Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 | |
---|---|
Active | 22 June 1940 – 8 May 1945 |
Country | Nazi Germany |
Branch | Luftwaffe |
Type | Night Fighter |
Role | Anti-aircraft warfare Air superiority Offensive counter air |
Size | Wing |
Engagements | World War II |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Wolfgang Falck Werner Streib Hans-Joachim Jabs |
Insignia | |
Identification symbol | Geschwaderkennung of G9 |
Aircraft flown | |
Fighter | Messerschmitt Bf 109 Dornier Do 17 Messerschmitt Bf 110 Junkers Ju 88 Heinkel He 219 Dornier Do 217 |
Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1) was a German Luftwaffe night fighter-wing of World War II. NJG 1 was formed on 22 June 1940 and comprised four Gruppen (groups). NJG 1 was created as an air defence unit for the Defence of the Reich campaign; an aerial war waged by the Luftwaffe against the bombing of the German Reich by RAF Bomber Command and the United States Air Force. In 1941 airborne radar was introduced with radar operators, and standardised in 1942 and 1943. Consequently, a large number of German night fighter aces existed within NJG 1.
NJG 1 operated all of the major twin-engine night fighters produced by German industry during the war. It fought in notable campaigns, such as the Battle of the Ruhr and Battle of Berlin. By the end of the war, lack of fuel, technical setbacks, lack of training and advances by the Allied powers rendered the Luftwaffe night force ineffective from August 1944 until the end of the war in May 1945. NJG 1 was the most successful night fighter wing and had claimed some 2,311 victories by day and night, for some 676 aircrew killed in action.[1]