"Jagdgeschwader" 26 was one of the earliest fighter units of the Luftwaffe. Its creation began in early 1937. A plan dated 14 March 1936 by Hermann Göring, at the time "Reichsminister der Luftfahrt" (Minister of Aviation) and "Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe" (Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe), foresaw the creation of two light fighter groups in "Luftkreis" IV, a territorial Luftwaffe unit with its headquarters in Münster. Göring had planned for these two groups, initially organized under the designation "Jagdgeschwader" 234 (JG 234–234th Fighter Wing), to become operational on 1 April 1937.