Sturzkampfgeschwader1

Sturzkampfgeschwader1 (StG 1 - Dive Bomber Wing 1)was aLuftwaffedive bomberwingduringWorld War II.

Sturzkampfgeschwader1
I./StG 1's emblem
Active	1 May 1939 – 18 October 1943
Country	Nazi Germany
Branch	Luftwaffe
Type	Dive bomber
Role	Close air support Offensive counter air Anti-tank warfare Air interdiction Maritime interdiction Bandenbekämpfung(anti-partisan)
Size	Air Force Wing
Engagements	World War II
Commanders
Notable commanders	Helmut Mahlke(commanded one group)
Insignia
Identification symbol	A5

StG 1 was formed in May 1939 and remained active until October 1943, when it was renamed and reorganised intoSchlachtgeschwader 1(SG 1). It operated theJunkers Ju 87Stuka dive-bomber exclusively in the combat role.

StG 1 served the German war effort on every front including limitedBandenbekämpfungoperations in support ofWehrmachtand Nazi paramilitary forces.

Formation

StG 1 was formed at the close of the 1930s as the Luftwaffe rushed to form and reorganise its combat units. I./StG 1 was formed first, not thestab('command')staffel('squadron'), on 1 May 1939 inInsterburg,East Prussia.Major Werner Rentsch was appointed as the group's first commanding officer. The group was created by renaming I./StG 160. It remained there with all 38 Ju 87s serviceable, and two of its threeDornier Do 17Ps operational for reconnaissance.

Stab./StG 1 was formed on 18 November 1939 atJüterbog,and the wing had its firstGeschwaderkommodore,OberstEberhard Baier. It was equipped with three Ju 87s and six Do 17s by 10 May 1940. The unit was placed under the command ofVIII.Fliegerkorps.All but one of the aircraft was combat ready. II./StG 1 was formed on 9 July 1940 in France, possibly atSaint-Inglevert Airfield,aroundMarquise,northeast ofBoulogne.HauptmannAnton Keil was appointed commander.

III./StG 1 also did not exist until 9 July 1940 when it was formed atFalaise.HauptmannHelmut Mahlkebecame the first commanding officer. The group was formed by renamingTrägersturzkampfgruppeI./Tr.G. 186. The strength of the second and third groups at the commencement of combat operations is unknown.

War service

I./StG 1 was assignedLuftwaffenkommando Ostpreußen(Air Force Command East Prussia), under theLw-Lehrdivision(Air Force Learning Division), and later under the command ofFliegerführer z.b.V(Flying Leader z.b.V). The group was then the only existing combat unit of the wing, and fought as an independent group, and was not subordinated to another dive-bomber wing.

Poland and "Phoney War"

On 1 September 1939 the GermanWehrmachtbegan theinvasion of Polandwith the cooperation from theSoviet UnionandRed Army,which began World War II. 1. and 3./StG 1 opened the attack on Poland, carrying out possibly the first air raid of the war.Bruno Dilley's squadron was ordered to destroy the bridge atTczew,nearDanzig.

Personnel of the wing had travelled across the bridge via the formerPrussian Eastern Railwayand learned that the detonation cables for the demolition charges ran along the slope of the railway embankment between the station and the bridge. At 04:45, Dilly and his unit attacked at low-level, hitting the bunkers and array of cables. The mission was a partial success, but turned to failure whenPolish Armyengineers repaired the cables and blew the bridge before German forces arrived.The cause for the failure has been blamed on the German Army failing to follow up the attack with a speedy advance.

Later that day, StG 1 truck at radio stations inBabiceand Lacy, nearWarsaw.The group also attacked airfields in theKrakówarea.The group lost three Ju 87s on this first day; one crew was killed flying into the ground on the return flight from Dilley's mission.On 3 September the group supported the3rd Army'sadvance toMława.Accurate bombing to within five metres of the bunkers stunned theModlin Armydefenders allowing the Germans to overrun their defences. The group took part in theBattle of Radom,in which six Polish divisions were destroyed from 8 to 13 September. It also reduced theIłżapocket.ThePrusy Armywas severely damaged by air attacks by I./StG 1,StG 2,I./StG 77and III./StG 151../LG 2,I., II./KG 55and I./KG 77supported.

The group passed through field strips, as far south asGórowoandOrońsko.It ended the campaign at the latter location on 29 September 1939, a week before the Polish surrender. I./StG 1 moved toCologneand stayed there until March 1940. AtDelmenhorstthe group became the first to receive the Ju 87R, which had long-range tanks fitted forMaritime interdictionoperations.

Scandinavia

In February and March 1940 the Wehrmacht began preparations to invadeDenmarkandNorway,christenedOperation Weserübung.X.Fliegerkorpswas the only German combat air formation committed. I./StG 1 was placed under the air corps' command and based atKiel-Holtenau.The group possessed 39 Ju 87s. The force was a mixture of Ju 87Bs and Rs.

The group participated in theNorwegian Campaignfrom 9 April. The long-range Ju 87s appear not to have needed staging grounds for operations against Norwegian targets and probably did not play a role in theinvasion of Denmarkearlier in the day. The first attacks were directed and coastal fortresses to prevent them from interfering with the seaborne landing. The group attackedAkershus Fortress.In the late morning, the group attackedOscarsborg Fortressafter the Norwegian coastal fortresshad sunktheheavy cruiserBlücher.The group moved toArhus,Denmark and then toStavanger.1staffelmoved toOslo Fornebu.Naval interdiction and was a priority and the main target was theRoyal Navy'sHome Fleet.The same day, the unit hit the 600 ton torpedo boatÆgerin the engine room. It was run aground and scuttled.The sinking did not save the German freighterRoda,which was carrying anti-aircraft guns to Stavanger. The Norwegian destroyer sank her before her own demise.III./KG 4have also been credited with the attack that sank her: the group was operating in the same area.

Erhard Milchaddresses airmen of StG 1 in Norway. A Ju 87R is in the background

The group attempted to repel Royal Navy forces interdicting German supply lines. On 17 April seven aircraft bombedHMSSuffolk(55),hitting a turret. Only three days earlierSuffolksank the German tankerSkagerraknorthwest ofBodø.On 19 April three Ju 87s attacked British warships inNamsos.It was their first action in theNamsos Campaign.1./StG 1 was ordered, byMartin Harlinghausen,to operate from frozen lakes for want of appropriate landing grounds.

