Sturzkampfgeschwader 77

''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 77 (StG 77) was a Luftwaffe dive bomber wing during World War II. From the outbreak of war StG 77 distinguished itself in every Wehrmacht major operation until the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942. If the claims made by StG 77 are accurate, it inflicted more damage to enemy ground forces than any other wing. It operated the Junkers Ju 87 dive-bomber exclusively in the combat role. The Dornier Do 17 and Messerschmitt Bf 110 were both used in the air reconnaissance role.

Founded in May 1939 StG 77 entered the war with only two of the usual three groups assigned to a Luftwaffe combat wing. It supported the invasion of Poland in September 1939 which opened the conflict. In May and June 1940 it operated in the interdiction, close air support and anti-shipping role supporting Army Group A and Army Group B in the Battle of the Netherlands, Battle of Belgium and Battle of France. In June 1940 a third group was added. Beginning in July 1940 it fought in the Battle of Britain, but the Ju 87-equipped wings were removed from the battle after just five weeks. StG 77 flew against British shipping until the winter, 1940/1941.

StG 77 then moved to the Balkans. It operated in the battle for the air superiority, anti-shipping, interdiction and close support role in the Invasion of Yugoslavia, Battle of Greece and Battle of Crete in April and May 1941. The wing inflicted heavy losses on shipping with StG 1, StG 2 and StG 3. StG 77 was supported Army Group Centre and Army Group South on the Eastern Front, from June 1941, after Operation Barbarossa. In particular, it served with distinction in the Battle of Uman, Battle of Kiev, Crimean Campaign, Second Battle of Kharkov, Battle of the Caucasus and ultimately the Battle of Stalingrad.

In its final year, StG 77 continued close air support operations in support of the Centre and Southern army groups, but began to operate more specifically in the anti-tank role with the introduction of the Ju 87G variant; specifically armed to engage Soviet armour. It fought at the Battle of Kursk in July 1943 and the subsequent retreat to the Dnieper; its final battle.

In October 1943, the Stuka wings were reorganised. They were renamed (battle wings) as opposed to dive-bomber wings (). The Ju 87s had become too vulnerable, and there were no longer sufficient fighter aircraft to provide escort, or enough fuel for joint operations. The number of dive-bombers were scaled down, and mixed with fighter-bombers, particularly Focke-Wulf Fw 190, which could fight on equal terms after it released its bombs.

The wing ceased to exist on 18 October 1943. II. ''Gruppe'' was redesignated as III. ''Gruppe'' ''Schlachtgeschwader'' 10, the remaining groups renamed and sent to ''Schlachtgeschwader'' 77.

Background

The dive-bomber has often been associated with German development in the pre-war era but the type remained a low-priority for air planners who shaped the embryonic Luftwaffe. This apparent regression from the practices and experiences of World War I stemmed from the belief among the General Staff (''Oberkommando der Luftwaffe'') that army support aviation in 1917–1918 was purely a reaction to trench warfare.

German air doctrine remained rooted in the fundamentals of ''Operativer Luftkrieg'' (Operational Air War) which stressed interdiction, Strategic bombing (when and if possible) but primarily the air supremacy mission. The Spanish Civil War experience encouraged the General Staff to embrace the dive-bomber concept later in the 1930s, though the war's influence on German operational preferences remain ambiguous. On the eve of World War II, some German air planners regarded the dive-bomber as a strategic weapon to strike with precision at enemy industry. Even factored into the army support groups, only fifteen percent of Luftwaffe front-line strength contained specialist ground-attack aircraft in September 1939.

The Ju 87-equipped units made up only four complete wings of around 300 aircraft in September 1939, StG 77 being one of them. Two other StG existed, but only with a single group, while LG 1 maintained another in a mixed wing. The Ju 87s, commensurate with doctrine, participated in a variety of missions; the battle for air superiority, interdiction as well as the traditional ground support role for which it is known.

Formation

Stab (headquarters unit)/StG 77 was formed at Schweinfurt on 1 May 1939 from Stab./StG 51. Initially placed under ''Luftflotte'' 3, it transferred to ''Luftflotte'' 4 which used the designation numbers 76-100, as consequently was renamed.

''Oberst'' Günter Schwartzkopff was appointed as the first ''Geschwaderkommodore''. From 1 June 1939 it transferred to Breslau-Schöngarten, present-day Wrocław Airport, and then from 26 and 31 August moved to Neudorf. It maintained three operational Ju 87s when war began.

I./ StG 77 was formed from I./StG 51 at Kitzingen on 14 May 1939. It moved to Brieg and Hauptmann Karl-Friedrich-Karl von Dalwigk zu Lichtenfels in command. On 31 August 1939, the eve of war, it possessed 39 Ju 87s, of which 34 were combat ready.

II./StG 77 was formed on 14 May 1939 also from II./StG 51 was its renumbering pattern followed first group. It was moved into the same base as Stab./StG 77. Hauptmann Clemens Graf von Schonborn-Wiesentheid was given command. 38 of 39 Ju 87s were operational by August 1939.

III./StG 77 was formed during World War II. It was presumably formed at Barly, near Arras or alternatively at Caen in Normandy on 9 July 1940. Dietrich Peltz was given command. 37 of the 38 Ju 87s assigned to the group were operational when combat operations began. By that time Helmuth Bode had taken command as the group's commanding officer.

War Service

StG 77 was placed under the command of ''Fliegerführer z.b.V.'', under Wolfram von Richthofen, part of ''Luftflotte'' 4. During the course of the campaign, the two groups were reinforced by III./StG 51 and IV.(St)/ LG 1. The Stab, I. and II. ''Gruppe'' were ordered to support the 10th Army as it advanced into southern Poland. On 1 September 1939 German forces invaded Poland, forcing the Western Allies to declare war, and thus beginning World War II. Before the campaign began, on 28 August 1939, Slovak forces threatened to mutiny in protest at the German attack and briefly threatened Spišská Nová Ves airfield where Stab. and II./StG 77 were housed. The perimeter was secured by paratroops. By the time of the German attack StG 77 had moved onto bases around Oppeln.

Poland

On 1 September many of the crews of I./StG 77 flew four or five combat missions. With assistance from I./StG 2 and I./KG 77, first group assisted in the destruction of the Łódź Army's cavalry brigades (Wołyńska Cavalry Brigade). The attacks offered close air support to the mechanised XVI Corps. II./StG 77 attacked Wieluń, destroying the town. The entire wing was involved in Offensive counter air operations against airfields.

From 2 to 3 September troop concentrations in the Radomsko region were bombed. First group also probably hit targets along the Pilica river