Bf109's with a straw boater hat emblem
 

Reference is made to a discussion on a Staffel of early Bf 109 aircraft sporting a straw boater hat emblem started on the LEMB by Peter D. Evans on 5 May 2013 here http://www.luftwaffe-experten.org/fo...howtopic=18087 . For the ready reference of the TOCH members without the access to the LEMB I herewith attach a copy of the relevant photo from an expired eBay auction.

When one takes a look at the emblem motif, its size and position on the aircraft, one might find certain similarity to the 4. J/88, later 2./J88 Top-hat emblem, which would suggest that The Staffelkapitän, and possibly some other Staffel members, had served in Spain. The time of the caption might have been summer 1938, around the time of the Sudeten crisis.

There were a limited number of the Gruppen sporting their identification numerals behind the Balkenkreuz. One of those was I./JG 433, later I./JG 133. However, neither the numeral's size nor the position on the aircraft match the one from the photo. Another possibility is IV./JG 132 - it would appear that the Gruppe, more precisely some of its Staffeln, initially sported the identification numerals of the comparable size to that on the attached photo behind the Balkenkreuz instead of the more familiar IV Gruppe disc. This can be seen in Eric Mombeek's book Birth of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force on Page 90.

To try and get to the point - could this be a short-lived Staffel emblem of 10./JG 132 introduced in the summer of 1938, shortly after Gruppe's formation? The aircraft would then be the Bf 109 D-1.

Any comments, suggestions or the like will be much appreciated.

Regards,
Sinisa