On 20 April the wing suffered their first loss. While attacking the anti-aircraft cruiserHMSCairo,LeutnantKarl Pfeil and his gunner Gerhard Winkels were shot down and captured near Namsos by anti-aircraft fire; no hits were scored. On 25 April, a British raid byFleet Air ArmBlackburn SkuaandFairey Swordfishaircraft destroyed six or seven Ju 87s near Trondheim/Værnes. CarriersHMSArk RoyalandHMSGloriousescaped retaliation attacks.Five other aircraft were damaged andMajorPaul-Werner Hozzel's 1.Staffelwas effected.Erhard Milchused 800 civilian forced labourers to repair the extensively damaged airfield.

On 28 April attacks against ships inÅlesundandÅndalsneswere carried out and a small ship was sunk.Ju 87s did manage to sink anti-submarine trawlersSiretoko,JardineandWarwickshire.HMSBitternwas badly damaged byOberleutnantElmo Schäfer and sunk byHMSJuno.Later, on 1 May 1940, they failed to hitArk Royalduring an interdiction against British naval forces.Staffelkapitänof 2.Staffel,OberleutnantHeinz Böhme claimed to have hit the carrier (he did not, it was a near-miss) and failed to mention in his report that he lost one of his Ju 87s (OberfeldwebelErich Stahl andUnteroffizierFriedrich Gott) to twoSea Gladiatorsof802 Squadron FAA.This was the only loss on 1 May.

A Ju 87 rearmed. Waterlogged airfields posed practical problems for mechanics

The next few missions on the afternoon of 1 May and 3 May, the Ju 87s had more success As allied forced contemplated withdrawal. The French large destroyerBisonwas sunk along withHMSAfridiby I./StG 1 on 3 May 1940 during the evacuation from Namsos.Bison's forward magazine were hit killing 108 of the crew.Afridi,who had attempted to rescueBison's survivors was sunk with the loss of 63 sailors.Three other ships were damaged by the group in attacks on convoys off the coast.The trawlers were later scuttled;St Goran(565gross register tons(GRT)), HMSAston Villaof the 15th Antisubmarine Striking Force, (546 GRT),Gaul(550 GRT).

On 4 May the group sank the Norwegian steamersBlaafjeld,Sekstant,PanandAafjord.StG 1 flew 100 missions against shipping. It attempted to sink the Britishaircraft carriersbut none of the attacks were a success.On 8 May Paul-Werner Hozzel,OberleutnantElmar Schaefer andLeutnantMartin Möbusand veteran observerUnteroffizierGerhard Grenzel, became the firstStukacrews to receive theKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross.Grenzel was the first non-commissioned officer in the Luftwaffe to receive the award.Alliedofficer commanding,Major GeneralAdrian Carton de Wiartrecommended ceasing supply operations in the face of Germanair superiority.Maritime interdiction was the Luftwaffe'smost effective contribution.

On 22 May the group raided Bodø harbour, and sank the Norwegian trawlerIngrid.The group probably sank the freighterSkerstadatRognan.Two days later, an armed trawler was sunk at Bodø. On 27 May the town was bombed in an effort to destroy the radio station but numerous houses were also destroyed.TheGruppesuffered one loss;FeldwebelKurt Zube, to aNo. 263 Squadron RAFGloster Gladiatorflown by Flight CommanderCaesar Hull.Zube was rescued by German forces.By this date StG 1 maintained 39 Ju 87s with 27 operational.

The group took part in theBattles of Narvik.Heinz Böhme, commanding 2.Staffel,and his war correspondent gunner were killed on 2 June 1940 overNarvik.The German crew purportedly fired on Allied soldiers from the wreck.Böhme was the victim of Sergeant H H Kitchener and Flight Lieutenant A T Williams of No. 263 Squadron RAF. Two more Ju 87s were shot down on the morning of the 2 June.LeutnantKlaus Kuber and his gunner were killed, the victim of aNo. 43 Squadron RAFHawker Hurricaneflown by Sergeant B L Taylor whilstFeldwebelHans Ott and his gunnerSonderführerBrack fell victim to Flying Officer John F Drummond. The campaign ended with the Withdrawal of Allied forces on 10 June.

Belgium and France

Only Stab./StG 1 took part inFall Gelb,the attack onWestern Europe.Three Ju 87s and six Do 17s (five operational) were placed under the command ofII.Fliegerkorps,attached toLuftflotte 3.To bolster strength, II./StG 2 and I.(St)/TrG 186, a specialised anti-shipping unit was placed under Eberhard Baier's command.

The Stab unit did take part of in the attack onFort Eben-Emael;which led to the crucial victory at theBattle of Fort Eben-Emaeland probably continued to support German forces in theBattle of BelgiumandBattle of France.WithKG 76and KG 77, the StG 1 elements supported the break out of theXV Panzer Corpsacross theMeusebetweenHouxandDinant.The StG 1 contingent was present in theAmienssector on 25 May assisting KG 77 repulse French armoured counter-attacks.

On 9 June it did take part in air attacks againstPont-Sainte-Maxence.Specific operations of these small contingent are unknown.I./StG 1 arrived in France atEvreuxon around the third week of June. The group attacked fortified positions around theCherbourg Peninsula.The fighting ended with theArmistice of 22 June 1940.

Britain and Channel Front

In July 1940 all units were relocated to based atAngers, France,under the operational command ofGeneral der FliegerWolfram von Richthofen., commanding VIII.Fliegerkorps.StG 1 prepared forUnternehmen Adlerangriff(Operation Eagle Attack) which began theBattle of Britain.StG 1 formed part ofHugo Sperrle'sLuftflotte3. The total strength of theGeschwaderwas 80 Ju 87s with 55 operational.First group began using airfields around Caen while third group usedThévillefor its base of operations.

On 7 July, III./StG 1 formed officially two days later according to records, flew their first combat mission over theEnglish Channelin theKanalkampfphase of the air battle. Their assignment was to destroy shipping (maritime interdiction) but the pilots found no ships. On 13 July II./StG 1 flew shipping operations escorted byJG 51.Convoy CW 5 became the target. 11Hawker Hurricanesfrom56 Squadronengaged before the Bf 109s could react and the group suffered two damaged Ju 87s. The Ju 87s had some success;HMSVanessawas disabled by near-misses and was taken under tow by tugLady Duncannonandand repaired in November.

