eBay BV 138 with unknown emblem
 

On eBay here is a BV 138 with an emblem which is unknown to me. The seller includes a close-up, but I cannot work out what is displayed on the shield. I assume that with a letter B displayed on the engine that this is from a front-line unit rather than a training unit.

Any suggestions are much appreciated.

Ian

Re: eBay BV 138 with unknown emblem
 

Can't remember the unit off the top of my head but it's the one with a swordfish/marlin jumping out of the sea. Pretty sure it's in K&R. :)

Re: eBay BV 138 with unknown emblem
 

2./Küstenfliegergruppe 106 (719 K&R 2012).

This one:

Attachment 7789

Re: eBay BV 138 with unknown emblem
 

Many thanks Clint. I certainly agree that it is very similar to the Ketley 719 emblem, although this one obviously has a shield behind it. However not sure 2./106 ever had BV 138s? I have them with Do18s and Ju88s.

Ian

Re: eBay BV 138 with unknown emblem
 

I've just also noticed that according to Michael Holm's site the unit didn't have BV138s Ian. It does look very similar though albeit minus the shield?

Re: eBay BV 138 with unknown emblem
 

I suppose the question is: What is it doing on a Bv138?

Re: eBay BV 138 with unknown emblem
 

The reason can be that the original 2./106 was renumbered 3./906 with effect from 01.12.1940. Even if they changed the unit code to 8L+ -K, the Staffel may have "taken" with them their old unit emblem. This was not uncommon. 3./906 continued to operate their Do 18's until January 1942 when most of the Staffel personnel transferred to List to start conversion to the BV 138. About mid May 1942 the conversion was completed and the unit transferred to Tromsö in Northern Norway. This is the only logical explanation I can think of.
The "new" 2./106 that came into existence when the original 3./906 was renumbered, also on 01.12.1940, converted immediately from He 115 to Ju 88.

Re: eBay BV 138 with unknown emblem
 

Thank you Seaplanes, this transfer whilst retaining the emblem could also be when the additional shield element was added to the design. Although it gets confusing when 3./Küstenfliegergruppe 906 had their own emblem: (719 K&R 2012). Apparently Inherited from 3./Küstenfliegergruppe 706 in November 1939. It's a puzzler. :)

Re: eBay BV 138 with unknown emblem
 

Thanks to both of you. I note that the well known boat/shield emblem of 3./KuFLGr906 was itself inherited from 3./706. I have certainly seen this emblem on He115, but I wonder whether the emblem ever appeared on BV138. Could then perhaps the ship emblem of 3./906 (Ketley 746) have been replaced by the shield version of Ketley 719 when 3./906 was reformed from 2./106?

Ian