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''Zerstörergeschwader'' 76 (ZG 76) (lit. ''destroyer wing'') was a Luftwaffe heavy/destroyer Fighter Aircraft-wing of World War II. ==History== ''Zerstörergeschwader'' 76 was formed on 1 May 1939 with the I. ''Gruppe'' and II. ''Gruppe'' without a ''Geschwaderstab''. The II. ''Gruppe'' was initially equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and was known as ''Jagdgruppe'' 176. The ''Geschwaderstab'' was created on 15 April 1940 in Köln-Wahn. The III. ''Gruppe'' was raised on 26 June 1940 in Trier-Euren. On 1 September 1939 Germany attacked Poland although bad weather initially precluded a large scale deployment of ZG 76. I./ZG 76 engaged Polish fighters formations and made their first claims, although also suffered their first losses. Future 'ace' Leutnant Helmut Lent participated in the attack on Poland, destroying several aircraft on the ground and a PZL P.11 fighter in the air on 3 September 1939 for his and (I./ZG 76) first victory. However, on 12 September, following the destruction of an aircraft on the ground he was attacked by another fighter and his starboard engine was hit and put out of action. This necessitated a forced-landing, fortunately behind his own lines, in which he received minor injuries. On 29 September, I./ZG 76 was withdrawn to the Stuttgart area to provide ''Reichsverteidigung'' (Defense of the Reich) against the Western Allied Air Forces. I./ZG 76 claimed 31 kills during the campaign, of which 19 were confirmed. On 18 December 1939 the Royal Air Force (RAF) sent a force of Vickers Wellingtons to raid Wilhelmshaven during the day. I./ZG 76 under Hptm. Gunther Reinecke, intercepted. ''Staffelkapitän'' of 2./ZG 76, Wolfgang Falck, and wingman Uffz. Heinz Fresia were the first to engage, claiming two Wellingtons each, though Falck's aircraft was hit by defending fire and he crash-landed on Wangerooge. Others of I./ZG 76 intercepted at intervals, unit claims totalling 15 Wellingtons shot down. The RAF lost 12, with total Luftwaffe unconfirmed claims being 38. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Zerstörergeschwader 76」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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