On 19 July elements of the wing attacked the destroyerHMSBeagleoff Dover.Beaglereplied with its anti-aircraft guns and high-speed manoeuvres, to escape the deluge of bombs from 40 to 50 Ju 87s. Several near misses damagedBeagle'sgyro and engines but there were no casualties and the ship made it back to Dover. Later in the day, nine Do 17s fromKG 2and Ju 87s from StG 1 bombed Dover harbour, attacking in shallow dives. Twenty-two bombs were dropped. The oilerWar Sepoyblew up, the tugSimla,the drifterGolden Driftand the destroyerHMSGriffinwere all damaged.

Wartime film of Ju 87s attacking a British convoy in the Channel. It was probably filmed for propaganda

On 20 July, II./StG 1 attacked ConvoyBosom.The Bf 109 escorts were unable to prevent the RAF intercepting, which damaged four Ju 87s and accounted for two destroyed;LeutnantRoden and his gunner being killed. The wing also lost its Do 17 reconnaissance machine shot down near the convoy.While the fighters were dog-fighting, the Ju 87s attacked the convoy and the coasterPulboroughblew up. The destroyerHMSBrazen,which was hit several times, snapped in half, then sank.

On 24 July StG 1 sank the freighterTerlingsand the Norwegian steamerKollskegg.The next day, CW 8 was discovered and attacked by 11.(Stuka)/LG 1and III./StG 1, offFolkestone.Five ships were sunk and four damaged, including the destroyersHMSBoreasandHMSBrilliant.TheKriegsmarinesent nine E-Boats against the convoy and hit three with gunfire. Some of the Ju 87s were damaged by naval gunfire.II./StG 1 accounted for the cement carrierSummityand collierHenry Moon.

On 26 July, elements of StG 1 attacked Convoy Bacon off theIsle of Portland,but lost one Ju 87 and a reconnaissance Do 17.On 29 July a formation consisted of 48 Ju 87s from six Staffeln of IV.(Stuka)/LG 1, II./StG 1 and II./StG 3attacked Dover harbour. StG 1 and LG 1 lost two Stukas each and II./StG 3 reported one damaged. The steamerSS Gronlandwas sunk in the outer harbour, having already been damaged in the attacks of 25 July; 19 crew were killed. The patrol yachtGulzarwas sunk but the crew were saved and the coastal shipSandhurstwas destroyed.

The last major convoy action took place on 8 August 1940 against Convoy CW 9 (Peewit), comprising 20 merchant ships and nine naval vessels. II. and III./StG 1 to attack the convoy.Commanded by MajorPaul-Werner HozzelandHauptmannHelmut Mahlke the attacks sank the Dutch vesselSSAjaxcarrying a cargo ofWheatin five minutes, killing four men and wounding four. SSCoquetdalewas also sunk with two men wounded.III./StG 1 lost two Ju 87s, II./StG 1 suffered one damaged.In the afternoon 82 Ju 87s from III./StG 1, I./StG 3 and Stab, II./StG 77attacked convoy CW 9. Anti-submarine yachts HMSWilna,HMSRion,trawlers HMSCape Palliser,Kingston Chrysoberyl,Kingston OlivineandStella Capellawere attacked, having been sent to rescue survivors from previous attacks.Cape PalliserandRionwere badly damaged; none were sunk and the Ju 87s appear to have suffered no loss.

On 11 August aStaffelof Ju 87s from II./StG 1 and IV./LG 1 arrived over theThames Estuaryto attack convoy Agent and Arena. The formation was protected by Bf 109s belonging toJG 26and led byAdolf Galland.One StG 1 Ju 87 also fell to RAF fighters before the Bf 109s arrived.The raid sank two naval trawlers—TamariskandPyropekilling 12 seamen.

On 13 August the Luftwaffe began Operation Eagle Attack to destroyRAF Fighter Commandin southern England. 52 Ju 87s from StG 1 and StG 2 were ordered to attackRAF WarmwellandYeovil.StG 1 and StG 2 gave up on their original targets owing to low-clouds and bombed Portland instead.II./StG 1 was sent to bomb airfields nearRochester.The group failed to find the target and returned without suffering interception.

II./StG 1 commanded by Anton Keil partnered IV./LG 1 in an attack on coastal targets on 14 August. Heavily escorted, Fighter Command responded with large fighter forces. Over 200 aircraft joined the air battle over Dover and the Ju 87s sank the Goodwin lightship. LG 1 lost five aircraft StG 1 escaped without loss.

On 15 August IV(St)./LG 1 andHauptmannKeil commanding II./StG 1, were ordered by the operations staff at II.Fliegerkorpsto attackRAF HawkingeandRAF Lympne.The latter was attacked by 26 Ju 87s from II./StG 1 while German fighters provided effective escort. The attack caused enough damage for the airfield to be out action for two days; but few aircraft were present on the field at the time. I./StG 1 attacked RAF Warmwell while Yeovil was bombed by II./StG 2. The Ju 87s were covered by 60 Bf 109s fromJG 53andJG 27.Another 40 Bf 110s from ZG 76 and LG 1 flew as support.The wing lost only one Stuka from first group, shot down over Hawkinge.

StG 1's next major operation was on the 16 August. Stab. and III./StG 1 attacked and knocked out the radar station at Ventnor, which remained inoperative for an entire week, before also proceeding to destroy three hangars and half a dozen aircraft atRNAS Lee-on-Solent.Meanwhile, StG 2 carried out an effective attack onRAF Tangmere.StG 1 escaped without loss once more, but StG 2 lost nine with three damaged.

The Ju 87 groups were mauled in the largeair battles of the 18 Augustand saw no further action in thebattle for air superiority.StG 77 lost 17 of its crews on that day.In the two weeks preceding, the Stuka units had flown 14 major operations and lost 39 aircraft from 281.For the remainder of August 1940 the only other incident of note occurred on 28 August when two third group aircraft collided at Deauville airfield killing all four men.

They remained active, against shipping in the English Channel, and also played a minor role inThe Blitz,flying some night sorties againstLondon.At the beginning of November 1940, a forward command post was set up atOstend,Belgium for StG 1's anti-shipping operations.A handful of specially picked crews from I. and II./StG 1 carried out small-scale attacks against coastal targets until mid-February 1941.

