Luftflotte 3

Luftflotte 3 (Air Fleet 3) was one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was formed on February 1, 1939 from Luftwaffengruppenkommando 3 in Munich and redesignated Luftwaffenkommando West on September 26, 1944. This Luftwaffe detachment was based in German-occupied areas of Northern France, Netherlands, Belgium, and Vichy France, to support the Axis power's forces in area. Its command offices were in Paris, France (on June 26, 1944).

Strategic Reconnaissance

 * Stab/FAGr.123 (Toussus le Noble - Buc)
 * 4.(F)/123 (Saint-André-de-l'Eure)
 * 5.(F)/123 (Monchy–Breton)
 * 1.(F)/121 (Toussus le Noble - Buc)

Tactical Reconnaissance

 * Stab/NAGr.13 (Chartres)
 * 1./NAGr.13 (Chartres)
 * 3./NAGr.13 (Laval)

Land Air Attack

 * III./SG.4 (Clermont-Ferrand)
 * III./SG.4(Detach) (Avord)

Strategic Reconnaissance

 * 3.(F)/122 (Soesterberg)
 * 6.(F)/123 (Cormeilles)

Bombers(Medium)

 * Stab/KG.2 (Gilze en Rijen)
 * I./KG.2 (Gilze en Rijen)
 * II./KG.2 (Gilze en Rijen)
 * III./KG.2 (Hesepe)
 * Stab/KG.6 (Melun-Villaroche)
 * I./KG.6 (Melun-Villaroche)
 * II./KG.6 (Melun-Villaroche)
 * III./KG.6 (Melun-Villaroche)
 * 16./KG.6(JABO/Rapid) (Soesterberg)
 * Stab./KG.30 (Zwischenhan)
 * I./KG.30 (Leck)
 * 4./KG.51(JABO/Rapid) (Soesterberg)
 * 5./KG.51(JABO/Rapid) (Gilze en Rijen)
 * 6./KG.51(JABO/Rapid) (Soesterberg)
 * Stab/KG.54 (Eindhoven)
 * I./KG.54 (Eindhoven)
 * III./KG.54 (Eindhoven)
 * III./KG.66 (Montdidier)
 * (Eins)St. IV./KG.101 (Saint-Dizier)
 * Stab/(KG)LG.1 (Melsbroek)
 * I./(KG)LG.1 (Le Culot)
 * II./(KG)LG.1(Melsbroek)

JABO (Fighter-Bombers/Incursion strike groups)

 * I.(Jb)/SKG.10 (Tours)

Special duties/long-distance operations

 * 1./KG 200 (Mont-de-Marsan)
 * 1./KG.200(Detach) (Bordeaux–Merignac)
 * II/KG 200 (Biscarrosse)

Strategic/Maritime Reconnaissance (Ultra Long Range)

 * Stab/FAGr.5 (Mont-de-Marsan)
 * 1.(F)/5 (Mont-de-Marsan)
 * 2.(F)/5 (Mont-de-Marsan)
 * 4.(F)/5 (Nantes)
 * 3.(F)/123 (Corme-Écluse)
 * 1.(F)/SAGr.129 (Biscarrosse)

Bombers (Heavy) Submarine Support/Merchant Strike (Long Range)

 * Stab/KG.40 (Bordeaux–Merignac)
 * 1./KG.40 (Toulouse–Blagnac)
 * 2./KG.40 (Bordeaux–Merignac)
 * II./KG.40 (Bordeaux–Merignac)
 * 7./KG.40 (Saint-Jean-d'Angély)
 * 8./KG.40 (Cognac)
 * 9./KG.40 (Cognac)

Strategic/Tactical/Maritime Reconnaissance (Medium-Short Range)

 * 1.(F)/33 (St.Martin)
 * 2./NAGr.13 (Cuers)
 * 2./SAGr.128 (Berre)

Bombers (Medium)

 * Stab/KG.26 (Montpellier)
 * II./KG.26 (LT) (Valence)
 * III./KG.26 (LT) (Montpellier)
 * III./KG.26 (LT)(Detach) (Valence)
 * Stab/KG.77 (Salon-de-Provence)
 * I./KG.77 (LT) (Orange-Caritat)
 * III./KG.77 (LT) (Orange-Caritat)
 * 6./KG.77 (Istres)
 * 4./KG.76 (Istres)
 * 6./KG.76 (Istres)
 * Stab/KG.100 (Toulouse–Francazal)
 * III./KG.100 (Toulouse–Francazal)

Fighters

 * Stab/JG.1 (St.Quentin–Clastres)
 * I./JG.3 (St.Quentin–Clastres)
 * I./JG.5 (St.Quentin–Clastres)
 * II./JG.11 (Mons en Chaussée)
 * I./JG.301 (Épinoy)
 * Stab/JG.27 (Champfleury)
 * I./JG.27 (Vertus)
 * III./JG.27 (Connantre)
 * IV./JG.27 (Champfleury)

Night Fighters

 * Stab/NJG.4 (Chenay)
 * I./NJG.4 (Florennes)
 * III./NJG.4 (Junvincourt)
 * Stab/NJG.5 (Haguenau)
 * I./NJG.5 (Saint-Dizier)
 * III./NJG.5 (Athies-sous-Laon)

