Reichsverteidigung tailband for I/JG5
 

Did this unit receive one after redeploying to Germany from Norway in the spring of 1944? If so, what was its color?

Re: Reichsverteidigung tailband for I/JG5
 

Hi,

JG 5 machines received the black-yellow tailband

ciao
Alessandro

Re: Reichsverteidigung tailband for I/JG5
 

Certainly, but I./JG 5 was transferred to Germany in spring 1944, fought in Normandy in summer and became part of JG 6 in October. The question was about I./JG 5 - not JG 5 in general.

Re: Reichsverteidigung tailband for I/JG5
 

I have only seen tailbands on JG5 machines in Norway in late 44 early 45, not on machines serving in Germany or France. I haven't seen that many at all though so don't take it for certain...

Re: Reichsverteidigung tailband for I/JG5
 

I./JG5 was disbanded late 44 and JG5 tailbands were painted on airplanes only in March/April 45...

Re: Reichsverteidigung tailband for I/JG5
 

Right you are.
Cheers Horst

Re: Reichsverteidigung tailband for I/JG5
 

Thanks to all who responded.

Re: Reichsverteidigung tailband for I/JG5
 

Hi,

No, not totally right because RVD bands were to be seen on planes (JG 2 and JG 6, at least) on 1 January 1945 during Unternehmen Bodenplatte.

These bands were officially worn in March 1945.

Cheers,
Jicehem

Re: Reichsverteidigung tailband for I/JG5
 

The idea that there was such a thing as a Reichsverteidigung tail band probably stems from deductions in Karl Ries's books of 40 years ago, from limited information.

On the photographic evidence, coloured tail bands were adopted by some units operating against US bombers (e.g. JG 1, 11 and 54) by early 1944. My guess is that these were intended as an aid to reassembly after a pass through a bomber box — various memoirs say that the fighters were all over the sky afterwards.

From memory, bands were seen on shot down aircraft of JG 2 and JG 4 in November 1944 (Field Intelligence Unit reports) while they were employed in support of the army in the West.

The order to apply unit identification bands "for better differentiation in the air" was being relayed around the Luftwaffe in December 1944. See here.

Re: Reichsverteidigung tailband for I/JG5
 

It would appear that excluding JG26 and JG2 gruppen, by early 1944 the Jagdgruppe involved in the defensive effort against the 8th Air Force in general all sported colored tail bands.

The only units that appear to deviate from this theory based upon photographic evidence (or lack of it) would be IV/JG27 (photos in Prien's unit history don't show any aircraft so painted) and the JG5 gruppen. II/JG53 aircraft displayed red tail bands since they shared aircraft with the Wilde Sau gruppen. JG3 units of course sported white tail bands.