On 1 November 1940, the group sankTorbay II(83 GRT) of the east coast of Kent, and attached convoy FS 322 in the Thames Estuary sinkingTillburyness(279 GRT) killing ten, steamerLetchworth(1,317 GRT) from convoy FS 322, killing one manDuring the attack on convoy FS 322 the group also sank the nearby East Oazelightshipwith the loss of all six of its crew.The sloop HMSPintailwas badly damaged escorting FS 323.Over the 29–30 November it lost Bf 110 reconnaissance aircraft to RAF interceptors offRamsgate.First group was moved toBergen op Zoomto attack shipping in the Thames andSouth East England.Saint-Pol-sur-TernoiseandBriashosted second group, from 26 October. The last operation of note came on the 11/12 February 1941, when an aircraft was shot down attacking a convoy in an unusual night-attack.Third group lost an aircraft from 9Staffelon an identical sortie two nights later.

Siege of Malta

From 26 December 1940 to 10 January 1941, I./StG 1 was transferred toTrapaniand was subordinated to X.Fliegerkorps.Stab followed on 22 February, with II. and III./StG 1. The purpose of the transfer was to assist Hitler's Italian ally in theBattle of the Mediterranean.The first objectives were operations against theMediterranean Fleet,Allied shipping passing betweenSicilyandItaly,and theSiege of Malta.

One of the first targets was the aircraft carrierHMSIllustrious.On 11 January 1941, II./StG 2 and I./StG 1 set out to attackIllustriousbut chanced upon the light cruisersHMSSouthamptonandGloucester.Hits were scored on both;Southamptonwas so badly damaged her navy escorts scuttled her—the group is credited with assisting the sinking.II./StG 2 struck the fatal blows against the ship.The attacks on the carrier failed to sink her but put her out of action for a year.II./StG 2 sent 43 Ju 87s with support from I./StG 1. Ten Italian SM 79s had drawn off the carrier'sFairey Fulmarfighters. Some 10 Ju 87s attacked the carrier unopposed. Witnessed byAndrew Cunningham,C-in-C of the Fleet from the battleshipHMSWarspite,the Ju 87s scored six hits. One destroyed a gun, another hit near her bow, a third demolished another gun, while two hit the lift, wrecking the aircraft below deck, causing explosions of fuel and ammunition. Another went through the armoured deck and exploded deep inside the ship. Two further attacks were made without result. Badly damaged, but with her main engines still intact, she steered for the now dubious haven of Malta.The attack lasted six minutes;killed 126 crew members and wounded 91.

RAF Luqawas attacked on 18 January and one Ju 87 was shot down by fighters. On 19 January another two were lost over Malta bombing the aircraft carrier, with another damaged. On 5/6 February the HM TrawlerTourmalinewas attacked.Force HshelledGenoa(Operation Grog), and so the group transferred toSardiniaon 9 February but did not succeed in finding the British ships. From there it was sent to AfricaII./StG 1 claimed the last major success over Malta; the 26 February attack on Luqa destroyed most hangars, workshops and destroyed or damaged 17 to 19 aircraft. It cost the group three Ju 87s.III./StG 1 also took part in the attack. It lost two Ju 87s over Malta on 5 March 1941. Third group also attackedMalta convoysMW 6. They claimed two ships sunk, but British records show none were lost, but two were bombed at their berths.The group's commanding officer Helmut Mahlke returned with his Ju 87 heavily damaged by ground-fire.

7 and 8Staffelwere sent temporarily to North Africa to replace I./StG 1 which had been sent to the Balkans. The group continued with attacks againstVallettaon 23 March, and the harbour on 11 April whileTa' Vnezjawas bombed. An Italian Ju 87 unit was attached to bolster its strength. The group appears to have ceased operations over Malta in mid-April.II. and III./StG 1 continued attacks on Malta. On 9 May both groups bombed Malta. Amongst their losses wasOberleutnantUlrich Heinze of 9staffel,killed while engaging a Britishsubmarinein the harbour.II./StG 1 attacked another convoy on 9 May and withdrew to Greece on 12 May.

North Africa

Ju 87 abandoned in Libya. The photograph shows all the distinct features of the aircraft

The opening phase of theNorth African Campaignbegan with a series of Italian defeats culminating in the disastrousOperation Compass,which destroyed much of the Italian North African Army. I./StG 1 deployed toCastel Benito,nearTripoli, Libya.The mission was to prevent a collapse of the Axis in the region by supporting theAfrika Korps.First group began attacking ports inCyrenaicain preparation forOperation Sonnenblume.It remained there until May 1943, by that time it had been renamed II./StG 3.

On 14 February one crewman was killed by ground fire overEl Agheilaand four days later 12 Ju 87s attacked enemy positions nearMarsa Brega,theDesert Air Forceclaimed five of the dive-bombers. On 22 February it hit the Royal Navy monitorTerrorwhich was damaged inBenghazi.At this time it carried out attacks againstBritish Armymotorised transport and tanks wastofMarble Arch.The British reported the loss of 40 vehicles.

First group was ordered toSofiain March and missedErwin Rommel's offensives. It did not return until 25 April, to Castel Benito.By that time, the sole aerial opponent within the perimeter,No. 73 Squadron RAF,had withdrawn, that very day, because their airstrips had been rendered inoperable through bombing.It attacked the Operation Tiger convoy without success; although it committed all 28 aircraft. The group left forGreeceon 28 May but returned on from 1 June, based atDerna.Targets aroundSollum,BardiaandCapuzzowere bombed on 16 June. The group also attacked Allied forces surrounded in theSiege of Tobruk.The group suffered two losses to enemy aircraft. One was lost to ground-fire on 8 July and another four were lost toDAFfighters on 29 July 1941.On 25/26 October the group sank the fast Royal Navy minelayer HMSLatona(2,650 tons) off Bardia. The attacks on the Australian garrison at Tobruk were interrupted by an RAF attack on Derna which damaged five aircraft. On 20 November three to six Ju 87s from a 12-strong formation were lost to RAF fighters in the Bir el Gobi area.

II./StG 1 also operated intermittently in Africa. On 11 April an attack on Tobruk cost it three Ju 87s to ground-fire as it supportedSonnenblume,across Cyrenaica. One of itsStaffelwas staffed by experienced night-flying pilots, but it is unclear whether night operations were flown.III./StG 1, with its Italian contingent, supported the drive on Tobruk with attacks on shipping in the harbour on 12 and 14 April. On 17 Sollum harbour and anchored shipping was attacked as well as Tobruk's inner defences. On 19 April it turned north, and attacked the Maltese capital again. By 2 May it was supporting Italian forces fighting near Tobruk. Two days later, it switched back to attacking Malta's capital. On 8 May it departed Derna and went back to Trapani. On 23 May it deployed to Greece. It did not return to the North African Front.

