On July 25,1941,Siegfried Schnell receives the Eichenlaub from Adolf Hitler personally at the Wolffschanze, the Führer’s headquarters in Eastern Prussia. With him is his future commanding officer, Hptm. Walter Oesau (newly appointed Kommodore of JG 2) receiving the Schwerten to his Ritterkreuz for his 86 kills, Oberstleutnant Adolf Galland (also receiving the Schwerten) and Hauptmann Herbert Ihlefeld who, like Schnell, is presented with the Eichenlaub.

Operation Sunrise

On this day, the British launch Operation Sunrise, an ambitious operation aimed at knocking out the German capital ships Gneisenau, Prinz Eugen and Scharnhorst, who were being repaired at the shipyards in Brest and La Pallice. A force of 100 bombers escorted by 24 fighters is sent to attack Brest while a smaller detachment of 15 Halifaxes (without fighter escort due to the distances involved) targets La Pallice. In their path is Hptm. Karl-Heinz Krahl’s I./JG 2, tasked with the air protection of the ports and which puts up an effective defence. The Gruppe claims 3 fighters and 21 bombers destroyed, very close to the acknowledged 17 bombers lost reported by the RAF, although it also pays a heavy price for its success with 5 pilots killed and 2 wounded, plus 7 “Emils” destroyed and 2 damaged.

20 July, 1941

20 July, 1941: Lt. Hans-Joachim Dette meets his fate near Abbeville when the 6./JG 2 pilot is killed in a skirmish with enemy fighters.

Siegfried Schnell's commemorative trophies

On July 8th 1940, Oblt. Siegfried "Wumm" Schnell not only reached the mark of 40 aerial victories (and subsequently being awarded the Eichenlaub) but also attained the 644th victory for the 'Richthofen' Geschwader, the unit thus equalling the total number of victories of its World War I namesake.
To commemorate this feat, Schnell was presented with three silver gift beakers pictured here (from left to right): the first with obverse engraving of a Luftwaffe eagle above squadron insignia and circumscription "Jagdgeschwader Richthofen - Leutnant Schnell zum 644. Abschuss des Geschwader Richthofen Nr. 2 - 8.7.1941"; the second with obverse engraving of a Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves within a shield surrounded by floral décor, the reverse with "Zum 40. Luftsieg - die 4.Staffel" below a squadron coat of arms; the third with obverse engraved "40. Abschuss - Leutnant Schnell - III./Jagdgeschwader Richthofen Nr. 2 - 8-7-1941".

Beginnings

So, here is my blog for the JG 2. Just like on my FB page (https://www.facebook.com/JG2Richthofen), here I will do a version of a war diary of the unit, as well as post pictures of pilots and planes. Eventually, I will present some pilots bios or other information I find useful or interesting.

Hope you will enjoy it.

Horrido!

Pedro Pacheco