page_title: Sturzkampfgeschwader 3
section_title: North Africa
hierarchical_section_title: Sturzkampfgeschwader 3 / War Service / North Africa
caption_attribution_description: English: The Royal Navy during the Second World War On the horizon HMS AIREDALE seen blowing up after a direct hit from enemy bombers during a convoy from Alexandria to Malta.
context_page_description: Sturzkampfgeschwader 3 was a Dive bomber wing in the German Luftwaffe during World War II and operated the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka.
  The wing was activated on 9 July 1940 using personnel from German medium bomber and other dive-bomber units. StG 3 was one of the few dive bomber units created during the war.
  StG 3 fought its first campaign in the Battle of Britain a short time after formation. In 1941 it served in the Balkans Campaign and then some groups served on the Eastern Front, from 1943, until disbanded.
  The wing operated through most of the North African Campaign and some of its units fought to destruction there. StG 3 also served in the Battle of the Mediterranean and spearheaded the last German campaign-sized victory in the Dodecanese campaign in autumn 1943.
  The wing redesignated to Schlachtgeschwader 3 on 18 October 1943.
context_section_description: Stab./StG 3 moved from Greece to Libya between late July and the third week of August 1941. It was based at Derna, near Tobruk. The command unit once again took control of two other groups from different wings, I./StG 1 and II./StG 2. The command was based at Gambut in mid-September. By December they were based Marble Arch.
  I./StG 3 soon arrived from Rhodes just as the British began Operation Crusader. The Desert Air Force had parity in fighters and the Ju 87s began to suffer heavy losses. It was apparent that the "writing was on the wall for the Ju 87." On 20 November 1941 six from 12 Ju 87s from I./StG 1 were lost or damaged, while 18 more—most from II./StG 2—were damaged or destroyed on the ground. Three days later Stab./StG 3 aircraft became casualties in this way. On 30 November another 15 week destroyed or damaged and on 4 December another 13 followed. Along with British air superiority, which often prevented the Ju 87s from reaching their target, the open spaces allowed British and Commonwealth forces to disperse, robbing the dive bombers of a huddled mass of targets.
  First group supported the DAK in the failed Siege of Tobruk. It lost one Ju 87 on 25 November. The group lost three aircraft and four men missing on 24 January 1942 near Agedabia. By 1 March the group 35 Ju 87Rs. By 20 March the entire group was based at Martuba.
  On 12 February 1942 StG 3 attempted an attack on shipping in Tobruk harbour supported by Ju 87s from 209° Squadriglia. The results of the raid are unknown. StG 3 lost two aircraft—both from 3 staffel) and their crews killed and missing. One Italian aircraft was damaged. The gunner of the latter unit claimed a damaged P-40. 
  The wing was expanded by incorporating I./StG 1 and II./StG 2 becoming II. and III./StG 3 (commanded by Kurt Kuhlmey and Walter Enneccerus). The reorganisation occurred days before Rommel began a counter offensive which drove the British back to Benghazi. StG 3 ranged ahead of the German ground forces disrupting communications and attacking troop columns. Within a short time they were back over Tobruk. Losses rose again. Knight's Cross holder and commander of I./StG 3 Helmut Naumann was wounded on 27 March. I./StG 3 attacked Tobruk harbour on 2 April, losing two aircraft and their crews despite a strong escort from JG 27 Bf 109s. On 11 April they committed 18 aircraft in attacks against motor transport near Sidi Mandur losing one and four damaged.
  StG 3 supported the DAK in the Battle of Bir Hakeim and Battle of Gazala. Sigel's airmen flew 1,400 Sorties against Bir Hakeim. I./StG 3 reported 10 or 11 Ju 87s destroyed over Gazala from 26 May to 4 June. On 3 June I./StG 3 lost five destroyed and one damaged. The following day it lost its commander Heinrich Eppen killed by South African Air Force fighters. II./StG 3 lost another aircraft over Bir Hacheim fortress. StG 3 lost five destroyed or damaged on this date—two were certainly destroyed and one severely damaged. Seven men were killed, four wounded with on of the latter captured. Eppen was replaced by Hauptmann Martin Mossdorf on 5 June. StG 3 losses may have been as high as 14 Ju 87 in the first week over Bir Hacheim but the dive bombers were instrumental in the capture of the fort—in the last dive bombing raid 124 Ju 87s were sent against the Allied garrison. In the first week 100 attacks were carried out; on 9 June two waves of 100 Ju 87s dive bombed the fortress.
  III./StG 3 reported one or two losses attacking motor transport between Tobruk and El Adem. On 14 June it bombed a convoy without success for the cost of one Ju 87. The following morning they succeeded in disabling the cruiser Birmingham without loss. The cruiser's engine and main armament were damaged.
  Tobruk fell on 20 June. Rommel's advance took the DAK to the Qattara Depression, near El Alamein.
  II./StG 3 had only nine Ju 87s on 1 March. On 7 April the group moved to Bari to rest and refit with Ju 87D-1s. On 24 May 1942 it transferred to Derna. Four days later it suffered its first casualties over the front near Tobruk. Staffelkapitän Drescher returned to
caption: Airdale blowing up after a II./StG 3 attack.
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