Editing Luftwaffe (section)

===Organisation and chain of command===
{{Main|Organization of the Luftwaffe (1933–45)}}
At the start of the war the Luftwaffe had four {{lang|de|Luftflotten}} (air fleets), each responsible for roughly a quarter of Germany. As the war progressed more air fleets were created as the areas under German rule expanded. As one example, {{lang|de|[[Luftflotte 5]]}} was created in 1940 to direct operations in Norway and Denmark, and other {{lang|de|Luftflotten}} were created as necessary. Each {{lang|de|Luftflotte}} would contain several {{lang|de|Fliegerkorps}} (Air Corps), {{lang|de|Fliegerdivision}} (Air Division), {{lang|de|Jagdkorps}} (Fighter Corps), {{lang|de|Jagddivision}} (Air Division), or {{lang|de|Jagdfliegerführer}} (Fighter Air Command). Each formations would have attached to it a number of units, usually several {{lang|de|Geschwader}}, but also independent {{lang|de|Staffeln}} and {{lang|de|[[Kampfgruppe|Kampfgruppen]]}}.<ref name="Luftwaffe Tactical Organisation">{{cite web|url=https://www.feldgrau.com/WW2-German-Luftwaffe-High-Command/|title=High Command of the Luftwaffe|work=feldgrau.com|access-date=26 September 2012}}</ref> {{lang|de|Luftflotten}} were also responsible for the training aircraft and schools in their operational areas.<ref name="Ketley and Rolfe, p. 4">{{harvnb|Ketley|Rolfe |1996|p=4}}</ref>

A {{lang|de|Geschwader}} was commanded by a {{lang|de|[[Geschwaderkommodore]]}}, with the rank of either major, {{lang|de|[[Oberstleutnant]]}} ([[lieutenant colonel]]) or {{lang|de|[[Oberst]]}} ([[colonel]]). Other "staff" officers within the unit with administrative duties included the adjutant, technical officer, and operations officer, who were usually (though not always) experienced aircrew or pilots still flying on operations. Other specialist staff were navigation, signals, and intelligence personnel. A {{lang|de|Stabschwarm}} (headquarters [[Flight (military unit)|flight]]) was attached to each {{lang|de|Geschwader}}.<ref name="Luftwaffe Tactical Organisation"/>

A {{lang|de|Jagdgeschwader}} (hunting wing) (JG) was a single-seat day fighter {{lang|de|Geschwader}}, typically equipped with Bf 109 or Fw 190 aircraft flying in the fighter or fighter-bomber roles. Late in the war, by 1944–45, [[Jagdgeschwader 7|JG 7]] and [[Jagdgeschwader 400|JG 400]] (and the jet specialist [[Jagdverband 44|JV 44]]) flew much more advanced aircraft, with [[Jagdgeschwader 1 (World War II)|JG 1]] working up with the [[Heinkel He 162]] "emergency fighter" at war's end. A {{lang|de|Geschwader}} consisted of groups ({{lang|de|Gruppen}}), which in turn consisted of {{lang|de|Jagdstaffel}} (fighter squadrons). Hence, Fighter Wing 1 was JG 1, its first {{lang|de|Gruppe}} (group) was I./JG 1, using a [[Roman numerals|Roman numeral]] for the {{lang|de|Gruppe}} number only, and its first {{lang|de|Staffel}} (squadron) was 1./JG 1. {{lang|de|Geschwader}} strength was usually 120–125 aircraft.<ref name="Luftwaffe Tactical Organisation"/>

Each {{lang|de|Gruppe}} was commanded by a {{lang|de|Kommandeur}}, and a {{lang|de|Staffel}} by a {{lang|de|Staffelkapitän}}. However, these were "appointments", not ranks, within the Luftwaffe. Usually, the {{lang|de|Kommodore}} would hold the rank of {{lang|de|Oberstleutnant}} or, exceptionally, an {{lang|de|Oberst}}. Even a {{lang|de|Leutnant}} (second lieutenant) could find himself commanding a {{lang|de|Staffel}}.

Similarly, a bomber wing was a {{lang|de|Kampfgeschwader}} (KG), a night fighter wing was a {{lang|de|Nachtjagdgeschwader}} (NJG), a dive bomber wing was a {{lang|de|Stukageschwader}} (StG), and units equivalent to those in RAF Coastal Command, with specific responsibilities for coastal patrols and search and rescue duties, were {{lang|de|Küstenfliegergruppen}} (Kü.Fl. Gr.). Specialist bomber groups were known as {{lang|de|Kampfgruppen}} (KGr). The strength of a bomber {{lang|de|Geschwader}} was about 80–90 aircraft.<ref name="Luftwaffe Tactical Organisation"/>