‘Luftwaffe Eagles’ – Chris Goss   1 Staffel/Jagdgeschwader 53 (1/JG 53) had initially been led by Hans Karl Mayer and then came under the leadership of Werner Molders.  Both pilots were veterans of the Spanish conflict.  When I/JG 53 arrived at Rennes on the 23rd June 1940 it had twenty three kills to its name and was an experienced unit.  Over France the unit had enjoyed air superiority and had flown short range missions.  To fight over England meant the Bf109s would be flying at extreme range.  The first mission took place on the 11th August, it was uneventful.  The next day the Staffel shot down three Hurricanes off the Isle of Wight.  The jubilant mood these kills brought continued for the next twelve days during which the Staffel claimed a further sixteen RAF fighters.