JG 132 was the oldest fighter unit of the
Luftwaffe, its roots dating back to 1934. The first element of JG 132 formed was I.
Gruppe (1st group) under the cover name
Reklamestaffel Mitteldeutschland des DLV (Advertisement Squadron Middle Germany of the German Air Sports Association) on 1 May 1934 in
Döberitz. The
Gruppe was placed under the command of
Major Robert Ritter von Greim. On 1 April 1935, II.
Gruppe of JG 132 was created at
Jüterbog Airfield and placed under the command of
Hauptmann Johann Raithel. The
Geschwaderstab (headquarters unit) of JG 132 was established on 1 April 1936, making it the first
Geschwaderstab of the Luftwaffe. Now a
Major, Raithel was appointed JG 132s first
Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander). Command of II.
Gruppe was then handed to
Major Carl-August von Schoenebeck. On 1 July 1938, III.
Gruppe of JG 132 under the command of
Major Ernst Bormann was formed at Jüterbog Airfield. Tenure of the
Gruppe with JG 132 ended on 1 November 1938 when the unit was detached and became the II.
Gruppe of
Zerstörergeschwader 141 (ZG 141—141st Destroyer Wing). IV.
Gruppe of JG 132 was also formed on 1 July 1938 and headed by
Oberstleutnant Theo Osterkamp. The
Gruppe left JG 132 on 3 November to form the nucleus of a new
Jagdgeschwader, becoming the I.
Gruppe of
Jagdgeschwader 331 (JG 331—331st Fighter Wing) which later became the I.
Gruppe of
Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing). On 1 November 1938, JG 132 was renamed and became
Jagdgeschwader 131 (JG 131—131st Fighter Wing). On 1 November 1938, the same day JG 132 was renamed to JG 131,
Jagdgeschwader 234 "Schlageter" (JG 234—234th Fighter Wing), under the command of
Oberst Eduard Ritter von Schleich, was also renamed and became the second instance of JG 132. On 1 May 1939, JG 132 was again renamed and became
Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlager". ==Commanding officers==