A StG 1 Ju 87 in theMuseum of Science and Industry Chicago.It remains the only surviving aircraft from thegeschwader.

I./StG 1 remained in Africa until January 1942. It resistedOperation Crusader,losingHauptmannGerhard Schmitt killed on 5 December. On 13 January it was renamed II./StG 3 and was not reformed until June 1943.

Balkans campaign

In March, the pro-German Yugoslav government wastoppled.A furious Hitler ordered the attack on Greece to be expanded to includeKingdom of Yugoslavia.Operation Marita.The Luftwaffe committed StG 1, 2 and 77 to the campaign.StG 1 was reassigned to VIII.Fliegerkorps,under the command of von Richthofen, for the Greek campaign.I./StG 1 moved to Kraynitsi on 1 April, south west of Sofia,Bulgaria.It reported 24 Ju 87Rs available plus the attachment on Stab./StG 2, assigned for the duration of the invasions ofYugoslaviaand Greece. III./StG 1 transferred to Argos, Greece to support the attack onCreteon 23 May and did not participate in the campaign on the mainland.

StG 1 did not supportOperation Punishment,Hitler's retribution bombing of Belgrade. The wing does not appear on the order of battle in the north. StG 77 supported the attacks, with KG 2, 3 and 4 bombing the city. The dive bombers were ordered to attack airfields and anti-aircraft gun positions as the level bombers struck civil and government targets.Belgrade was badly damaged, with 2,271 people killed and 12,000 injured.

The first loss came on 7 April over Veria in northern Greece, when threestaffelran into Greek anti-aircraft fire. On 14 April 2staffellost a Ju 87 to aHellenic Air Force-flownPZL P.11near Trikala. The support operations were flown in support of theBattle of the Metaxas Line.First group was ordered back to Trapani, Sicily, and then back to Castel Benito on 25 April. On 8 May it was ordered to Elmas in Sardinia for action against theTigerconvoy. 28 Ju 87s attacked the convoy without success. It returned to Greece on 12 May, based at Argos for operations over Crete. The group suffered one loss in theBattle of Crete.Second group lost two Ju 87s over Crete.Richthofen and his Ju 87s in StG 1 and 77, forced the British to abandon the waters north of Crete by 23 May.The group remained in Africa, until British counter-attacks drove Rommel's forces out of Cyrenaica. It was renamed II./StG 3 on 13 January 1942.

Eastern Front

Official death notification (Sturzkampfgruppe), 1941

In June 1941, the remaining StG 1 groups (Stab and second group) moved toSuwałki,still under the command of VIII.Fliegerkorps.Second group mustered 39 Ju 87s with 28 ready for combat.III./StG was based atDubowo.The group reported 24 Ju 87s operational from 39.The wing supportedArmy Group Centrein the opening phase ofOperation Barbarossa,the war on theEastern Front.

On 22 June the war began with the Luftwaffe attackingRed Air Forceairfields. III./StG 1 was ordered to support the advance toBialystokandMinsk—Battle of Białystok–Minsk.Until 29 July it also supported German forces in theBattle of Smolensk.III./StG 1 attacked road traffic in around theRoslavl,GomelandBryanskregions as Army Group Centre advanced east toMoscowuntil the beginning of August.

II./StG 1 began supporting the advance in theBelarus SSR.It lost four Ju 87s over Minsk and supported theSmolenskoperation while attacking targets in theVelikiye Lukiarea. Two crews were lost on 24 June. The first crew were killed but group commander Helmut Mahlke was shot down over Minsk but he made it back to German lines.On 8 July Mahlke was shot down a second time by aMikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3,and he and his gunner were wounded in action. His wounds were such he was invalidated from flying again. Mahlke remained as commanding officer until replaced on 19 September by Major Peter Gassman.The days operations saved the17th Panzer Division,of the47th Panzer Corps,which had been surrounded by Soviet armour northwest ofOrsha.StG 1 supported a second encirclement battle at Smolensk. The airmen ofLuftflotte 2claimed the destruction of 100 tanks, 1,500 trucks, 41 artillery pieces, 24 artillery batteries in the Smolensk sector alone, from 29 July to 5 August.

In early August Hitler shifted the emphasis of the air effort toLeningrad.VIII.Fliegerkorpswas assigned toLuftflotte 1,supportingArmy Group North,which now had its first Ju 87 groups.Stab.,II., and III./StG 1. With III./StG 2 the dive bomber groups could must only 162 aircraft.Opposing them was the VVS Northern Front with 560 aircraft - though the VVS KBF was supporting theSoviet 8th Armyin northernEstoniaand attackingBerlin.142 aircraft were also deployed in the Karelian Isthmus and Markian Popov, AOC commanding recalled the 2 BAD and 7 IAP to deal with the developing threat.The German forces carried out 1,126 sorties on 10 August, between I. and VIII.FliegerkorpsThey claimed 10 tanks, more than 200 vehicles and 15 artillery batteries. In theLake Ilmenarea, German airmen reported tough opposition.As the German16thand18tharmies moved into northern Russia and Estonia, VIII.Fliegerkorpsdropped 3,300 tons of bombs in support.The wing's most notable casualty at this time was second groups' commanding officer, Anton Keil, killed on 29 August in theToropets.Keil was replaced by Johann Zemsky.Keil had fallen to 191 IAP's Yegor Novikov. Keil attempted to force-land in Soviet territory but the Ju 87 overturned and they were killed.August operations had cost StG 1 20 aircraft.

In September third group was operating in northern Ukraine—apparently loaned to Luftflotte 2— and was supporting the Second Panzer Group atKonotopon 9th and attacking rail lines south of Romney.II./StG 1 attacking Soviet troop movements in support of the XLVII. Panzer Corps near Bryansk.They assistedHeinz Guderian's Panzer Group reach an seize bridgeheadacross the riverSeym,halfway betweenKievanKursk.III./StG 1 supported the Panzer Group's3rd Panzer Divisioncapture of a vital crossing point near Lokhvitsa on theSula River.The unit flew 47 bombing missions against troop concentrations in the area and lost one aircraft.The success led to an order to close the pocket around Kiev the following ḍay.Some elements of both groups took part in theKiev encirclement.

