Luftwaffe Units Table of Organization

The smallest operational unit was the Staffel, which was roughly equivalent to a RAF squadron. The Staffel could comprise from five to twenty aircraft but usually consisted of around nine. This unit was further subdivided into a Schwarm, with sometimes five but usually four planes; a Kette, with three planes; or a Rotte, with two. The Staffel was commanded by a captain or a lieutenant known as a Staffelkapitan.

Three Staffeln formed a Gruppe, although fighter Gruppen usually had four after the autumn of 1940. The Gruppenkommandeur was a major or a captain (Hauptmann).

Three Gruppen made a Geschwader, the largest fighting air formation in the Luftwaffe; sometimes a fourth or fifth Gruppe was attached to fighter Geschwader. Note that not all the aircraft were necessarily of the same type or model.

The name Jagdgeschwader was used to denote a Geschwader equipped with single-engine fighters. Nachtjagdgeschwader were night fighter units (single or twin engined), Zerstorergeschwader with twin engined heavy fighters, and Kampfgeschwader with bomber units. A Geschwader was commanded by the Geschwaderkommodore, a colonel or lieutenant-colonel (Oberst/ Oberstleutnant).

Gruppen in a Geschwader were numbered in roman numerals. Individual Staffeln were numbered from 1 to 9, with 1-3 belonging to Gruppe I, 4-6 in Gruppe II, etc. Therefore, I/JG 2 represents the first Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 2, and 7/JG 77 represents the seventh Staffel of Gruppe III in JG 77.

RAF Units Table of Organization

The RAF squadron comprised on average 12 aircraft. Early war flying formations revolved around the vic, a close three-plane formation shaped like an arrowhead. Thus a squadron comprised four vics. Lessons of combat prompted a change to the fingerfour, based on the German Schwarm, a four-plane formation loosely resembling the fingertips of a hand (although aircraft were at different altitudes).

The four-plane formation was called a Section, designated by color, e.g. Red Section, Yellow Section, etc., A six-plane formation was called a Flight, designated A and B in a squadron. The whole unit was commanded by a Squadron Leader.

Three squadrons formed a Wing, led by a Wing Commander, who had the privilege of painting his initials on his aircraft instead of following the squadrons' designated initials. The wing was the largest fighting air formation, although in the Battle of Britain, up to two wings formed a Balbo (named after Marshall Italo Balbo who led large formations of Italian planes before the war). The Balbo allowed the RAF to fight on more equal terms with the numerous German fighters.

Three wings made a Group, led by a Group Captain, although this rank relegated the leader to less flying and more administrative duties.

Squadrons were numbered No. 85 Squadron; No. 452 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force; etc. Wings were named according to the airfield, such as the Duxford Wing, the Hornchurch Wing; etc. Groups were numbered from 10 Group to 14 Group.

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