[David E. Brown]

Hi Larry,

The various bands seen on Luftwaffe bombers (He 111, Ju 88 and Do 17) in early 1940 were tactical markings used to identify the Gruppe to which they were assigned in their respective Geschwader, and not formal unit insignia / wappen per se:
· Diagonal encircling nose band ahead of the cockpit = KG 2
· Diagonal fuselage band behind the wing trailing edge = KG 54
· Vertical fuselage band behind the wing trailing edge = KG 76
These markings were of varying widths (20-30 cm) and coloured accordingly: blue = Stab, white = I., red = II., yellow = III., blue = IV, green = V.

Photographic evidence suggests that these markings were phased out prior to Barbarossa, though in late 1944 were seen again on a number of Me 262s operating with KG (J) 54. Here, they appeared as a diagonal stripe on the fuselage side from below the windscreen to the wing trailing edge. They too were phased in early April 1945 when they were assigned the blue and white RV karoband.

I might also suggest reviewing Band I of Ulf Balke’s opus on KG 2 for possible additional information on this aircraft and action:

Balke, Ulf, 1990.
Der Luftkrieg in Europa: Die operativen Einsätz des Kampfgeschwaders 2 im Zweiten Weltkrieg.
Bernard & Graefe, Koblenz (2 volumes).

Cheers,

David

PS: I would check my copies for you if I could but am taking a break here at work!

D.