Kampfgeschwader 2 "Holzhammer" was a prominent Luftwaffe bomber wing during the Second World War, established on May 1, 1939, and initially equipped with aircraft such as the Dornier Do 17 light bomber. Throughout its operational history, the unit participated in nearly every major European campaign, beginning with the invasion of Poland in September 1939 under the command of its early officers, before shifting operations to support the German advance during the Battle of France and the Low Countries. As the war progressed, Kampfgeschwader 2 took an active part in the Kanalkampf and the Battle of Britain, conducting intensive bombing sorties across the English Channel. Elements of the wing were subsequently redeployed to support the Balkans Campaign and participated in strategic operations on the Eastern Front following the launch of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941. Returning to Western Europe, the unit transitioned to flying night attacks, mining operations, and precision strikes using newer aircraft models like the Dornier Do 217 and Junkers Ju 188 medium bombers. Operating under the leadership of various commanders holding ranks such as Oberst and Oberstleutnant, the wing suffered significant personnel and equipment attrition due to intense Allied air opposition and dwindling resources as the conflict dragged on. By late 1944, mounting strategic pressures, fuel shortages, and severe aircraft losses led to the gradual dissolution and reorganization of its subordinate groups into other tactical commands, marking the end of its active service as a cohesive bomber formation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EICHENLAUBTRÄGER
Major Wilhelm Schmitter (1913-1943) was born on 18 December 1913 in Rheydt in the Rhineland and began his military career in the Kriegsmarine before transferring to the Luftwaffe in 1936, where he first trained as a Bordmechaniker and subsequently as a Flugzeugführer. He participated as an Aufklärer-Pilot in the Polenfeldzug and the Westfeldzug, receiving the Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse on 16 May 1940 and the Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse on 3 January 1941. Promoted to Leutnant at the end of 1940, he was assigned in early 1941 to the II./Kampfgeschwader 40, later serving with Kampfgeschwader 2. His distinguished performance over England, particularly in maritime reconnaissance and attacks on airfields, earned him the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 18 May 1941 as Oberleutnant, the Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 5 January 1942, and the Frontflugspange für Aufklärer in Gold. By the time of his Ritterkreuz award on 19 September 1942 as Oberleutnant and Flugzeugführer in the II./Kampfgeschwader 2, he had completed at least 122 missions against England, recognized for his successes as a bomber pilot primarily in the maritime reconnaissance role and for bombing airfields. In June 1943 he became Staffelkapitän of the 15. Staffel in the V. Gruppe of Kampfgeschwader 2 and was promoted to Hauptmann. He accumulated a total of 193 sorties including 109 maritime reconnaissance missions, counted as nearly 300 front flights. On 8 November 1943, as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 15./Kampfgeschwader 2, he failed to return from a mission over London and was declared missing in action. Posthumously promoted to Major, he received the 432nd Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz on 24 March 1944 in recognition of his further successes, his last rank being Major. Additional awards included the Flugzeugführerabzeichen and the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz. Schmitter’s career exemplified the demanding role of Luftwaffe bomber and reconnaissance pilots against Britain, marked by persistent operations leading to the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub.
Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kampfgeschwader_2
No comments:
Post a Comment