Warbirds - JG 53, what we fly?

The original Jagdgeschwader 53 flew only the Messerschmitt Bf109-series during the war. Before the war they flew the Arado Ar 68 bi-plane fighter, until it was replaced by the Bf109B.

At the start of WW2 the Jagdgeschwader had a full complement of E-1s and 3s, the first real combat capable 109s. From then on JG 53 flew about every mark of 109 built in numbers, ending the war fighting with the K-4, before finally being disbanded or having surrendered, depending on what Staffel.

If you would like to know more about JG 53 during the Second World War, you should look for the following books:

Brothers in Arms
A Story of a British and German Fighter Unit, August to December 1940
Chris Goss
ISBN: 0-947554-37-8

Jagdgeschwader 53
A History of the "Pik As" Geschwader
March 1937 - May 1942
ISBN: 0-7643-0175-6

Jagdgeschwader 53
A History of the "Pik As" Geschwader
May 1942 - January 1944
ISBN: 0-7643-0292-2

Announced for a September release...

Jagdgeschwader 53
A History of the "Pik As" Geschwader
January 1944 - May 1945
ISBN:....

Our Squadron
In Warbirds, 2./JG 53 prides itself in the fact that we try to emulate the real JG 53. We concentrate on the 109-series, unless a scenario specifically calls for a different type. No mixed gaggles, we only fly a single mark during a mission (unless you refer to G-6 and G-6/R6 mixes, and in the advent of an AS type, we will allow AS and K-4 mixes).

This doesn't mean we do not fly other Luftwaffe types when it is needed, and as a WarBirds JG it is also encouraged to know all Luftwaffe types to such an extend that you are more then average in skill, an SL or Scenario might require an a/c other then a 109 and thus we must be ready and trained.

As luck may have it, the 109 is the kind of a/c which will ready you for most other Luftwaffe Fighter types (or WB fighter for that matter). You will have to concentrate on E-fighting, but without neglecting the classic dogfight. The G-6, and especially G-6/R6 Kanonenboot are the de-facto squadron types.

Type:	Armament:	Date:
Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4	2x 7.9mm MG 17 2x 20mm MG-FF	Summer '40,
Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4	2x 7.9mm MG 17 1x 20mm MG 151/20	Summer '41
Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6	2x 13mm MG 131 1x 20mm MG 151/20	Summer '43
Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6/R6	2x 13mm MG 131 1x 20mm MG 151/20 2x 20mm MG 151/20	Summer '43
Messerschmitt Bf 109K-4	2x 13mm MG 131 1x 30mm MK 108	Winter '44

In iMOL's WarBirds we are very lucky to have so many 109 marks. To make it really perfect would acquire two extra 109s, three at most.

Spring '39 - fall '40 - E-1, mid '42 to mid '43 - G-2 and finally summer/fall '44 - '45 G-6/AS or G-14/AS. The E-1 would be icing, as many Flieger had to start WW2 armed with 4xMG 17 instead of a cannons, even into the Battle of Britain. The G-2 would fill a current year long gap in technology, as would the G-6/AS or G-14/AS.

Besides the "lack" of the G-2 and an AS type, there should be a push for WGr21 mortar rockets, as anti-Viermot weapon. The Allied 8" Rockets are a very poor subsitute. Only two can be carried, they have a different trajectory, which makes aiming very hard, and have only impact fuses. The original WGr21 could be aimed line of site at an approx. distance of a 1000 meters, detonating by timed-fuse. Although inaccurate, it is a good weapon to scatter bomber boxes and cause some damage. If lucky it can destroy multiple bombers in a single attack.