Luftflotte 3^[1] (Air Fleet 3) was one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was formed on 1 February 1939 from Luftwaffengruppenkommando 3 in Munich and redesignated Luftwaffenkommando West (Air Command West) on 26 September 1944. This Luftwaffe detachment was based in German-occupied areas of Northern France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Vichy France, to support the Axis power's forces in area. Its command offices were in Paris, France (on 26 June 1944).

• Stab/FAGr.123 (Toussus le Noble – Buc)
• 4.(F)/123 (Saint-André-de-l'Eure)
• 5.(F)/123 (Monchy-Breton)
• 1.(F)/121 (Toussus le Noble – Buc)

Fliegerführer West (Flight Director in West Area/Land Air Attack)

• Stab/NAGr.13 (Chartres)
• 1./NAGr.13 (Chartres)
• 3./NAGr.13 (Laval)

• III./SG 4 (Clermont-Ferrand)
• III./SG 4 (Detach) (Avord)

• 3.(F)/122 (Soesterberg)
• 6.(F)/123 (Cormeilles)

• Stab/KG 2 (Gilze en Rijen)
• I./KG 2 (Gilze en Rijen)
• II./KG 2 (Gilze en Rijen)
• III./KG 2 (Hesepe)
• Stab/KG 6 (Melun-Villaroche)
• I./KG 6 (Melun-Villaroche)
• II./KG 6 (Melun-Villaroche)
• III./KG 6 (Melun-Villaroche)
• 16./KG 6(JABO/Rapid) (Soesterberg)
• Stab/KG 30 (Zwischenhan)
• I./KG 30 (Leck)
• 4./KG 51 (JABO/Rapid) (Soesterberg)
• 5./KG 51(JABO/Rapid) (Gilze en Rijen)
• 6./KG 51(JABO/Rapid) (Soesterberg)
• Stab/KG 54 (Eindhoven)
• I./KG 54 (Eindhoven)
• III./KG 54 (Eindhoven)
• III./KG 66 (Montdidier)
• (Eins)St. IV./KG 101 (Saint-Dizier)
• Stab(KG)/LG 1 (Melsbroek)
• I.(KG)/LG 1 (Le Culot)
• II.(KG)/LG 1(Melsbroek)

• I.(Jb)/SKG 10 (Tours)

• 1./KG 200 (Mont-de-Marsan)
• 1./KG 200(Detach) (Bordeaux–Mérignac)
• II/KG 200 (Biscarrosse)

• Stab/FAGr.5 (Mont-de-Marsan)
• 1.(F)/5 (Mont-de-Marsan)
• 2.(F)/5 (Mont-de-Marsan)
• 4.(F)/5 (Nantes)
• 3.(F)/123 (Corme-Écluse)
• 1.(F)/SAGr.129 (Biscarrosse)
• 1.(F)/JG.52 "BF 109"

• Stab/KG 40 (Bordeaux–Mérignac)
• 1./KG 40 (Toulouse–Blagnac)
• 2./KG 40 (Bordeaux–Mérignac)
• II./KG 40 (Bordeaux–Mérignac)
• 7./KG 40 (Saint-Jean-d'Angély)
• 8./KG 40 (Cognac)
• 9./KG 40 (Cognac)

• 1.(F)/33 (St.Martin)
• 2./NAGr.13 (Cuers)
• 2./SAGr.128 (Berre)

• Stab/KG 26 (Montpellier)
• II./KG 26 (LT) (Valence)
• III./KG 26 (LT) (Montpellier)
• III./KG 26 (LT)(Detach) (Valence)
• Stab/KG 77 (Salon-de-Provence)
• I./KG 77 (LT) (Orange-Caritat)
• III./KG 77 (LT) (Orange-Caritat)
• 6./KG 77 (Istres)
• 4./KG 76 (Istres)
• 6./KG 76 (Istres)
• Stab/KG 100 (Toulouse–Francazal)
• III./KG 100 (Toulouse–Francazal)

• Stab/JG 1 (St.Quentin–Clastres)
• I./JG 3 (St.Quentin–Clastres)
• I./JG 5 (St.Quentin–Clastres)
• II./JG 11 (Mons en Chaussée)
• I./JG 301 (Épinoy)
• Stab/JG 27 (Champfleury)
• I./JG 27 (Vertus)
• III./JG 27 (Connantre)
• IV./JG 27 (Champfleury)

• Stab/NJG 4 (Chenay)
• I./NJG 4 (Florennes)
• III./NJG 4 (Junvincourt)
• Stab/NJG 5 (Haguenau)
• I./NJG 5 (Saint-Dizier)
• III./NJG 5 (Athies-sous-Laon)

• Stab/JG 2 (Creil)
• I./JG 2 (Creil)
• II./JG 2 (Creil)
• III./JG 2 (Creil)
• Stab/JG 3 (Évreux)
• II./JG 3 (Guyancourt)
• III./JG 3 (Mareilly)
• Stab/JG 11 (Le Mans)
• I./JG 11 (Le Mans)
• I0./JG 11 (Le Mans)
• I./JG 1 (Alençon)
• II./JG 1 (Alençon)
• Stab/JG 26 (Guyancourt)
• I./JG 26 (Guyancourt)
• II./JG 26 (Guyancourt)

