Jagdgeschwader 54
Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54) was a Luftwaffe fighter wing that was founded in late 1936 and operated from 1939, the entire length of the Second World War. It later existed under the reformed Luftwaffe from 1947 to 1991 as BG54/B54 A B and C. Originally, JG 54 flew most of its missions on the Eastern Front where it claimed more than 9,600 aircraft shot down. It was the second-highest scoring wing in the Luftwaffe after JG 52 (+10,000 victories). Notable pilot aces (Experten) that flew with JG 54 included Walter Nowotny, Walter Boerner,Otto Kittel, Hans-Ekkehard Bob, Max-Hellmuth Ostermann, Hugo Broch and Hannes Trautloft.
| Jagdgeschwader 54 | |
|---|---|
Unit insignia, featuring the "Green Heart" of Thuringia | |
| Active | 1939–1945 |
| Country | Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Luftwaffe |
| Type | Fighter Aircraft |
| Role | Air superiority |
| Size | Air Force Wing |
| Nickname(s) | Grünherz, Green Hearts |
| Engagements | Western Front
|
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Hannes Trautloft |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | Bf 109, Fw 190, Me 262 |
JG 54 participated in the Invasion of Poland in 1939, and the Battle of Britain and invasion of the Balkans in 1940. The unit was transferred to the Eastern Front in the spring of 1941 in preparation for the invasion of the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa. It remained there for the rest of the Second World War. JG 54 first flew Bf 109Fs before changing to the more powerful Fw 190.