Zerstörergeschwader 26 (ZG 26) "Horst Wessel" was a Luftwaffe heavy fighter wing of World War II. Formed on 1 May 1939, ZG 26 was initially armed with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 single-engine interceptor due to production shortfalls with the Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer-class aircraft. The wing served on the dormant Western Front during the Phoney War stage in 1939 and 1940. During this phase ZG 26 was equipped with the Bf 110. It formed part of Luftflotte 2 and fought in the Battle of the Netherlands, Battle of Belgium and Battle of France in May and June 1940. The wing continued to operate in the Battle of Britain, albeit in a much reduced role owing to losses. In 1941 ZG 26 served again with success in the German invasion of Yugoslavia and Battle of Greece and then Battle of Crete in April and May. From June 1941, the bulk of ZG 26 fought on the Eastern Front from Operation Barbarossa which began the war on the Soviet Union. ZG 26 supported Army Group Centre and Army Group North. A group of ZG 26 flew and served in the Battle of the Mediterranean and North African Campaign from January 1941 through to May 1943. From mid-1943, ZG 26 served and fought against the US Eighth Air Force and Fifteenth Air Force in the Defence of the Reich campaign with moderate success until US long-range fighters made further operations too costly. ZG 26 was disbanded in September 1944 and re-designated a Bf 109-unit, Jagdgeschwader 6. Formation Zerstörergeschwader 26 was formed in 1939 from the Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel". The Geschwaderstab and I. Gruppe was located in Dortmund, II. Gruppe in Werl and III. Gruppe in Lippstadt. ZG 26 was formally named on 1 May 1939, from ZG 142. World War II In 1939 the production of Bf 110s precluded the equipment of Zerstorer wings with the type. The heavy fighter was intended as a long-range fighter escort, air superiority and anti-bomber aircraft weapon. The Zerstörergeschwader adopted the Messerschmitt Bf 109D, single-engine interceptor until the Bf 110 became available. The ZG 26's III gruppe was give temporary Jagdgruppe (fighter group) designations. In the case of III./ZG 26 it was renamed JGr 126. This formally ended during the Phoney War when III./ZG 26 exchanged the Bf 109 for the Bf 110 and reverted to its original identity. On 31 August 1939, Stab. I., and