleutnant August Lambert and two other pilots were taking off when the American fighters appeared. The Fw 190s jettisoned their bombs and tried to escape but all three were shot down, Lambert being killed in his Fw 190 F-8 'Black 9 + ' north of Hoyerswerda. Seven other Fw 190s were destroyed or badly damaged on the ground at Kamenz by the P-51s.

Commanding officers

*Major

Helmut Bruck Helmut Bruck (16 February 1913 – 25 August 2001) was a German pilot during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany. During his career he flew 973 missions. Awards and decorations ...

, 18 October 1943 – 15 February 1945 *Obstleutnant Manfred Mossinger, 16 February 1945 – 8 May 1945

References

{{Sturzkampf/Schlachtgeschwader of the Luftwaffe Luftwaffe Wings Military units and formations established in 1943 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945