"Graue 9" of 8./JG 26
 

All,

Today I have come across this photo on eBay here http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-Luftwaff...item58be4ba318

The description reads as follows: "Luftwaffe Flugzeug Me 109 E "graue 9" der 8./JG 26 in Essen-Mühlheim ca. 1939/40."

The seller is a renown author, Michael Meyer. This is the first time that I found reference to the 8./JG 26 identification numerals of the period being grey, as opposed to the more commonly referred colour of the 8th Staffel - red. Any thoughts, comments, will be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Sinisa

Re: "Graue 9" of 8./JG 26
 

Sinisa,

This exists as an original color photo, and the a/c numeral is, without question, "Red 9." I have this ona as taken at Werl AF, Germany, and dated November, 1939 (note very large top-wing cross) so after mid-October, 1939.

Regards,

Re: "Graue 9" of 8./JG 26
 

This doesn't look like Essen/Mülheim. I know the area.

Best wishes

Re: "Graue 9" of 8./JG 26
 

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your replies. The "grey" colour of the identification numeral of the period (i.e., late October/November 1939) did read somewhat strange.

Regards,
Sinisa

Re: "Graue 9" of 8./JG 26
 

It is Michael Meyer's "Grey 9" that prompted me to take another look at the Bf 109 E1/E3 seemingly "Red 13" with the interesting variation of the 8./JG 26 emblem, copy attached. I have thought for a long time that the emblem was red and white, but it is clear that there are two different shades of grey here, which would suggest that either the aircraft identification numeral, or the emblem was not painted in red.

The photo was taken from the LEMB, posted on 12 February 2012 in the thread entitled 4./JG26 or 8./JG26 emblem.

Any comments would be highly valued, as always.

Re: "Graue 9" of 8./JG 26
 

Sinisa,

This one has always baffled me a bit two. One of the "gray" shades must be red, probably the numeral "13." The other on the insignia is a mystery to me.

Re: "Graue 9" of 8./JG 26
 

Larry,

Thank you for your additional comments. I would think that the shade of grey of the identification numeral is close in tone to the grey of the 87 octane triangle, while the shade of grey of the Adamson character would be closer to my perception of the colour red in greyscale. It is a pity that there cannot be any definitive conclusion to this based on the analysis of the greyscale photograph.

It would be interesting to learn what Michael Meyer based his reference to the "grey" colour on. One thing that I can think of is that the photo was taken with the identification numeral being still covered with the primer colour, put on the metal to prepare it for the main layer of paint (i.e., in this particular instance, red), but there is little evidence to support this.

Regards,
Sinisa

Re: "Graue 9" of 8./JG 26
 

Gentlemen, Sinisa,

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-Luftwaff...item58be6b3aac

As I told you off, this is a pure provocation. Nothing else. Or, better, no reasonnable other option... And I got the confirmation it is.

As for the emblem: primer? Why not but never seen as far I know primer being coated on camouflage before painting an emblem.

As I told you, too, I strongly believe this rare variation did last only the time to take the picture. Just a try ... until further notice/discoveries showing us for sure another machine with the same variation and/or the same machine on a different shot.
Same for an all white Adamson seen on a 4./JG26 machine.

By the way: http://don-caldwell.we.bs/jg26/26emblms.htm We can abviously understand why this "variation" didn't last very long: Ugly! :)

Last, talking about that last "Graue 8". One friend of us did comment: "But yes it's grey .. on the picture"

Best regards, Franck.

Re: "Graue 9" of 8./JG 26
 

No more comments.

Expired eBay auction.
Regards.

Re: "Graue 9" of 8./JG 26
 

An observation : the white adamsons always hold a domino 3+1, the red one holds a 5+3.