The specialist literature includes extensive and well-illustrated publications about many German Jagdgeschwader and Jagdgruppen; however, one Gruppe which in terms of photos has been in a deep sleep for a long time is I.(J)/LG 2. Despite the fact that fighter pilots who later became well known, men like Ihlefeld, Geißhardt, Marseille, Harder, Strakeljahn and Kemethmüller, flew their first operational sorties and scored their first victories with the unit, the photographic material available to those with an interest in the unit is limited.

Now, however, with Volume 3 in our Photographed by Soldiers series we can offer all fighter enthusiasts unique photo material. The foundation of this book is a collection of color slides in the estate of a former war reporter who accompanied I.(J)/LG 2 from the Channel in 1941, through the Balkans to Russia. He was with the unit in Russia in 1942 when it was renamed I./JG 77. With JG 77, in the summer of 1942 he took the last photos showing the commander of the Geschwader, Maj. Gollob, and his aircraft. The color images provide completely new and unexpected information about camouflage schemes, Staffel colors and emblems. To provide a complete picture of I.(J)/LG 2’s operational history, the color images are supplemented by impressive and never before seen black-and-white photos from the estates of various pilots and technicians who served with the Gruppe.