Sturzkampfgeschwader 77

Sturzkampfgeschwader 77
Junkers Ju 87s of StG 77 on the Eastern Front
Active	1939–1943
Country	Nazi Germany
Branch	Template:Luftwaffe
Type	Dive bomber
Role	Close air support
Size	Air Force Wing
Insignia
Identification symbol	Geschwaderkennung of S2

Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 (StG 77) was a Luftwaffe dive bomber wing during World War II.

Operational history

Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 was formed on 1 May 1939, I. Group in Brieg, Stab and II. Group in Breslau-Schöngarten (today Copernicus Airport Wrocław). The III. Group was formed from II. Group of Kampfgeschwader 76 on 9 July 1940.

Stab, I and II./StG 77 first saw action in the Polish campaign attacking the towns of Lublinitz and Wielun on the very first day. After the campaign ended the Geschwader transferred to Luftflotte 3 in the west for the preparation of the invasion of France. From May 1940 StG 77 were heavily involved in tactical support of the land campaign as part of the 8th Air Corps. The unit was involved in the attack on Belgium and the Low Countries, commencing with a series of raids supporting the paratroop attack on the fortress at Eben Emael The unit also contributed to the Battle of Sedan, which was critical in the fall of France in 1940. Often flying 6 or 7 missions a day, StG 77 flew a series of shuttle missions bombing fortifications, lines of communication, troop concentrations and defence works, rapidly moving from one airfield to another as the German army advanced through the Netherlands and Northern Belgium. Losses were relatively light. However, Kommodore Oberst Günter Schwartzkopff was killed by French AA fire on 15 May while leading a bombing attack over Sedan. The latter part of May saw operations over France, with raids against Saint Quentin, Calais, and the Dunkirk perimeter. By 18 June StG 77 had supported the crossings at the rivers Marne, Seine and Loire.

Based in the Cherbourg area, StG 77 then participated in early part of the Battle of Britain, suffering high losses in machines and experienced leaders. Commencing with a raid on shipping on 9 July 1940, StG 77 lost I Gruppe Gruppenkommandeur Hpt. Fr. Friedrich-Karl Freiherr von Dalwigk zu Lichtenfels to Spitfires of No. 609 Squadron RAF. Hpt. Waldemar Plewig was shot down and taken prisoner on 8 August, while on 18 August 1940, 10 Stukas of I./ StG 77 were lost in an attack on Thorney Island, and a further 6 were damaged.

After participation in the Balkans campaigns of spring 1941, StG 77 formed part of the attack against the Soviet Union in June 1941, and supported the Army Group Centre as part of the 2nd Air Corps. Relocating into the Southern Front in November 1941, StG77 then flew supporting Army Group South. In December II. Gruppe was sent for refitting to Kraków. During 1942 StG77, as part of the 8th Air Corps, supported ground actions on the at the Sevastopol front and later, units took part in the Second Battle of Kharkov. By September 1942, III./StG 77 was subordinate to I./StG 1 on the northern front in support of Army Group North.

II./StG 77, under Major Kurt Huhn, was one of the main Stuka ground-attack units supporting the operations at Stalingrad. As the battle for the city intensified, so the unit moved ever closer to the city, reducing flight time and allowing more sorties every day.

II. Group was redesignated as III. Group, Schlachtgeschwader 10 on 18 October 1943, the remaining groups renamed to Schlachtgeschwader 77 the same day.

Commanding officers

Kommodore

• Oberst Günter Schwartzkopff, 1 May 1939 – 14 May 1940
• Major Clemens Graf von Schönborn-Wiesentheid, 15 May 1940 – 20 July 1942
• Major Walter Enneccerus, 13 October 1942 – 20 February 1943
• Major Helmut Bruck, 20 February 1943 – 18 October 1943

Gruppenkommandeure

• Hauptmann Friedrich-Karl Freiherr von Dalwigk zu Lichtenfels, 1 May 1939 – 13 July 1940
• Major Werner Roell, 20 February 1943 – 18 October 1943
• Hauptmann Helmut Leicht, 1 April 1943 – 18 October 1943
• Hauptmann Helmuth Bode, 9 July 1940 – 25 August 1942
• Hauptmann Georg Jakob, 26 August 1942 – 1 December 1942
• Hauptmann Franz Kieslich, 1 January 1943 – 18 October 1943