{{Infobox military unit |unit_name=Kampfgeschwader 200 |image= |caption= |dates=1934–45 |country= |branch= |type=Special operations force |role= Long-range reconnaissanceSpecial missionsSpecial operationTest flights |size=Air Force Wing |command_structure= |garrison= |nickname= |patron= |motto= |colors= |identification_symbol=Geschwaderkennungof A3 |march= |mascot= |battles= |notable_commanders= Werner Baumbach |aircraft_bomber=Dornier Do 335, Arado Ar 232, Heinkel He 111, Heinkel He 177, Junkers Ju 290, Junkers Ju 390, Junkers Ju 188, Heinkel He 115, Dornier Do 24, Dornier Do 18, Arado Ar 196, Siebel Si 204, Arado Ar 240captured aircraft: B-17, B-24, SM.75, LeO H-246, Short Stirling, de Havilland Mosquito, Bristol Beaufighter<ref name="Gilman & Clive 1978, p.314">Gilman & Clive (1978), p. 314.</ref> |aircraft_transport=Arado Ar 232, Blohm & Voss BV 222, Messerschmitt Me 323, Junkers Ju 252, Junkers Ju 352 Herkules, Gotha Go 244 |aircraft_fighter=captured: Lockheed P-38 Lightning, Polikarpov I-16, Supermarine Spitfire }}'Kampfgeschwader 200 (KG 200)' ("[Air] Combat Squadron 200") was a German Luftwaffe special operations unit during World War II. The unit carried out especially difficult bombing and transport operations and long-distance reconnaissance flights, tested new aircraft designs and operated captured aircraft.Günther W. Gellermann: Moskau ruft Heeresgruppe Mitte … – Was nicht im Wehrmachtbericht stand – Die Einsätze des geheimen Kampfgeschwaders 200 im Zweiten Weltkrieg, Bernard & Graefe, 1988, in German, History The unit's history began in 1934, when the Luftwaffe formed a reconnaissance squadron under Oberst Theodor Rowehl and attached it to the Abwehr, Germany's military intelligence department. As the Abwehr started to lose Hitler's goodwill during the war, a new reconnaissance unit, the 2nd Test Formation, was formed in 1942 under the command of Werner Baumbach. This unit was combined with 1st Test Formation in March 1944 to form KG 200 on 20 February 1944. On 11 November 1944 Baumbach became Geschwaderkommodore, all aerial special-ops missions were carried out by KG 200 under Baumbach's command. Missions The unit carried out a wide variety of missions: Long-range reconnaissance Before the beginning of the war, aerial reconnaissance was usually carried out by civilian Lufthansa planes equipped with cameras. This practice was continued throughout the war as long as civilian airlines remained operational; later on, recon missions were most often carried out by Junkers Ju 86s flying at very high altitudes or by flying boats. Due to the lack of German aircraft with sufficient range, some recon missions used captured American B-17s or B-24s and Soviet Tu-2s. For the most part, these machines were used for re-supply roles (dropping in supplies to German forces operating