Kampfgeschwader 27

Kampfgeschwader 27 “Boelcke” was a Luftwaffe medium bomber wing of the Second World War.

Formation
Formed on 1 May 1939, the Stab and I Gruppe were based in Hanover-Langenhagen, with II and III Gruppe at Wunstorf. The unit was initially equipped with the Heinkel He 111.

The IV gruppe was formed July 1940 in Avord as Erg.Gruppe/KG 27 with 3 staffeln; 2 with Ju 52, 1 with He 111.On 24 Nov 1940 the unit was again reduced to Erg.Staffel/KG 27, but on 13 Mar 1941 was increased to Gruppe strength. On 23 Nov 1944 KG 27 became Erg.KGr.(J).

Operations
KG 27 participated in the Polish campaign of 1939, and then became part of Luftflotte 2. During May-June 1940, KG 27 then participated in the Battle of France.

KG 27 was part of Luftflotte 3 during the Battle of Britain, with their Headquarters 'Stab' and I Gruppe based at Tours, II Gruppe at Dinard and Bourges, and III Gruppe at Rennes. From August onward in KG 27 flew operations during the offensive against Britain until June 1941, when the unit flew bombing operations on the Southern Russian front during the attack on the USSR. Through 1942 KG 27 were based in southern Russia during the advance into the Caucasus. After service over Stalingrad II./KG 27 was reformed in January 1943 in Langenhagen. A specialist train-busting staffel (14.(Eis)/KG 27) was formed in Jan 1943 in Charkow-Woitschenko.

On 13 November 1944 KG 27 was converted to a fighter unit flying the Bf 109 and renamed Erg.KGr.(J) 27. After almost all aircraft had been lost or grounded due to lack of fuel, the remnants of the unit were transferred to ground defence duties attached to paratroop divisions during April 1945.

Geschwaderkommodore

 * Oberst Hans Behrendt, 1 May 1939 – November 1939
 * Generalmajor Richard Putzier, November 1939 – December 1939
 * Oberst Hans Behrendt, January 1940 – 22 June 1940
 * Oberstleutnant Bernhard Georgi, 22 June 1940 – 25 July 1940
 * Oberst Gerhard Conrad, 26 July 1940 – 6 October 1940
 * Major Gerhard Ulbricht, November 1940 – 1941
 * Oberst Hans-Henning Freiherr von Beust, 1 March 1942 – November 1943
 * Major Rudi Kiel, December 1943 – 8 May 1945

I./KG 27

 * Obstlt Graumnitz, 1 May 1939 - 1 Oct 1939
 * Major Sigismund Freiherr von Falkenstein, 1 Oct 1939 - 31 May 1940
 * Major Gerhard Ulbricht, 1 Jun 1940 - Nov 1940
 * Hauptmann Fritz Reinhard, Nov 1940 - 8 Jul 1941
 * Major Hubertus Lessmann, Jul 1941 - 29 Dec 1941
 * Hauptmann Joachim Petzold- 1943

II./KG 27

 * Major de Salengre Drabbe, 1 May 1939 - ?
 * Major Tamm, 1940
 * Major Schlichting, 1940 - 12 Aug 1940
 * Hauptmann Reinhard Günzel, Aug 1940 - Jan 1943
 * Major Carl-August Petersen, Jan 1943 - 15 Mar 1944

III./KG 27

 * Oberst Dr. Sommer, 1 May 1939 – 26 June 1939
 * Major Andreas Nielsen, 26 June 1939 – 24 February 1940
 * Hauptmann Schirmer, February 1940 – 1940
 * Major Manfred Speck von Sternberg, 1940 – 22 October 1940
 * Hauptmann Hans-Henning Freiherr von Beust, October 1940 – January 1942
 * Major Erich Thiel, 1942 – 22 April 1943
 * Hauptmann Karl Mayer, April 1943 - ?

IV./KG 27

 * Oblt Bernhard Schlafke, 24 Nov 1940 - Mar 1941
 * Hauptmann Johannes Lorenz, 13 Mar 1941 - 24 Sep 1941
 * Hauptmann Hellmann, 25 Sep 1941 - Oct 1941
 * Hauptmann Gerhard Braunschweig, 30 Oct 1941 - 30 Nov 1942
 * Major Walter Engel, 1 Dec 1942 - 23 Nov 1944