It was formed using surplus ground crew of the Luftwaffe and served on the Eastern Front from late 1942 to June 1944.

It was badly mauled during the Soviet offensive of January 1944 near Leningrad.

The 9th Luftwaffe Field Division, one of several such divisions of the Luftwaffe (German Air Force), was formed in October 1942 in Eastern Prussia, in the Arys Troop Maneuver Area, under the command of Oberst[Note 1] Hans Erdmann.

Intended to serve as infantry, its personnel were largely drawn from the 62nd Air Regiment.

In December 1942, it was assigned to Army Group North on the Eastern Front.