Luftwaffe Crews and Rows of Fw 200 Bombers

German Focke-Wulf FW 200 bombers and their Luftwaffe crews on airfield in the Western Europe. Translation of official German caption on photo reverse: "Large mission of an Atlantic bomber squadron. Share Request: BMW Aircraft Motor Works, Inc., Sec. VF 407. In the West, October 1941".

Source :
https://www.ww2online.org/image/german-bombers-and-their-luftwaffe-crews-airfield-october-1941

Luftwaffe Ground Crew Waiting for the Return Bombers

Battle of Britain: Ground staff on the Luftwaffe air base waiting for the return of the bomber squadrons from mission against england, end of August 1940. No further information. Photographer: Artur Grimm.

Source :
https://www.keymilitary.com/article/duel-aces

RAD Men with He 51 of Fliegergruppe Döberitz

Men of RAD (Reichsarbeitsdienst) are shown around one of the Heinkel He 51 biplanes at Döberitz - presumably aircraft of Jagdgruppe / Fliegergruppe Döberitz. The He 51 was produced between 1934 and 1937, starting 1936 was partly replaced by the Arado Ar 68 and starting 1937 extensively replaced by the Messerschmitt Bf 109 as a Luftwaffe standard fighter aircraft. At this time, the Fliegergeschwader Döberitz received the distinction "Richthofen", but received the final name "JG 2 Richthofen" only on 1 May 1939, under which it later participated in the Second World War.

Source :
https://www.pressreader.com/uk/iron-cross/20220629/281535114675360

Oberst Felmy Watching Parade at Fliegerhorst Delmenhorst

 

Oberst Gerhard Felmy (Flughafenbereichs-Kommandant Thorn) saluting to parading troops at Fliegerhorst Delmenhorst, 1943. Felmy would receive the final rank of Generalmajor on 30 January 1945.

Source :
https://www.ebay.de/itm/294237818870?hash=item4481f0cff6:g:DU0AAOSwTg5gL934

General Schwabedissen Inspecting Troops

 

Summer 1943. Generalleutnant Walter Schwabedissen (Kommandeur 2. Flieger-Division) visiting Fliegerhorst Grove, Denmark. Next to him is Oberstleutnant Heinrich Bongartz (Nachtjagdraumführer 100), who wears Pour le Mérite that he received in World War I. They are being saluted by an officer of IV.Gruppe / Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 (/NJG 3).

Source :
Jørn Junker photo collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10226684315432638&set=gm.4137417909610303

JG 53 Aircrafts in September 1939

Although still based at Wiesbaden-Erbenheim when German troops invaded Poland on 1 September 1939, elements of I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53) dispersed to a meadow away from the airfield as a precautionary measure against possible enemy air attacks.

 

Source :
"Jagdgeschwader 53 'Pik'As' Bf 109 Aces of 1940" by Chris Goss & Chris Davey

Unteroffizier Gerhard Proske from Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54)

This picture show one of the pilots who flew in the shadows of the aces. He is Unteroffizier Gerhard Proske of 1.Staffel / Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54) near the tail of his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 “Weiße 7”, Werknummer 10411. Note Gruppe and Geschwader emblem under the cockpit. Picture taken on 1 October 1942 on Krasnowardeisk airfield. Until this day Unteroffizier Proske, who had joined I.Gruppe/JG 54 during spring of 1941, accumulated 20 claims. Some of them while flying as Katschmarek (wingman) of Gruppenkommandeur Hauptmann Erich von Selle (2 July 1941 – 14 December 1941) and Hauptmann Franz Eckerle (14 December 1941 – 14 February 1942. KIA). Gerhard Proske was awarded the Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse and Frontflugspange in Bronze. Also note the fur lined trousers. On 30 January 1944 Feldwebel Gerhard Proske (take-off 08:30 hours with Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 “Gelbe 1”, Werknummer 550899) was shot down by Russian fighters together with newcomer Obergefreiter Helmut Wilhelm (Fw 190 A-5 “Gelbe 2”, Werknummer 304719) during a familiarisation flight over the front area of Vitebsk-Boburisk. He was taken prisoner and return to Germany after the war. He accumulated a total 29 victory claims.

Source :
Luftwaffe im Focus - Edition No.1 2002

German Soldier with His Dog at an Airfield in Norway

A German soldier cradles his pet dog as other troops carry supplies from aircraft at an airfield in Norway during Operation Weserübung, the German assault and invasion on Denmark and Norway and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign. In the early morning of 9 April 1940 (Wesertag; “Weser Day”), Germany invaded both Denmark and Norway, ostensibly as a preventive maneuver against a planned, and openly discussed, Franco-British occupation of Norway with Norwegian consent. In April, the U.K. and France came to Norway’s aid with an expeditionary force. Despite moderate success in the northern parts of Norway, Germany’s invasion of France in May eventually compelled the Allies to withdraw and the Norwegian government to seek exile in London. The campaign ended with the occupation of Norway by Germany and the continued fighting of exiled Norwegian forces from abroad and Norwegian partisans on the home front. Norway. 10 April 1940.

Source :
http://bag-of-dirt.tumblr.com/post/130838024915/a-german-soldier-cradles-his-pet-dog-as-other

Fallschirmjäger at the Fornebu Aerodrome

German Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers) of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 (FJG 1) rest and regroup at the Fornebu aerodrome after capturing the surrounding area during Operation Weserübung; the German invasion of Norway. On 9 April 1940, both Denmark and Norway were simultaneously invaded by German troops. Controlling Norway was important to Germany for three primary reasons: securing the western coast as part of the defensive Atlantic Wall, as a base for naval units, including U-boats to target Allied shipping in the North Atlantic, and to secure shipments of iron-ore from Sweden through the port of Narvik. Fornebu, Bærum, Norway. April 1940. Image taken by Willi Ruge.

Source :
http://bag-of-dirt.tumblr.com/post/143396722415/german-luftwaffe-fallschirmj%C3%A4ger-paratroopers