[Larry Hickey]

Richard,

Based upon the career of the source BF, I would opt for Stab I./KG53 during the winter of 1939-40. I./KG53 was active over Britain during The Blitz over the winter of 1940-41, and a/c from this period would almost certainly have carried black night camouflage on the undersurfaces and fuselage sides, which this a/c does not appear to have. It also does not carry any theater fuselage bands for service against the Soviet Union during later winter years. In the original photo, it just may be possible to read the W.Nr. visible on the tail, which would give some clue as to its original manufacture date, if readable. The prop spinners are unusual but consistent with a Gruppenstab with white, red and yellow concentric rings, representing the component Staffel colors.

I've got a photo in the EoE photo DB of a I Gruppenstab a/c, A1+BB, that is dated by its markings as late 1939 or early 1940, and has this same marking on its prop spinners. Although it has a 1939-style fuselage cross, by this time the Gruppe 4th code letter "B" was thinly outlined in white, which the subject of your photo does not have. This suggests to me that it is from the same general period, but was before I./KG53 adopted the practice of outlining the 4th letter in white. On one of my photos of A1+BB the I./KG53 insignia is visible on the starboard fuselage below the cockpit area, which your photo does not display. My two photos of this a/c are probably the same crack up to which Chris Goss refers to in his post above. If he has any info on the date, place and possibly crew of his photos, I'd appreciate knowing this.

Richard, does this source collection contain any FB?

This is my best analysis.