Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 ( StG 77 ) was a Luftwaffe Dive bomber - wing of World War II . History . Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 was formed on 1 May 1939 , I . Group in Brieg , Stab and II . Group in Breslau - Schöngarten ( today Copernicus Airport Wrocław ) . The III . Group was formed from II . Group of Kampfgeschwader 76 on 9 July 1940 . 1939 - 40 . Stab , I and II . / StG 77 first saw action in the Polish campaign attacking enemy positions at Lublinitz and Wielun on the very first day . After the campaign ended The Geschwader transferred to the Luftflotte 3 in the west for the preparation of the invasion of France . From May 1940 StG 77 were heavily involved in tactical support of the land campaign as part of " VIII . Fliegerkorps " . The unit was involved in the attack on Belgium and the Low Countries , commencing with a series of raids supporting the paratroop attack on the fortress at Eben Emael The unit also contributed to the Battle of Sedan , which was critical in the fall of France in 1940 . Often flying 6 or 7 missions a day , StG 77 flew a series of shuttle missions bombing fortifications , lines of communication , troop concentrations and defence works , rapidly moving from one airfield to another as the Army advanced through the Netherlands and Northern Belgium . Losses were relatively light , however " Kommodore " " Oberst " Günter Schwartzkopff was killed by French AA fire on 15 May leading a bombing attack over Sedan . The latter part of May saw operations over France , with raids against Saint Quentin , Calais , and the Dunkirk perimeter . By 18 June StG 77 had supported the crossings at the rivers Marne , Seine and Loire . Based in the Cherbourg area , StG 77 then participated in early part of the Battle of Britain , suffering high losses in machines and experienced leaders . Commencing with a raid on shipping on 9 July 1940 , StG 77 lost I gruppe " Gruppenkommandeur " Hpt . " Fr . " Friedrich - Karl Freiherr von Dalwigk zu Lichtenfels to Spitfires of No . 609 Squadron RAF . Hpt . Waldemar Plewig was shot down and taken prisoner on 8 August , while on 18 August 1940 , 10 Stukas of I . / StG 77 were lost in an attack on Thorney Island , and a further 6 were damaged . Soviet Operations 1941 - 43 . After participation in the Balkans campaigns of spring 1941 , StG 77 formed part of the attack against the Soviet Union in June 1941 , and supported the Army Group Centre as part of " II . Fliegerkorps " . Relocating into the Southern Front in November 1941 , StG77 then flew supporting Army Group South . In December II . Gruppe was sent for refitting to Kraków . During 1942 StG77 , as part of " VIII . Fliegerkorps " , supported ground actions on the at the Sevastopol front and later , units took part in the Second Battle of Kharkov . By September 1942 , III . / StG 77 was subordinate to I . / StG 1 on the northern front in support of Army Group North . II . / StG 77 , under Major Kurt Huhn , was one of the main Stuka ground - attack units supporting the operations at Stalingrad . As the battle for the city intensified , so the unit moved ever closer to the city , reducing flight time and allowing more sorties every day . II . Group was redesignated as III . Group , Schlachtgeschwader 10 on 18 October 1943 , the remaining groups renamed to Schlachtgeschwader 77 the same day . See also . Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II