Sturzkampfgeschwader 3 (StG 3—Dive Bomber Wing 3) was a Dive bomber wing in the German Luftwaffe during World War II and operated the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka.
The wing was activated on 9 July 1940 using personnel from German medium bomber and other dive-bomber units. StG 3 was one of the few dive bomber units created during the war.
StG 3 fought its first campaign in the Battle of Britain a short time after formation. In 1941 it served in the Balkans Campaign and then some groups served on the Eastern Front, from 1943, until disbanded.
The wing operated through most of the North African Campaign and some of its units fought to destruction there. StG 3 also served in the Battle of the Mediterranean and spearheaded the last German campaign-sized victory in the Dodecanese campaign in autumn 1943.
The wing redesignated to Schlachtgeschwader 3 (Battle Wing) on 18 October 1943.
Formation
The Luftwaffe possessed several dive-bomber wings equipped with the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka in mid-1940; the Ju 87 having proved its effectiveness. StG 1, StG 2 and StG 77 were most experienced. A fourth wing, aside from smaller units such as StG 5, 76 and 151, was formed to increase dive bomber capability and organisation.
A Stabsstaffel (command staffel) was formed from Stab./KG 28 (Kampfgeschwader 28 — Bomber Wing 28) at Dinard, France on 9 July 1940. According to strength reports, the command staff had four Dornier Do 17Z, one Do 17M, and two Heinkel He 111H aircraft all previously operated by KG 28. There is no mention of any Ju 87s with the Stab./StG 3 in 1940. By 13 August 1940 StG 3 had been subordinated to Fliegerkorps IV under Luftflotte 3. The command unit was relocated to Brètigny, south of Paris. Oberst Karl Angerstein became the wing's first commanding officer (Geschwaderkommodore) but was replaced on 27 July by Oberstleutnant Hermann Edert.
I./StG 3 was formed near Barly, southwest of Arras. The strength of the group is unknown, but the experienced Major Walter Sigel as commanding officer (Gruppekommandeur). II./StG 3 was formed from I./StG 1 at either El Agheila or Agedabia on 13 January 1942. Hauptmann Kurt Kuhlmey commanded the group. The same day III./StG 3 was formed at San Pancrazio, Italy by renaming II./StG 2. Major Walter Enneccerus became commanding officer.
IV.(Erg)/StG 3 was created in August 1941 at Würzburg as an Ergänzungsstaffel/StG 3. The unit provided six to eight weeks of operational experience to crews fresh out of flight school. It was expanded to two staffeln. The group was based in Italy, Greece and Yugoslavia. In 1943 it was involved in Bandenbekämpfung operations in the Balkans.
War Service
World War II in Europe began with the German invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939, in collaboration with the Soviet Union. After Polish resistance ended in October 1939 the Phoney War set in a period of stalemate. On 10 May 1940 German forces (Wehrmacht) invaded Western Europe. The Battle of the Netherlands, Battle of Belgium, Battle of France ended in a German victory which surprised the German General Staff.
In July 1940, after failing to induce the British to surrender or enter into a negotiated peace, Adolf Hitler resolved to knock the British Empire out of the war. The German Luftwaffe was ordered to cut off and destroy British sea communications in the English Channel and gain air superiority, as a prelude to a threatened seaborne in invasion (Operation Sea Lion).
Battle of Britain
Stab./StG 3 and the solitary group under its command were ordered to attack shipping in the Kanalkampf phase of the Battle of Britain. The wing was moved to the Cherbourg Peninsula. It used airstrips near to the port city and Théville as forward staging areas, in close proximity to British shipping in the Channel.