A bad day for the JG 2

[Danelov]

Coming back with the JG 52. After the short and disastrous deployment of the III./JG 52 , the Jagdgeschwader try a second time this time with the II./JG 52.
The unit was refitted at Nordholz and that move to Peuplingues in August 6. Fly his first mission the 12th and loss three Bf 109s and pilots. Two day after, the 14th, loss three more Bf 109s and his pilots. A second disaster for the JG 52 and the unit was pulled back to Germany the 18th, resting only at place the Stab and I./JG 52. The II./JG 52 flew defense missions out of Jever on the German Bight until the 30th, after transferred to Husum, then to Stade on September l9th. After so a poor perfomance his CO, Hptm. Kornatzki was replaced as Kommandeur on 26-08-40 by Hptm. Wilhelm Ensslen.Things apparently improved, specially confidence and the unit try again, returning to Peuplingles at Sept 25.
However the return to combat was again a new disaster, lossing five pilots and seven Bf 109 two days after, the 27th, including Oblt Karl Trieber from the Stab. The 30th two more Bf 109s and pilots were loss.

In October the 5.Staffel was converted to Jabo for loss very fast five more planes and four pilots during the month. On the 29th, future ace Lt. Gerhard Barkhorn, from 6./JG 52, was shot down and forced to ditch in the Channel, but was rescued by the Seenodienst.

The last major combat for the unit in 1940 took place on November 2th, and again another disaster, suffering the loss of its Gruppenkommandeur, Hptm. Ensslen, who, along with his wingman, was shot down off the Kent coast. A third Bf 109 damaged in combat was written off after crash landing at Peuplinges. The unit was retired of operations the Nov 5, 1940. Definitively the Battle of Britain was not a match for the JG 52. By the end of the battle, JG 52 was the only fighter unit of the Lufwaffe to have failed to produce a high-scoring pilot.