For the plannedBattle of Moscow,Luftflotte1 was formally relieved of all Ju 87 units in late September, and those supporting the Kiev operation were moved toLuftflotte2.with the exception of StG 77. II./StG 1 supported the advances toRzhevandKalinin.On 2 December the group lost squadron leaderHauptmannJoachim Riedger in a mi-air collision. Plans to withdraw some of the squadrons for conversions to the Ju 87D were cancelled when the Soviet forces began a large-scale counter-offensive on 5 December. III./StG 1 supported the advance toTulaandOrel.The group was withdrawn on the day of the Soviet counter-offensive toSchweinfurtto convert onto the Ju 87D. It would not return until February 1942.At the end of Operation Barbarossa, StG 1 had lost 60Stukasin aerial combat and one on the ground.

Supporting all three Army Groups

III./StG 1 returned in time to render valuable air support to the collapsing German front. Army Group Centre's lines were penetrated and the Red Army drove a deep wedge, or salient, into the German-held territory. StG 1 operated on the seam between Army Group North and Centre and helped contain the Soviet advance. One pilot Erich Hanne claimed 16 tanks and 26 artillery and anti-tank guns destroyed.The German air operations were critical in stabilising the front and preventing a general collapse on the ground.The subsequent fighting on the central sector continued for over a year, and became known as theBattles of Rzhev.On 1 March 1942 II./StG 1 recorded 42 Ju 87s operational.On 13 May, while in Rzhev, the group supported Operation Nordpol, a failed attempt to surround the39thand29thSoviet armies.

On 17 May 1942 II./StG 1 was ordered to Konstantinovka in theDonets Basin,in preparation forOperation Blue,the summer offensive to theCaucasus.The wing was not sent as an emergency force to theSecond Battle of Kharkov,which StG 2 and 77 were sent.Another experienced pilot was lost on 21 May; Group CommanderHauptmannvon Malapert-Neufville was killed north of Orel. On 17 June elements of the group bombedSoviet partisanspositions after an attack on a train in the Shukovka area, to the rear of the Second Panzer Army.The group moved south and supported the advance during theBattle of Stalingrad.On 26 August, three days into the battle, it shared in the destruction of 40 tanks belonging to the Soviet63rd Army.

On 14 October II./StG 1 supported a concerted effort to capture the city. The Luftwaffe flew 2,000 sorties and dropped 600 tons of bombs on Soviet-held areas.With II./StG 2 and I./StG 77 53 dive-bomber missions were flown and 320 individual sorties.There was no opposition by the VVS. Air support enabled the 6th army to capture theVolgograd Tractor Plant.The following day the Ju 87s suppressed Soviet artillery on the opposite bank and cut the flow of supplies to thedefending 62nd army.By 29 October, the 62nd army were down to 47,000 men and 19 tanks fragmented into three groups. The Germans control of the air and 6:1 numerical superiority failed to eliminate the small Soviet pockets on the west bank of theVolga.

In November 1942 the Red Army beganOperation Uranus,which trapped four axis armies in the city. The group evacuated toOblivskayabut 5 and 6staffelwere trapped and destroyed in the fighting.OnlyZG 1,StG 2 and 77 were called on to provide air support forOperation Winter Storm,the failed relief effort.

On 23 November 1942 second group handed over all remaining aircraft to StG 2. It transferred toRostov-on-Donto refit. On 1 January 1943 it had only a single aircraft before re-equipping in February and then fighting against Soviet spearheads at theRossoshandDnepropetrovskregions, often flying fromPoltava.From the end of March to April 1943 the group was transferred toBryanskfor rest and refitting.

III./StG 1 remained nearLuga,after transferring from Schweinfurt. It had 33 Ju 87D-1s, nine Ju 87R-2s and five Ju 87R-4s by 27 February 1942. From Luga, it carried out heavy bombing attacks on theBaltic Fleetfrom 4 April (OperationEisstoss).Thus far, the Soviet fleet had remained intact in the fortress island ofKronstadt,despite a relatively effective dive-bomber offensive in September 1941.On 4 April 1942 62 Ju 87s from III./StG 1, I., and II.,/StG 2, supported by 33Junkers Ju 88sfromKG 1and 37 high-levelHeinkel He 111bombers fromKG 4carried out a mass-attack.The operation damaged onebattleship,fourcruisers,onedestroyerand oneminelayer.

In April the wing flew support operations for two pickets of Wehrmacht forces—KholmandDemyansk Pockets.Along with attacks on naval yards, the group also bombed convoys, road on marine, onLake Ladoga,and theRoad of Lifeand sank a small number of barges.The remainder of the month was taken up defeating theLyuban Offensive Operation.

In July III./StG 1 was rushed to Orel when theSouthwestern Front,equipped with10th,16thand61st armies,attacked the Second Panzer Army's sector.On 7 July flew 29 missions against Soviet tanks and columns claiming 7 tanks and 6 trucks destroyed. The next day it flew 83 sorties, and claimed 20 tanks destroyed and 15 damaged and another 14 trucks destroyed.On 9 July the group put up 52 sorties, and bombing attacks claimed four tanks and six damaged; on 10 July 44 missions were flown and three tanks were destroyed and 7 damaged; 11 July four tanks were claimed destroyed and five damaged in 33 missions.Over the next two days, 48 dive bomber missions returned claims for two tanks destroyed and eight damaged with another four destroyed or damaged.

III./StG 1 briefly returned to Leningrad and operated around Lake Ilmen. On the last day of July it was sent toRzhev after a Soviet offensivebegan on 30th. It flew close air support for the3rd Panzer Armyand9th army.OperationWirbelwindwas ordered to shorten Army Group Centre's frontline by destroying the 10th and 16th Armies in theKirovandSukhinichiregion. Third group supported the4thand 2nd Panzer Army, and then countered the SovietKozelsk Offensive.Both the German and Soviet offensives failed.In August the group moved back north, to Lenningrad, losingHauptmannFischer killed on 26 October.

In mid-December 1942 the group moved back to the central sector and fought in theBattle for Velikiye Luki.On 1 February 1943 third group claimed 70 trucks and six companies of infantry "destroyed" in 48 missions.The following day the pilots claimed 65 vehicles and four companies of infantry as destroyed in 33 missions, and on 3 February, two companies of infantry, 80 vehicles, 11 tanks knocked out. As the fighting intensified, from 5 to 23 February flew 353 bombing missions, claiming seven tanks, 70 to 80 vehicles, 12 companies, 300 infantry soldiers killed and 10 to 15 houses destroyed.

