[obdl3945]

Franz,

I am very interested by the partial view of the He111 in the background of the centre photo you have kindly provided us with. If my eyes do not deceive me, there appears to be a dark band circling the forward fuselage, immediately behind the main canopy glazing. It is most noticeable on the pale blue undersurface, too.

I recall seeing a coloured plate in a book many years ago, showing the forward fuselage of an He111, with the KG55 'Griffon' emblem. However, this was not the usual rendition. Rather than being a red griffon on a white shield, positioned on the fuselage side behind the glazing, in what we may call its 'usual' position, it was instead gold or yellow in colour, without a shield, and positioned underneath the glazing where the pilot would sit, just forward of the wing root, and it was shown super-imposed on a red band.

Is there any possibility that the machine we see in your photo had this arrangement for the unit emblem? Would you or anyone else be able to shed light on this for me, and also - if possible - provide any information as to the colours of the propellor spinner band, any specific unit codes and perhaps the sub-type of He111? I've always thought it would make an excellent modelling subject, hence my interest.

Many thanks to anyone who may be able to help.

Kindest regards,

Paul