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Re: unknown Staffelabzeichen from Geschwader "Horst Wessel"
Hello,
This is a well-known emblem used by 3./ZG26 back to the beginning of the war. It was apparently on all the unit's Bf109D-1s as of that time, and photos are known of Y9+, Y10+, Y11+ and Y12+, carrying this insignia. The insignia published on P. 558 of Prien's JFV is incomplete, and should contain the cross hair as part of the emblem.
The evidence is that it continued to be applied to all the unit's Bf110Cs when the unit converted to that type during Oct-Nov, 1939. Many photos exist of that insignia on both sides of the noses of unit Bf110Cs over the next several months.
The unit's a/c continued to carry this insignia until July, 1940, when the new I Gruppe "Ringelpitz" emblem was introduced at the beginning of the Battle of Britain. There is at least one photo known of a Bf110 carrying both the old insignia and the new emblem at the same time, apparently taken when the unit's emblems were being revised during July 1940.
A very well known example of a 3 Staffel Bf110C carrying this insignia was U8+DL, WNr3011, of Fw Hans Reimann, who was SD and PoW in France on 10.05.40. Many photos exist of that a/c. Another example in the EoE Photo Collection is that of U8+KL, which was probably taken sometime in 1940.
Regards,
Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator
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