Two photographs taken during one of Kesselring's visits to I./NJG 2 (Nachtjagdgeschwader 2) at Gilze-Rijen in late 1940. Kesselring was Commander-in-Chief of Luftflotte 2 (Air Fleet 2), a command he held from January 1940 until June 1943.
At that time he held the rank of Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshall), having been promoted after the campaigns of 1940. As commander of Luftflotte 2, he was one of the most senior operational commanders in the Luftwaffe and was responsible for air operations in the sectors assigned to his air fleet. During late 1940, Luftflotte 2 was heavily involved in the latter stages of the Battle of Britain, prior to launching night-time raids over England and the so-called Fernnachtjagd or long-range intruder missions. Major Karl-Heinrich Heyse, a Spanish veteran with 1.K/88 and first Kommandeur of II./NJG 1 and then I./NJG 2, was killed in action on 23 November 1940, his Ju 88 C shot down over the North Sea by an RAF Hampden returning from a mission. He was replaced by Hptm. Karl Hülshoff, formerly Staffelkapitän of 3./NJG 2. Ironically Kesselring had flown into Gilze-Rijen the previous day - 22 November 1940 - to review I./NJG 2 and, according to H. Rökker, ‘congratulate the unit on its successes’. Kesselring returned to Gilze-Rijen about one month later with 'presents' for the Gruppe (according to Möhlenbeck) and is seen (bottom) in conversation with Hülshoff and his Adjutant Oblt. Gerhard Böhme.
