Active 1939–45 Branch Luftwaffe Size Air Force Wing | Country Nazi Germany Type Bomber wing | |
Role Strategic and tactical. | ||
Kampfgeschwader 27 "Boelcke" was a Luftwaffe medium bomber wing of the Second World War.
Contents
Formation
Formed on 1 May 1939, the Stab and I Gruppe were based in Hanover-Langenhagen, with II and III Gruppe at Wunstorf. The unit was initially equipped with the Heinkel He 111.
The IV gruppe was formed July 1940 in Avord as Erg.Gruppe/KG 27 with 3 staffeln; 2 with Ju 52, 1 with He 111.On 24 Nov 1940 the unit was again reduced to Erg.Staffel/KG 27, but on 13 Mar 1941 was increased to Gruppe strength. On 23 Nov 1944 KG 27 became Erg.KGr.(J).
Operations
KG 27 participated in the Polish campaign of 1939, and then became part of Luftflotte 2. During May–June 1940, KG 27 then participated in the Battle of France.
KG 27 was part of Luftflotte 3 during the Battle of Britain, with their Headquarters 'Stab' and I Gruppe based at Tours, II Gruppe at Dinard and Bourges, and III Gruppe at Rennes. From August onward in KG 27 flew operations during the offensive against Britain until June 1941, when the unit flew bombing operations on the Southern Russian front during the attack on the USSR. Through 1942 KG 27 were based in southern Russia during the advance into the Caucasus. After service over Stalingrad II./KG 27 was reformed in January 1943 in Langenhagen. A specialist train-busting staffel (14.(Eis)/KG 27) was formed in Jan 1943 in Charkow-Woitschenko.
On 13 November 1944 KG 27 was converted to a fighter unit flying the Bf 109 and renamed Erg.KGr.(J) 27. After almost all aircraft had been lost or grounded due to lack of fuel, the remnants of the unit were transferred to ground defence duties attached to paratroop divisions during April 1945.