• Stab/NJG 2 (Coulommiers)
• I./NJG 2 (Châteaudun)
• II./NJG 2 (Coulommiers)
• II./NJG 4 (Coulommiers)

• II./JG 53 (Vannes)

• 1./JGr 200 (Orange-Caritat)
• 2./JGr 200 (Avignon)
• 3./JGr 200 (Orange-Caritat)

• Jagdabschnittführer Bordeaux (Fighter Direction in Bordeaux) Bordeaux-Mérignac
• Zerstörer (Heavy Fighters)
  • Stab/ZG 1 (Bordeaux–Mérignac)
  • 1./ZG 1 (Corme-Écluse)
  • 3./ZG 1 (Corme-Écluse)
  • 2./ZG 1 (Châteauroux)
  • III./ZG 1 (Cazaux)

• Jet Bombers/Jet Fighter-Bombers
  • (R)"Blitz" KG 76 (Istres)
  • II.St.(JABO)/KG 51 (Soesterberg)
• Mistel Special Section
  • 2. (Mistel I) /KG 101 (Saint-Dizier)
  • II. (Mistel I) -(Detach)/KG 200 (Saint-Dizier)
• Bombers with V-1 Launchers
  • Stab/KG 3 (Venlo)
  • II./KG 3 (also known as I./KG.5) (Venlo)
  • I./KG 53 "Legion Condor" (Gilze en Rijen)
  • III./KG 53 "Legion Condor" (Gilze en Rijen)
• Luftwaffe V-1 fixed/mobile ramps units; operated near Calais (France), and in Belgium and the Netherlands.
  • Untergruppenbezeichnung FZG (Flakzielgerät) 76 (also known as 5th Flak Division (W), later as Armeekorps zur Vergeltung)
  • I./155 Artillerie Abt (W)
  • II./155 Artillerie-Abt (W)
  • III./155 Artillerie-Abt (W)
• Luftwaffe special transport units(1944–45); based in Muhldorf, Bavaria, and composed of Helicopters:
  • Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 Drachen
  • Flettner Fl 265
  • Flettner 282B Kolibri
• Heer/Luftwaffe V-2 mobile ramps sections
• Division zur Vergeltung(Div.z.V.); led by Heer and SS Commanders, working along with Luftwaffe personnel and facilities. They operated in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
• "Div.z.V." Nordgruppe
  • 444° Artillerie-Abt
  • 485° Artillerie- Abt (also known as Artillerie Regiment z. V. 902)
  • 2°./485° Artillerie-Abt
• "Div.z.V." Südgruppe
  • 500° Waffen SS Artillerie-Abt (also known as 500° SS Werfer Abt.)
  • 836° Artillerie-Abt (also known as Artillerie Regiment zur Vergeltung 901)
• Heer V-4 "Rheinbote" Mobile ramps units
  • I./709 Artillerie Abt
• Heer V-3 Artillery group
  • 705° Artillerie Abt.

• FAGr = Fernaufklärungsgruppe = Long-range/strategic Reconnaissance aircraft.
  • Gruppe = equivalent to a USAAF Group.
• JG = Jagdgeschwader = Fighters.
  • Geschwader = equivalent to a USAAF Wing.
• JGr = Jagdgruppe = Fighters.
• KG = Kampfgeschwader = Bombers.
• LG = Lehrgeschwader = Operational Training.
• NAGr = Nahaufklärungsgruppe = Short-range/tactical Observation aircraft.
• NJG = Nachtjagdgeschwader = Night Fighters
• SAGr = Seeaufklärungsgruppe = Maritime Patrol aircraft
• SKG = Schnellkampfgeschwader = Fast Bombers.
• St = Staffel = equivalent to a RAF Squadron.
• ZG = Zerstörergeschwader = Twin engined diurnal heavy fighters.

• Generalfeldmarschall Hugo Sperrle, 1 February 1939 – 23 August 1944
• Generaloberst Otto Deßloch, 23 August 1944 – 22 September 1944
• Generalleutnant Alexander Holle, 22 September 1944 – 26 September 1944

redesignated to Luftwaffenkommando West

• Generalleutnant Alexander Holle, 28 September 1944 – 15 November 1944
• Generalleutnant Joseph Schmid, 16 November 1944 – 27 April 1945
• Generalleutnant Martin Harlinghausen, 28 April 1945 – 8 May 1945

• Generalmajor Maximilian Ritter von Pohl, 1 February 1939 – 10 June 1940
• Oberst Günther Korten, 11 June 1940 – 31 December 1940
• Generalmajor Karl Koller, 1 January 1941 – 23 August 1943
• Generalleutnant Hermann Plocher, 1 October 1943 – 26 September 1944

redesignated to Luftwaffenkommando West

• Oberst Hans Wolters, September 1944 – March 1945
• Oberst Heinrich Wittmer, March 1945 – May 1945

Notes

References

• Luftflotte 3 @ Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Luftflotte 3 @ The Luftwaffe, 1933-45