Heinkel He 111 of KG 26 “Löwengeschwader” in flight over Norway 1940
Kampfgeschwader 26 (KG 26), known as the ‘Löwengeschwader’ due to the lion emblem carried on the fuselage nose section of its Heinkel He 111s, with different colors for each Gruppe (white for I, red for II, and yellow for III), played a significant role in the Luftwaffe’s operations, particularly with the He 111. This unit was among the earliest to be equipped with the He 111P-1 in the spring of 1939, commanded by Oberst Fuchs.
Early War Operations and Losses (1939-1940) In October 1939, II./KG 257 (the future II./KG 26) began exchanging its short-lived Ju 86s for He 111s. By the outbreak of World War 2 in September 1939, He 111 P/H variants equipped almost all first-line Kampfgruppen flying Heinkels, including KG 26. KG 26 participated in the Polish campaign. From September 1939 until early 1940, He 111s from KG 26 were transferred to the North Sea area. On October 8, 1939, a KG 26 He 111, ‘1H+NM’, was one of two machines that crash-landed in Denmark after an abortive attack on the Home Fleet. Between December 17-19, 1939, KG 26 He 111s flew sorties against British shipping, sinking ten ships, mostly fishing vessels, and damaging others. From January 9 to 30, 1940, KG 26 He 111Ps continued anti-shipping operations, sinking twelve cargo and fishing vessels and damaging more off the east coast of England.
During Operation Weserübung in April 1940, KG 26 He 111Ps and Hs, based at Lübeck-Blankensee and Marx in Oldenburg, were ready for take-off. KG 26, subordinated to Luftflotte 5, suffered heavy losses when British radar picked up their incoming He 111s from Norway, leading to continuous attacks by RAF Squadrons 41, 79, 605, and 607. Eight He 111s, nearly 10% of the force, were shot down, and they were unable to complete their tasks. On April 3, the Kommandeur of II./KG 26 was lost when a Spitfire shot down ‘1H+AC’ into the sea.
Battle of Britain and the Blitz (1940-1941) The He 111’s performance as a daylight bomber during the Battle of Britain was found wanting against determined fighter defenses. KG 26 was among the He 111 units deployed in armed reconnaissance sweeps and small-scale raids. On August 15, 1940, known as the “Hardest Day” of the Battle, Luftflotte 5’s He 111s from I. and III./KG 26, operating from Norway, were “savagely mauled” by RAF fighters, resulting in eight He 111s failing to return, all disappearing into the North Sea. This was part of a day that saw 12 Heinkel casualties, believed to be the highest single-day loss for Heinkels during the Battle [conversation history]. With daylight losses becoming prohibitive, He 111 crews, including those from KG 26, were compelled to switch to night operations. By the winter of 1940/41, KG 26’s He 111s, like ‘1H+GR’ of 7./KG 26, were sporting the usual black distemper night camouflage. III./KG 26 was also an elite unit at this stage, with crews trained to deliver the SC 2500 ‘Max’, the heaviest bomb dropped on Britain during the Blitz.
Eastern Front and Later Roles (1941-1945) The invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941 marked the beginning of the end for the He 111’s bomber career in the west. Ten Heinkel Kampfgruppen, including some from KG 26, were ranged along the Eastern Front. In August 1941, I./KG 26 was transferred from Norway to Kemi, Finland, to attack the Murmansk railway. They targeted strategic sections of the track and supply trains, reportedly achieving direct hits despite defensive flak from the trains themselves. One ‘1H+ML’ of 3./KG 26, a minelayer, was among the first six aircraft transferred for this mission. In the autumn of 1941, KG 26 was transferred to Banak, northern Norway, to bomb Murmansk and Archangelsk, before heading to Italy in early 1942 for torpedo training.
KG 26’s torpedo-bombers became active against Arctic convoys. In April and May 1942, I. and II. Gruppen of KG 26, equipped with He 111H-4 torpedo-bombers, were transferred to Bardufoss and Banak, Norway, to fight Russian convoys. On May 26, seven He 111H-4s from I./KG 26 attacked convoy PQ 16, torpedoing and halting two ships. In July 1942, He 111H-6s from KG 26 attacked convoy PQ 17, with some torpedo-bombers damaged by heavy British anti-aircraft fire. Later, during the battle for convoy PQ 18 in September 1942, I./KG 26 and III./KG 26’s He 111H-6s were part of an estimated 40 He 111s attacking the convoy. Despite claims of 100 aircraft and 15 shot down, only five He 111s were lost on the first day. The next day, 22 He 111s from I./KG 26 attacked again, but were unsuccessful, losing five aircraft and having nine more damaged by Avenger fighters.
By 1943, He 111H-16s of KG 26 were involved in torpedo-bombing and anti-shipping operations in the Mediterranean and Black Sea. KG 26, along with KG 4, was involved in the mining of the main Soviet naval base at Kronstadt during Operation Froschlaich in May 1942, heavily loaded with two aerial mines and using jettisonable underwing rocket packs to take off. The He 111 was continuously adapted, with some KG 26 He 111s receiving the fixed MG 17 in the tail cone for rear defense. The He 111H-6, an important variant, was produced in large numbers and could be quickly converted for use as a bomber, mine-layer, or torpedo aircraft, proving its worth in all capacities for a long time. By May 1944, KG 26 was still operating in Sardinia, with its Heinkels likely involved in sea-based operations and wearing specific camouflage patterns.
Overall, KG 26’s He 111s saw extensive and varied service, transitioning from daylight bombing to night operations, specialized anti-shipping, minelaying, and contributing to the transport and supply roles required throughout the war.