[INM@RLM]

Sammelmitteilungen Nr. 1 & 2. are already well known, having been reproduced in full in Michael Ullmann’s Luftwaffe Colours volumes in both German and English. However, as far as I’m aware, there has been no previous published mention of the issue of a Sammelmitteilung Nr. 3. It is now definite though that a third Sammelmtteilung was issued under the following document reference: Sammelmitteilung Nr. 3 vom 23.12.44 OKL/Chef TLR, Fl.E 10 B(?).Nr.593/44 (IV E), Az. 70 k 10.30).

The definitive evidence for this is a section at the foot of page 10 of Tagesnotiz Nr. 4/45 von 12.1.1945 which can be found in BA-MA R 3/1760 - HAF (Hauptausschuss Flugzeugbau) Tagesnotizen 1944-1945.
Only an excerpt is reproduced there as item #23. This is a notification modifying the section in Sammelmitteilung Nr. 2 titled Einführung der Flieg-Spachtel 7270.99 (Introduction of Aircraft Primer 7270.99).
The extract is reproduced below verbatim (a ? indicates a character is not clearly readable in the original carbon copy). My own translation follows:

Vorläufiger Ersatz für Flieg-Spachtel 7270.99
Flw.7270.99 is vorläufig nicht mehr herstellbar. Es muß daher auf die früher verwendeten Spachtel zurückgegriffen werden, bis Flw. 7270.99 wieder vorhanden ist. Die unten genännten Spachtel sind jedoch nicht auf Blanken Blech zu verwenden, es ist vielmehr im Bereich des aufbringenden Spachtels ein Grundieren mit Flw.7101.99 vorzunehmen.
Folgende Spachtel werden vorübergehend zugelassen:
Ikarol 119 D Hersteller: Warnecke & Böhm
10016 A Hersteller: Dr. Kurt Herberts
B(?) 36/2300 Hersteller: Glasurit
Wenn Flw. 7270.99 wieder lieferbar ist, wird der Hersteller, Firma G.Ruth, den Flugzeugstammwerken Mitteilung machen, die dann ihrerseits ihre Unterlieferanten usw. benachrichtigen.
(Auszug aus Sammelmitteilung Nr. 3 vom 23.12.44 OKL/Chef TLR, Fl.E 10 B(?).Nr.593/44 (IV E), Az. 70 k 10.30)


Temporary replacement for Aircraft-Primer 7270.99
Flw.7270.99 is temporarily no longer producible. The primer used earlier must therefore be reverted to until Flw. 7270.99 is available once more. However, the primers mentioned below are not to be used on bare metal, rather a priming with Flw.7101.99 is to be carried out first in the area where the primer is to be applied.
The following primers are temporarily permitted:
Ikarol 119 D Manufacturer: Warnecke & Böhm
10016 A Manufacturer: Dr. Kurt Herberts
B(?) 36/2300 Manufacturer: Glasurit
When Flw. 7270.99 is available again, the manufacturer, G.Ruth, will notify the aircraft main works, which in turn will notify their own suppliers etc.
(Excerpt from Sammelmitteilung No. 3 dated 23 December,1944, OKL / Chef TLR, Fl.E 10 B(?).Nr. 593/44 (IV E), Ref. 70 k 10.30)


One would have to be excessively brave to pontificate about what other aspects would have been covered in Sammelmitteilung Nr. 3. Nevertheless it is perhaps reasonable to suggest that these may well have included the instruction ending the painting of undersides on all Tagjäger, Schlechtwetter Jäger, Zerstörer (Do 335), Schlacht and Schnellkampfflugzeugen. That is all underside areas visible from vertically below would now be left in bare metal on aircraft deployed in these roles. Or something very close to this.


Doubtless the complete Sammelmitteilung Nr. 3 document will turn up at some point.


The Bundesarchiv’s R3 series of files are all, I believe, held at Berlin-Lichterfelde. If anyone generous reading this visits these archives, lives conveniently close by, and would be willing to devote an additional half day or a day – on a paid basis – to photographing some more of these files for my own projects, I will be most grateful if they would please contact me either by PM or using the contact info posted here as part of my member details.