In August 1944, the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (OKL—Air Force High Command) ordered the formation JG 7.

Initially it was planned to equip the Geschwader with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 radial engine powered fighter, formation and preparation was intended to be done at Königsberg in der Neumark, present-day Chojna in northwestern Poland.

In October, the plan was changed and the Geschwaderstab (headquarters unit) was to receive the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-14 fighter.

This plan also had to be abandoned and in November the OKL ordered the formation of JG 7 with three Gruppen (groups), all of which equipped with the new Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter.

Gruppe of Kampfgeschwader 1 "Hindenburg" (KG 1—1st Bomber Wing) with Fw 190 aircraft which was cancelled due to lack of resources.

These Bf-109Gs likely operated as top cover for the Me-262s during takeoff and landing, as was common practice for other Luftwaffe jet units, such as Jagdverband 44.

The allies captured Bf-109Gs with the same markings as JG 7's Me-262s[usurped], the blue and red tail band, but this does not confirm the Bf-109Gs purpose.

The technical troubles and material shortages meant initial tentative sorties were only in flight strength, usually no more than 4 or 6 aircraft.

Flying from Brandenburg-Briest, Oranienburg and Parchim, the Geschwader flew intermittently against the USAAF bomber formations.

By the end of February 1945 JG 7 had claimed around 45 four-engined bombers and 15 fighters, but at this stage of war this success rate had no effect whatsoever on the Allied air offensive.

During March JG 7 began to deliver larger scale attacks against the Allied bombers.

On 18 March III./JG 7 conducted their biggest attack numerically thus far, some 37 Me 262s engaging a force of 1,200 American bombers and 600 fighters.

[14] On 7 April JG 7 flew 59 sorties, the largest number in one day, though most failed to engage the Allies.

At 16:00 on 8 May 1945 fighters of the JG 7 fought the last aerial battle of World War II in Europe.

At about 15:20 Oberleutnant Fritz Stehle and his wingman took off on Me 262 to intercept Soviet Yak-9 fighters and came upon the surprised enemy over Freiberg.