[obdl3945]

Hi...

I think they may be from Operation Marita, Yugoslavia/Greece, 1941. I don't think they're similar to the bands used on Do217s during the takeover of Vichy France, which in any case were white. I do think the bands on this Bf110 are more likely to be yellow.

With regards to Bulgaria, I have certainly seen a colour plate of a Bf109E from Stab, I.Gruppe (J)/LG1 in More Luftwaffe Fighter Aircraft in Profile by Sundin & Bergstom (Schiffer) (and also, I think, in a separate publication, a very good photograph showing good detail - just can't remember the book... !)) shown wearing normal yellow theatre markings, but also including a narrow yellow, forward fuselage band, and narrow, full trailing edge yellow strips - top and bottom surfaces, I believe - as well. It wouldn't surprise me, therefore, that this Bf110 was perhaps from the same time period, April 1941, in Bulgaria, perhaps sporting a slight variation of the painting instruction, which was certainly not an unheard-of practice in the Luftwaffe.

Regards...