Schlachtgeschwader 77

'''Schlachtgeschwader 77 (SG 77) was a Luftwaffe close air support-wing of World War II.

History
Schlachtgeschwader 77 was formed on 18 October 1943 in Wassilkow from Stab/Sturzkampfgeschwader 77. With the exception of II. Group which was redesignated as III. Group, Schlachtgeschwader 10, the remaining groups were renamed to Schlachtgeschwader 77.

On 3 March 1945, ''9. Staffel'' equipped its FW 190F-8s with Panzerblitz 80 mm anti-tank rockets. Adapted from the R4M rocket, these were carried under the outboard wings.

On 17 April 1945 Stab and III./SG 77 were based at Kamenz, north-east of Dresden. A formation of P-51s of the 55th Fighter Group spotted SG 77's aircraft preparing to take-off. 116-kill 'ace' Oberleutnant August Lambert and two other pilots were taking off when the American fighters appeared. The FW 190s jettisoned their bombs and tried to escape but all three were shot down, Lambert being killed in his FW 190 F-8 'Black 9 + ' north of Hoyerswerda. Seven other FW 190s were destroyed or badly damaged on the ground at Kamenz by the P-51s.

Geschwaderkommodore

 * Major Helmut Bruck, 18 October 1943 – 15 February 1945
 * Obstleutnant Manfred Mossinger, 16 February 1945 – 8 May 1945

I./SG 77

 * Major Werner Roell, 18 October 1943 – 1 December 1943
 * Major Karl Henze, 1 December 1943 – 1 February 1945
 * Hauptmann Hans-Joachim Brand, 1 February 1945 – 16 April 1945

II./SG 77

 * Hauptman Alexander Gläser, February 1944 – 8 May 1945

III./SG 77

 * Hauptman Franz Kieslich, 18 October 1943 – 19 February 1945
 * Hauptman Gerhard Stüdemann, 20 February 1945 – 8 May 1945