Zerstorergruppe : A History of V./(Z)LG 1 - I./NJG 3 • 1939-1941

This book is the history of V./(Z)LG 1, a Zerstörergruppe (destroyer-group) which, like most of the Luftwaffe destroyer units equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 110 twin-engined heavy fighter, was disbanded at the end of 1940 after suffering devastating losses during the Battle of Britain. From the remnants of these Zerstörer units evolved night-fighter units; in this case I./Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 which was derived from V./(Z)LG 1. Only a few of the airmen who continued to fly operationally survived the end of the war. Covered are all air operations during the campaigns in Poland, France, and in particular detail the Battle of Britain, where the unit suffered heavy casualties that led to their reformation in October 1940 as I./NJG 3. Included are over 500 photographs from the personal archives of surviving air- and groundcrewmen – nearly all are previously unpublished. Detailed appendices list casualties, air operations, documents and other data.

This book is the history of V./(Z)LG 1, a Zerstörergruppe (destroyer-group) which, like most of the Luftwaffe destroyer units equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 110 twin-engined heavy fighter, was disbanded at the end of 1940 after suffering devastating losses during the Battle of Britain. From the remnants of these Zerstörer units evolved night-fighter units; in this case I./Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 which was derived from V./(Z)LG 1. Only a few of the airmen who continued to fly operationally survived the end of the war. Covered are all air operations during the campaigns in Poland, France, and in particular detail the Battle of Britain, where the unit suffered heavy casualties that led to their reformation in October 1940 as I./NJG 3. Included are over 500 photographs from the personal archives of surviving air- and groundcrewmen – nearly all are previously unpublished. Detailed appendices list casualties, air operations, documents and other data.