Fighters

 * Stab/JG.2 (Creil)
 * I./JG.2 (Creil)
 * II./JG.2 (Creil)
 * III./JG.2 (Creil)
 * Stab/JG.3 (Évreux)
 * II./JG.3 (Guyancourt)
 * III./JG.3 (Mareilly)
 * Stab/JG.11 (Le Mans)
 * I./JG.11 (Le Mans)
 * I0./JG.11 (Le Mans)
 * I./JG.1 (Alençon)
 * II./JG.1 (Alençon)
 * Stab/JG.26 (Guyancourt)
 * I./JG.26 (Guyancourt)
 * II./JG.26 (Guyancourt)

Night Fighters

 * Stab/NJG.2 (Coulommiers)
 * I./NJG.2 (Châteaudun)
 * II./NJG.2 (Coulommiers)
 * II./NJG.4 (Coulommiers)

Fighters

 * II./JG.53 (Vannes)

Fighters

 * 1./JGr.200 (Orange-Caritat)
 * 2./JGr.200 (Avignon)
 * 3./JGr.200 (Orange-Caritat)

Jagdlehrer-Gr Bordeaux (Instruction Wing in Bordeaux sector)

 * JG (Eins. Teile/Lehr) (Marignane)

Zerstorer (Heavy Fighters)

 * Stab/ZG.1 (Bordeaux–Merignac)
 * 1./ZG.1 (Corme-Écluse)
 * 3./ZG.1 (Corme-Écluse)
 * 2./ZG.1 (Châteauroux)
 * III./ZG.1 (Cazaux)

Luftwaffe Special Strike Units
This was the Luftwaffe section charged with managing the advanced equipment: they also used the Special Attack aircraft Junkers "Mistel 1".
 * Fieseler Fi 103 (V-1)
 * Messerschmitt Me 262 A
 * Arado Ar 234 B;

Mentioned section poses your bases in France and Dutch areas.

Jet Bombers/Jet Fighter-Bombers

 * (R)"Blitz" KG.76 (Istres)
 * II.St.(JABO)/KG.51 (Soesterberg)

Mistel Special Section

 * 2. (Mistel I) /KG 101 (Saint-Dizier)
 * II. (Mistel I) -(Detach)/KG 200 (Saint-Dizier)

Bombers with V-1 Launchers

 * Stab/KG 3 (Venlo)
 * II./KG 3 (also known as I./KG.5) (Venlo)
 * I./KG.53 "Legion Condor" (Gilze en Rijen)
 * III./KG.53 "Legion Condor" (Gilze en Rijen)

Luftwaffe V-1 fixed/mobile ramps units
These units operated near Calais (France), and in Belgium and Holland.


 * Untergruppenbezeichnung FZG (Flakzielgerät) 76 (also known as 5.Flak Division (W), later as Armeekorps zur Vergeltung)
 * I./155 Artillerie Abt (W)
 * II./155 Artillerie-Abt (W)
 * III./155 Artillerie-Abt (W)

Luftwaffe special transport units(1944-45)
These units were based in Muhldorf, Bavaria, and composed of Helicopters: for operations in western and eastern front areas, with airfields in France (West) and East Prussia (East) for realizing some special liaisons, personal transport, rescue of wounded personnel, watching/air patrol, and other similar missions in the last days of the war.
 * Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 Drachen
 * Flettner Fl 265
 * Flettner 282B Kolibri


 * Transportstaffeln 40 (West area)

Division zur Vergeltung(Div.z.V.)
This special unit was led by Wehrmacht and SS Commanders, working along with Luftwaffe personnel and facilities. They operated in France, Belgium and Holland.

"Div.z.V." Nordgruppe

 * 444° Artillerie-Abt
 * 485° Artillerie- Abt (also known as Artillerie Regiment z. V. 902)
 * 2°./485° Artillerie-Abt

"Div.z.V." Südgruppe

 * 500° Waffen SS Artillerie-Abt (also known as 500° SS Werfer Abt.)
 * 836° Artillerie-Abt (also known as Artillerie Regiment zur Vergeltung 901)

Wehrmacht V-4 "Rheinbote" Mobile ramps units

 * I./709 Artillerie Abt

Wehrmacht V-3 Artillery group

 * 705° Artillerie Abt.

Abbreviations

 * FAGr = Fernaufklärungsgruppe = Reconnaissance aircraft.
 * Gruppe = equivalent to a RAF Wing.
 * JG = Jagdgeschwader = Fighters.
 * Geschwader = equivalent to a Royal Air Force Group.
 * JGr = Jagdgruppe = Fighters.
 * KG = Kampfgeschwader = Bombers.
 * LG = Lehrgeschwader = Operational Training.
 * NAGr = Nahaufklärungsgruppe = Observation aircraft.
 * NJG = Nachtjagdgeschwader = Night Fighters
 * SAGr = Seeaufklärungsgruppe = Maritime Patrol aircraft
 * SKG = Schnellkampfgeschwader = Fast Bombers.
 * St = Staffel = equivalent to a RAF Squadron.
 * ZG = Zerstörergeschwader = Twin engined day fighters.

Commanding officers

 * Generalfeldmarschall Hugo Sperrle, 1 February 1939 – 23 August 1944
 * Generaloberst Otto Deßloch, 23 August 1944 – 22 September 1944
 * Generalleutnant Alexander Holle, 22 September 1944 – 26 September 1944

Chief of staff

 * Generalmajor Maximilian Ritter von Pohl, 1 February 1939 – 10 June 1940
 * Oberst Günther Korten, 11 June 1940 – 31 December 1940
 * Generalmajor Karl Koller, 1 January 1941 – 23 August 1943
 * Generalleutnant Hermann Plocher, 1 October 1943 – 26 September 1944