In five turbulent years the members of this highly successful Luftwaffe
fighter unit developed into such a close-knit team that even now -
almost fifty years later - that bond still exists. This unique photo
history was compiled with assistance from the air and ground crews of JG
54. The 400+ photographs document the story of the Grunherz-Geschwader
from its formation in the spring of 1939 to the final battles in the
courland pocket in the spring of 1945. Within the timespan lay the
arduous years of operations in Poland, France, the Channel Front, the
Balkans, Russia, Finland and the defense of the Reich. Werner Held is
the author of many books on the Luftwaffe of World War II including The
German Fighter Units over Russia, and the Luftwaffe in the North African
Campaign (both available from Schiffer Publishing). Hannes Trautloft is
a former Geschwaderkommodore of JG 54. Ekkerhard Bob is a former
Staffelkapitan in JG 54.