Jagdgeschwader 53 "Pik As"

Bf 109G of III./JG53 near Anzio

Geschwaderkommodoren:

Stab:

Formed 1.5.39 in Wiesbaden-Erbenheim from Stab/JG133.

Bases:

I. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

Formed 1.5.39 in Wiesbaden-Erbenheim from I./JG133 with:

Stab I./JG53 from Stab I./JG133
1./JG53 from 1./JG133
2./JG53 from 2./JG133
3./JG53 from 3./JG133

3./JG53 was disbanded 6.44, but was reformed 18.9.44. 4./JG53 was ordered formed on 10.9.44, but no new 4./JG53 was ever formed. Disbanded 17.4.45

Bases:

 * 2./JG53 at Haamstede, 20.9.41 - 20.10.41, and at Vlissingen, 20.10.41 - 15.12.41; Stab I. and 1./JG53 at San Pietro, 1.42 - 22.2.42

** 3./JG53 at Comiso/San Pietro, 25.11.42 - 15.12.42

*** detachments also used Montesano, Monterotondo and Padua

**** 1./JG53 at Jassy and 2./JG53 at Husi

II. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

Formed 1.5.39 in Mannheim-Sandhofen from II./JG133 with:

Stab II./JG53 from Stab II./JG133
4./JG53 from 4./JG133
5./JG53 from 5./JG133
6./JG53 from 6./JG133

On 10.8.44 increased to 4 Staffeln:

5./JG53 unchanged
6./JG53 unchanged
7./JG53 from the old 4./JG53
8./JG53 new

On 1.3.45 8./JG53 was disbanded. II./JG53 was disbanded 30.4.45.

Bases:

 * 6./JG53 at Jever (3.6.41 - 20.6.41), at Döberitz (20.6.41 - 5.7.41), at Westerland (5.7.41 - 21.8.41), at Katwijk (21.8.41 - 4.9.41), and at Bergen-am-Zee (4.9.41 - 9.11.41).

** detachment at Bir-el-Abd, 17.7.42 - 20.7.42 and 28.8.42 - 3.9.42

*** 5./JG53 at Gabes 10.12.42 - 17.12.42 and 29.12.42 - 1.43

**** 4./JG53 at Briollay, 5./JG53 at Tierce and 6./JG53 at Soucelles

***** 6./JG53 at Huchenfeld, 4.11.44 - 28.3.45

III. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

Formed 1.11.39 in Wiesbaden-Erbenheim with:

Stab III./JG53 new
7./JG53 new
8./JG53 new
9./JG53 new

On 20.8.44 increased to 4 Staffeln:

9./JG53 unchanged
10./JG53 from the old 7./JG53
11./JG53 from the old 8./JG53
12./JG53 from crews of I./JG4

On 1.3.45 12./JG53 was disbanded.

Bases:

* 8./JG53 at Hoppstädten, 9.4.40 - 18.5.40 

** 8./JG53 to Benghasi on 11.12.41, a few days later to Benina, to Arco Philaenorum on 22.12.41 and to Catania the next day.

*** 7./JG53 at Trapani, 15.1.43 - 28.4.43, and at Sciacca, 28.4.43 - 5.5.43; 9./JG53 at Monserrato/Sardinia, 29.3.43 - 5.5.43; 8./JG53 was mainly based at San Pietro, but also served with detachments all over Sicily; 2.2.43 moved to Tunis for a few days; 1.4.43 - 20.4.43 based at Tindja.

IV. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

Formed 20.10.44 in Hüfingen, near Donaueschingen, from III./JG76 :

Stab IV./JG53 from Stab III./JG76
13./JG53 from 9./JG76
14./JG53 from 10./JG76
15./JG53 from 11./JG76
16./JG53 from 12./JG76

16./JG53 was disbanded 1.3.45 , and IV./JG53 was disbanded 30.4.45.

Bases:

* 13./JG53 at Nellingen

Ergänzungsgruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

Formed 20.9.40 in St. Jean d'Angely as Erg.Staffel/JG53, but on 20.11.40 became Erg.Gruppe with:

Stab of Ergänzungsgruppe/JG53 new
1. Einsatzstaffel/JG53 new
2. Ausbildungsstaffel/JG53 from Erg.Sta./JG53

Disbanded 1.42:

Stab of Ergänzungsgruppe/JG53 became Stab IV./JG1
1. Einsatzstaffel/JG53 became 1./JG3
2. Ausbildungsstaffel/JG53 became 3./EJGr.Süd

Bases:

* 2. Einsatzstaffel at Dieppe (12.40 - 4.41), St. Aubin (4.41 - 22.5.41), Katwijk (23.5.41 - 7.6.41), Vannes-Meucon (8.6.41 - 13.8.41), Brest? (14.8.41 - 16.8.41), Vannes-Meucon (17.8.41 - 9.41) and Düsseldorf-Lohausen (9.41 - 1.2.42).

10.(Jabo)/JG53:

Formed 1.2.42 in San Pietro with Bf 109F-4/B. On 31.8.42 renamed 1./Jabogruppe Afrika.

Bases:

© 1997-2003 Michael Holm