Kursk and disbandment

The Eastern Front stabilised for the Germans after theThird Battle of Kharkovended in March 1943. TheKuban bridgeheadremained an area of heavy fighting but the Luftwaffe prepared for Operation Citadel, an offensive to shorten the line and destroy Soviet forces in a salient near Kursk. II. and III.Gruppewere ordered to carry out preliminary attacks and Soviet assembly points and tank concentrations. On 22 May 1943, II./StG 1 attacked Kurskmarshalling yardswith 36 aircraft. The mission was a disaster for the Germans—eight Ju 87s were shot down, three severely damaged and six lightly damaged with the loss of one killed, 16 missing and two wounded.By 5 July, however, the unit fielded 42 Ju 87s—40 of the D-3 variant.I./StG 1 fielded a weaker force of 32 Ju 87Ds while third group also had 42 Ju 87s

The wing's first and second group were based east of Orel for Citadel. They were joined by I./StG 1, which had been formed for a second time after its initial formation had been renamed III./StG 3. The group was formed by renaming I./StG 5 atGorodetsnear Luga. The group was given Ju 87Ds. The unit was based south of Orel to support the German 9th Army while the other two groups supported the2nd Panzer Armyto the north.StG 1 was involved in the first combat of the operation, which became known as theBattle of Kursk.7.Staffellost a crew in combat with the 54 GIAP fighter regiment.The German fighter forces performed effectively on the first day—I.Fliegerkorps' StG 1 and 3 flew 647 bombing missions and lost four aircraft to ground-fire; though Soviet sources insist the aforementioned crew were shot down by fighters.StG 1 supported theXXXXI Panzer Corpsin an attempt to surround the Soviet13thand48th armies.The operation failed with most German air units supporting the right flank—II./StG 1, escorted by I./JG 54was in action on 6 July.Among the losses was Knight's Cross holder Kurt-Albert Pape, commander of 3.Staffelwas killed in action against 1 GIAD. Pape had flown over 350 missions and was lost with another crew. The wing put up 55 Ju 87s on that particular mission.The air attacks allowed the Germans to capture 1-e Maya and draw closer toPonyri.The Ju 87s flew 60 to 70 in number to support the18th Panzer Divisionagainst the6th Guards Airborne Division.The flying units of the northern sector claimed 14 tanks, 22 artillery pieces, 60 vehicles and eight ammunition stores in addition to 22 tanks damaged and 25 guns silenced on 7 July.The exhausted XXXXIPanzerkorpscaptured Ponyri and Teployte. The following day the4th Panzer Divisionattempted a breakthrough and failed—the 378 Ju 87 missions were flown in support of theXXXXVIIPanzerkorps;only five tanks were claimed in bad weather.The entire wing was airborne to support the 9 July assault by the XXXXVIIPanzerkorps,which failed.

The Luftwaffe held air superiority over the Orel sector. On 12 July this changed withOperation Kutuzov,Soviet forces achieved a major breakthrough and advanced speedily. The German air units from 1.Fliegerdivisionwere able to claim 35 tanks, 50 vehicles and 14 artillery guns destroyed.The following day the claimed 32 tanks and 25 more damaged with another 50 vehicles. On 14 July the 18th Panzer Division was defeated in a tank battle against the11th Guards Armyand the Soviet 5th Tank Corps raced to seizeBolkhov.StG 1 responded to the 53rd Army Corps' calls for assistance. They lost four Ju 87s in air combat with the 49 IAP. Effective Soviet fighter defences limited the air attacks to claiming no more than 12 tanks.The Luftwaffe was able to play an important role in preventing the Soviet offensive from destroying the 9th Army and 2nd Panzer Army from 16 to 31 July; StG 1 operated over this sector at this time and recorded two losses on 17 July.

By 31 July III./StG 1 lost 10 aircraft, II./StG 1 lost seven, and I./StG 1 lost nine in action. The number of damaged aircraft is not mentioned. Personnel losses for first group amounted to six killed and four missing. Second group lost five killed, one wounded. Third group suffered five killed, five missing and eight wounded from 5 to 31 July.

In August 1943 the Red Army and Red Air Force followed up their victory at Kursk and liberatedEastern Ukraine.South of Orel, from 2 to 8 August III./StG 1 lost five Ju 87s and three damaged with four men killed and two wounded. The group was fighting over Studenka by 8 August. It moved north on 12 August to support thedefence of Smolensk.Nine aircraft were recorded lost to the 16 September with four killed, five wounded and four missing. From the 16 September to its dissolution on 18 October the group was located at Gomel andBobruisksupporting the4th Panzer ArmyinNorthern Ukraine.The group was renamed III./SG 1.

II./StG 1 fought over Kholm, Smolensk and Kharkov in the same period. On 15 September the unit was reduced to a singlestaffelwhen it lost five Ju 87s destroyed, seven badly damaged and another seven lightly damaged in a Soviet air attack. The group withdrew to Orsha where it maintained a rear echelon. On 13 October group commander Major Otto Ernst was wounded. The group was renamed II./SG 1 at Bobruisk orMogilevon 18 October.

I./StG 1 was renamed at Gorodok on 18 October. Over the course of August to October it had lost 16 Ju 87s 13 men killed and two missing.

Anti-tank warfare

On 17 June 1943Panzerjägerstaffel/StG 1 (tank hunting squadron) was created. It was equipped with Ju 87G cannon-armed aircraft specifically for engaging Soviet armour. Little is known about this unit. It was known to have fought at Kursk from 12 and 13 July 1943 whenLuftflotte 6,to which it was attached, claimed 67/68 tanks destroyed. It is known to have lost two aircraft, one killed and wounded. It was renamed 10.(Pz)/SG 77 at Orsha on 18 October 1943.

