Jagdgeschwader 76

Jagdgeschwader 76 (JG 76) was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. JG 76 was first formed in 1939 in Wien-Aspern with only I. Gruppe (1st group). The Geschwader was renamed II./Jagdgeschwader 54 on 4 July 1940.

The Geschwader was recreated in July 1944 at Salzburg from the Stab/Zerstörergeschwader 76. From 22 July 1944 to August the gruppe was based at Rotenburg and Athis in France.

1939-40
The unit participated in the invasion of Poland, claiming 6 aircraft shot down. JG 76 then flew operations through the summer of 1940, and during the Battle of France the unit claimed some 69 Allied aircraft downed, with Ltn. Roloff von Aspern (8), Ltn. Hans Philipp and Ofw. Max Stotz (both 7) Oblt. Dietrich Hrabak (6) the top scorers.

1944
JG 76 saw very limited combat in the autumn of 1944, mainly during operations in response to Operation Market Garden. Some 46 aircraft were claimed shot down during 1944-45.

Based in Athis, France, on 25 August 1944 III./JG 76 were intercepted by USAAF P-51 Mustang fighters and Gruppenkommandeur Oblt. Egon Albrecht was shot down and killed in his Bf 109G-14 over Creil. Hpt. Hans Morr took command of the gruppe. On 28 August 1944 six USAAF P-38s were claimed by III./JG 76 over Creil.

11 September saw 5 P-51s claimed downed near Kassel, while on 12 September 1944 seven B-17s were shot down.

19 September 1944 26 Bf 109Gs of I./JG 76 saw action over Arnhem and lost two aircraft, in return Uffz.Ibold of 2./JG 76 claimed a P-51. The next day 15 fighters made low-level strafing attacks on troops around Nijmegen. No losses were suffered. On 24 September 26 Bf 109's joined III./JG 11 and IV./JG 54 as part of the temporary tactical formation Gefechstverband Späthe in anti-fighter sweeps over Holland. Two fighters were lost on 26 September flying ground attack missions.

On 27 September 1944 a formation of some 29 I./JG 76 Bf 109s were attacked by No 412 and 443 RCAF Spitfires over the Arnhem-Nijmegen area. Five Bf 109s were lost in return for five Spitfires claimed shot down. On 29 September 1944 eight further aircraft were lost, in return for six Spitfires and a P-47 claimed, Ltn. Böer claiming two. Ltn. Fick, of 2./JG 76 claimed a Spitfire on 2 October 1944. Thirteen P-47s were claimed through October.

IV./JG 300 was formed from elements of I./JG 76 at the beginning of October 1944.

Under the administrative control of II./JG 52 during October to November 1944, Stab./JG 76 was at based at Felsoe-Abrany before moving in Imely in Hungary. The unit was disbanded on 24 April 1945 in Wien.

Geschwaderkommodore

 * Major Anton Hackl, August 1944 – October 1944
 * Major Ernst Düllberg, 7 October 1944 – April 1945

Gruppenkommandeure
I./JG 76
 * Hptm Wilfried von Müller-Rienzburg, 1 May 1939 - 10 Jan 1940
 * Maj Günther Blumensaat, 10 Jan 1940 - 15 Feb 1940
 * Obstlt Richard Kraut, 15 Feb 1940 - 4 Jul 1940


 * Hptm Heinrich Offterdinger, Jul 1944 - Oct 1944

III./JG 76
 * Hptm Egon Albrecht, July 1944 - 25 Aug 1944
 * Hptm Hans Morr, Aug 1944 - 25 Oct 1944