He111P - possibly KG55?
 

Hi...

Tried posting this request elsewhere but as yet have been unsuccessful. Perhaps someone can assist here?

I have attached a photo of a He111P from an old eBay auction. I am interested in the dark band which seems to run from under the forward canopy glazing on one side of the fuselage, behind the main glazed area of the nose, passing under the fuselage and emerging again under the opposite side's canopy glazing.

Many years ago, in the Osprey/Airwar 15 publication by Jerry Scutts (ISBN 0 85045 279 1), page 31, a colour plate was shown of the forward nose area of an He111 with a red band in the same location as on the image attached here, with KG55's 'Griffon' emblem - in gold or yellow - superimposed over the band, minus the usual shield, immediately behind the main glazing. I am wondering if the attached photo indicates confirmation of this colour plate being in any way accurate, and if so, does anyone have any additional photos/information and possibly unit codes which may assist in confirming the general details above, including the possible colours of the propellor spinner bands, that they could provide me with?

Many thanks in advance.

Regards,

Paul

Re: He111P - possibly KG55?
 

More or less accurate, see Bryan Philpott's German Bombers Over England ( PSL 1978 ).
Page 21 : a close up of the said griffin over a dark vertical band;
Bundesarchiv picture ref 340/183/25... whatever that means !

Re: He111P - possibly KG55?
 

Hi, udf...

Thanks for your reply. I've got this publication but hadn't picked up on the photo! Thanks for reminding me :).

Would anyone have any idea about what section of KG55 displayed the insignia in this position?

Regards,

Paul