Commanding officers

•OberstleutnantWalter Hagen	18 November 1939	–	30 March 1943
•OberstleutnantGustav Preßler	1 April 1943	–	18 October 1943(renamed toSchlachtgeschwader1)

See also

Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II

References

Bibliography

• Bergström, Christer[in Swedish];Mikhailov, Andrey (2001).Black Cross / Red Star: Air War Over the Eastern Front, Volume II, Resurgence January–June 1942.Pacifica Military History.ISBN978-0-935553-51-2.
• Bergström, Christer[in Swedish](2007a).Barbarossa - The Air Battle: July–December 1941.London: Chevron/Ian Allan.ISBN978-1-85780-270-2.
• Bergström, Christer[in Swedish](2007b).Stalingrad — The Air Battle: November 1942 – February 1943.London: Chevron/Ian Allan.ISBN978-1-85780-276-4.
• Bergström, Christer[in Swedish](2007c).Kursk - The Air Battle: July 1943.London: Chevron/Ian Allan.ISBN978-1-903223-88-8.
• Bergström, Christer[in Swedish](2015).The Battle of Britain: An Epic Conflict Revisited.Oxford, UK: Casemate.ISBN978-1612-00347-4.
• Bertke, Donald A.; Kindell, Don; Smith, Gordon (2009).World War II Sea War: France Falls, Britain Stands Alone: Day-to-Day Naval Actions from April 1940 through September 1940.Dayton Ohio: Bertke Publications.ISBN978-0-578-02941-2.
• Bertke, Donald A.; Smith, Gordon; Kindell, Don (2012).World War II Sea War: The Royal Navy is Bloodied in the Mediterranean.Vol. III. Lulu.ISBN978-1-937470-01-2.
• Brütting, Georg (1992) [1976].Das waren die deutschen Stuka-Asse 1939 – 1945[These were the German Stuka Aces 1939 – 1945] (in German) (7th ed.). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch.ISBN978-3-87943-433-6.
• Bungay, Stephen(2000).The Most Dangerous Enemy: A History of the Battle of Britain.London, UK: Aurum Press.ISBN978-1-85410-721-3.
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• de Zeng, H.L.; Stankey, D.G.; Creek, E.J. (2009).Dive-Bomber and Ground-Attack Units of the Luftwaffe, 1933–1945: A Reference Source, Vol. 1.Ian Allan Publishing.ISBN978-1-9065-3708-1.
• Hayward, Joel(Summer 1997). "The German use of air power at Kharkov, May 1942".Air Power History.44(2).
• Holland, James (2003).Fortress Malta: An Island Under Siege, 1940–1943.London: Miramax Books.ISBN978-1-4013-5186-1.
• Hooton, E.R. (1994).Phoenix Triumphant; The Rise and Rise of the Luftwaffe.London: Arms & Armour Press.ISBN978-1-85409-181-9.
• Hooton, E.R. (2007a).Luftwaffe at War; Gathering Storm 1933–39: Volume 1.London: Chevron/Ian Allan.ISBN978-1-903223-71-0.
• Hooton, E.R. (2007b).Luftwaffe at War; Blitzkrieg in the West: Volume 2.London, UK: Chevron/Ian Allan.ISBN978-1-85780-272-6.
• Hooton, E.R. (1999).Eagle in Flames: Defeat of the Luftwaffe.Weidenfeld & Nicolson.ISBN978-1-85409-343-1.
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• Mason, Francis (1969).Battle Over Britain.London, UK: McWhirter Twins.ISBN978-0-901928-00-9.
• Muller, Richard (1992).The German Air War in Russia, 1941-1945.Baltimore: The Nautical & Aviation Publishing Company of America.ISBN1-877853-13-5.
• North, Richard (2012).The Many Not The Few: The Stolen History of the Battle of Britain.London, UK: Continuum.ISBN978-1-4411-3151-5.
• Rohwer, Jürgen(2005).Chronology of the War at Sea, 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two.Annapolis: US Naval Institute Press.ISBN1-59114-119-2.
• Saunders, Andy (2010).Convoy Peewit: August 8, 1940: The First Day of the Battle of Britain?.London, UK: Grub Street.ISBN978-1-906502-67-6.
• Saunders, Andy (2013).Stuka Attack! The Dive-Bombing Assault on England During the Battle of Britain.London, UK: Grub Street.ISBN978-1-908117-35-9.
• Shores, Christopher F.; Cull, Brian; Malizia, Nicola (1992).Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete: 1940–41.London, UK: Grub Street.ISBN978-0-948817-07-6.
• Shores, Christopher; Cull, Brian; Malizia, Nicola (1987).The Hurricane Years(1st ed.). London, UK: Grub Street.ISBN978-0-948817-06-9.
• Shores, Christopher; Foreman, John; Ehrengardt, Chris (1992).Fledgling Eagles(1st ed.). London, UK: Grub Street.ISBN978-0-948817-42-7.
• Smith, Peter (2007).Naval Warfare in the English Channel: 1939–1945.London, UK:Pen and Sword.ISBN978-1-844155-804.
• Smith, Peter (2011).The Junkers Ju 87 Stuka: A Complete History.London, UK: Crecy Publishing Limited.ISBN978-0-85979-156-4.
• Vego, Milan N. (2003).Naval Strategy and Operations in Narrow Seas.London: Frank Cass.ISBN978-0-7146-5389-1.
• Ward, John (2004).Hitler's Stuka Squadrons: The Ju 87 at war, 1936–1945.London: Eagles of War.ISBN978-1-86227-246-0.
• Weal, John (1997).Junkers Ju 87 Stukageschwader 1937–41.Oxford, UK:Osprey Publishing.ISBN978-1-85532-636-1.
• Weal, John (1998).Junkers Ju 87 Stukageschwader of North Africa and the Mediterranean.Oxford, UK:Osprey Publishing.ISBN978-1-85532-722-1.

Further reading

• Bergström, Christer (2008).Bagration to Berlin - The Final Air Battles in the East: 1944 - 1945.London: Ian Allan.ISBN978-1-903223-91-8.
• Claasen, Adam R. A. (2001).Hitler's Northern War: The Luftwaffe's Ill-Fated Campaign, 1940–1945.Lawrence, KS:University Press of Kansas.ISBN978-0-7006-1050-1.
• Hayward, Joel(2001).Stopped at Stalingrad: The Luftwaffe and Hitler's Defeat in the East 1942-1943.London: University Press of Kansas.ISBN978-0-7006-1146-1.
• Shores, Christopher F.; Massimello, Giovanni; Guest, Russell (2012).A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940–1945 Volume 2: North African Desert, February 1942 – March 1943.London, UK: Grub Street.ISBN978-1-909166-12-7.
• Weal, John.Junkers Ju 87 Stukageschwader of the Russian Front.Oxford: Osprey, 2008.ISBN978-1-84603-308-7.