Luftwaffe Terminology

Abschuss: "Shootdown" - An Air Victory.

Alarmstart: "Scramble" - An alert for German Pilots.

Ami: German for "American".

Blitzskrieg: "Lightning War" - Mobile form of warfare practiced by the Germans in WWII.

Dicke Autos: "Fat Cars" - German Term for Enemy Heavy Bombers.

Einsatzfreude: Love of Combat.

Einsatzstaffel: Operational Staffel of a Training Unit.

Endausbildungsstaffel: Operational Training Squadron.

Experte: A fighter pilot proficient in aerial combat, equal to an Allied Ace.

Fliegerdivision (FD): An Air Division containing several types of flying units.

Fliegerfuehrer (Flifue): Aircraft Command/Control Unit or the Theater Air Commander.

Fliegerkorps (FK): "Air Corps" - A higher command containing several Fliegerdivisionen.

Flugzeugfuehrer: A Pilot.

Freie Jagd: "Free Hunt" - A term used for a fighter sweep without ground control.

Fuehrer: Leader

Fuehrungsstaffel: The Leaders Squadron.

General der Jagdflieger (GdJ): The Gereral of the Fighter Arm.

Geschwader: The largest mobile Luftwaffe flying unit.

Geschwaderkommodore: Wing Commander - Usually a Major, Oberstleutnant or Oberst.

Gruppen (Gr): The basic Luftwaffe combat unit. Usually comprised of 3-4 Staffeln.

Gruppenkommandeur: Group Commander - Usually a Hauptmann, Major, or Oberstleutnant.

Herausschuss: "Shoot-Out" - To damage a bomber so that he is forced to leave his formation.

Horrido: "Hunters" or "Pilots" Cry of Victory. St. Horridus was the Patron saint of Fighter Pilots.

Indianer: "Indians" - The German Term for Enemy Fighters.

Jabo: A Slang for a Fighter-Bomber.

Jabostaffel: A Fighter-Bomber Squadron.

Jagdbomber (Jabo): A Fighter-Bomber.

Jagdgeschwader (JG): A Fighter Wing, usually comprised of 3-4 Jagdgruppen.

Jagdgruppen: A Fighter Group, usually comprised of 3-4 Staffeln. Strength varied from 40-68 planes.

Jagdkorps: Fighter Corps; commanded one or more Jagddivisionen.

Jagdschutz: "Fighter Protection" - Generally a patrol of a sector or front.

Jagdstaffel: A Fighter SquadronWing, comprised of 3-4 "Schwaerme" (12-16 aircraft).

Jagdverband (JV): A Fighter Unit designation only used for the JV44 "Experten", a Gruppe of Jet Fighters flying the ME-262 that was commanded by Adolph Galland in 1945.

Kampfgeschwader (KG): A Bomber Wing.

Kanalfront: The (English) Channel Front.

Kanalgeschwader: The Geschwader serving on the English Channel (JG2 and JG26).

Kapitaen: "Captain" - a Staffel command position, rather than a rank.

Katschmarek: Slang term for a "Wingman".

Kette: Flight of three aircraft. The usual German formation flown in Spain 1935-1939.

Kite: Slang for an Airplane.

Kriegsgefanger: German for a Prisoner of War (POW).

Nachtjagdgeschwader (NJG): A Night Fighter Wing.

Nachtjagdkommando: A Night Fighting Detachment.

Nachwuchs: "New Growth" - a late war replacement pilot. A Newbie.

Oberwerkmeister: Line Chief.

Pulk: "Combat Box" - An American heavy bomber formation.

Rotte: A tactical element of two aircraft.

Rottenflieger: A wingman, or the second man in a Rotte.

Rottenfuehrer: The leader of an element of two aircraft.

Schlageter: JG 26's honor title, commemorated to Albert Leo Schlageter.

Schnellkampfgeschwader (SKG): A Fast bomber wing usually contained Bf-110, Bf-109's and/or FW-190 fighter/bombers.

Schwarm: A flight of four aircraft (Pl. Schwaerme). After 1940 all German formations were made up of units of Schwaerme.

Schwarmfuehrer: Flight Leader.

Stabsschwarm: A Staff Flight.

Staffelfuehrer: A Squadron Leader (Usually a Temporary or Probationary Position).

Staffelkapitaen: A Squadron Leader, Usually a Leutnent, Oberleutnant, or a Hauptmann.

Stukageschwader: A Dive Bomber Wing.

Tommy: German slang for an Englishman.

Valhalla: A large formation of aircraft.

Zerstoerer: "Destroyer" or Heavy Fighter - Usually Bf-110 or Me-410 twin engined fighters.

Zerstoerergeschwader (ZG): A Heavy Fighter or "Destroyer" Wing.

Zerstoerergruppe (ZGr): A Heavy Fighter or "Destroyer" group.