JG26

Jagdgeschwader 26 Schlageter was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated mainly in Western Europe against Great Britain, France and the United States but also saw service against Russia. It was named after Albert Leo Schlageter, a World War I veteran and Freikorps member arrested and executed by the French for sabotage in 1923.

Commanders of II. Gruppe JG 26

Hptm. Werner Palm, 1 May 1939 – 27 June 1939
Hptm Herwig Knüppel, 28 June 1939 – 19 May 1940
Hptm Karl Ebbighausen, 20 May 1940 – 31 May 1940
Hptm. Erich Noack, 1 June 1940 – 24 July 1940
Hptm Karl Ebbighausen, 25 July 1940 – 16 August 1940
Hptm Erich Bode, 17 August 1940 – 3.10.40
Hptm Walter Adolph, 4 October 1940 – 18 September 1941
Hptm Joachim Müncheberg, 19 September 1941 – 21 July 1942
Hptm Conny Meyer, 22 July 1942 – 2 January 1943
Maj Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland, 3 January 43 – 17 August 1943
Hptm Hans Naumann, 18 August 1943 – 8 September 1943
ObLt Johannes Seifert, 9 September 1943 – 25 November 1943
Maj Wilhelm Gäth, 26 November 1943 – 1 March 1944
Hptm Hans Naumann, 2 March 1944 – 28 June 1944
Hptm Emil Lang, 29 June 1944 – 3 September 1944Hptm Georg-Peter Eder, 4 September 1944 – 8 October 1944
Maj Anton Hackl, 9 October 1944 – 29 January 45
ObLt Waldemar Radener, 30 January 1945 – 22 February 1945
Hptm Paul Schauder, 23 February 1945 – 1 May 1945

Johann Aistleitner (born on 8 March 1921 at Salzburg, died 14 January 1944 Montdidier-Ersheu, France). He joined the Luftwaffe on 23 November 1939 and started flying training with Flieger-Ausbildungs-Regiment 62 at Quedlinburg. Oberfähnrich Aistleitner was posted to the JG 26 Ergänzungsstaffel to complete his flying training. 

Aistleitner was posted to 1./JG 26 on 1 May 1941. He gained his first victory on 17 June, when he shot down a RAF Spitfire fighter near Boulogne. On 3 May, Leutnant Aistleitner transferred to the Stabstaffel of III./JG 26. By the end of 1942, Aistleitner had increased his victory total to 11. During September 1943, he left JG 26 for a tour as an instructor and Staffelkapitän with Jagdgruppe West.

Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 26 Hptm. Josef Priller (below) explaining a dogfight to his wingmann Lt. Johann Aistleitner. On the rudder of Priller`s Fw 190 A-2 (W.Nr. 5310) “<< + I” are seventy-three victory bars. June, 1942.

He was recalled in early December and appointed a Staffelkapitän with 5./JG 26. On 11 January 1944, he claimed two USAAF B-17 four-engine bombers shot down over the Zuider See to record his 13th and 14th, and last, victories. Hauptmann Aistleitner was shot down and killed in his Fw 190A-6 (W.Nr. 530 734) “White 9” near Montdidier-Ercheu, France on 14 January 1944 in aerial combat with P-47 fighters of the 4th Fighter Group, USAAF. 

    Johann Aistleitner was credited with 14 victories. All his victories were recorded over the Western front and included two four-engine bombers. 

Researched by Gregor Winter