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Re: Ju 87 badge ID needed
Hello,
Further to this discussion, I've sent to CJE my info by email. This particular insignia is on S1+BK of 2./StG76, which probably made a forced landing in France at one of two locations on May 14, 1940. Several views of this aircraft have shown up in eBay auctions over the past few years, and the photo from which CJE enlarged the insignia was published in Martin's book (P 332) on French losses, “Ils étaient lá...” If anyone can provide any further photos or pinpoint the location of this loss or further identify this incident, I would appreciate hearing from you.
On another subject, there was some discussion on P. 1 of this posting about the origins of the I./StG.76 insignia. Ketley & Rolfe, in their insignia book, say that this is the Coat of Arms of Graz, Austria, where the predecessor unit, I./StG168 was formed. I have one disagreement with what they've portrayed. They show the green shield inside a large white disc. In the several examples of this that I've located, I do not find any evidence of this circular background until sometime after the unit became I./StG3 during July, 1940. The examples that I've obtained from the Balkans in 1941, show this circular background, possibly in the Staffel color, but no photo that I've been able to find from the 1939-40 period shows this background disc over which the green shield, inside which is the rampant white griffon, is superimposed.
One other oddity about the markings of this unit, I have a strong suspicion that the Staffel Kapitän's of this unit put a horizontal chevron, similar to that used by the Gr. Adjutant of day fighter and some Zerstörer units in front of the unit codes. Moreover, the chevron may be in the Staffel color. This is certain for <S1+AH (white chevron with black outline), and probable for <S1+AK (black or red chevron with white outline?). I do not have a photo example for the 3rd Staffel Kapitän, which would likely confirm this suspicion. Does anyone else have anything to support or refute this?
I would greatly appreciate sharing information and or photos of this unit with anyone else who may have something to contribute. My thanks to Chris Goss for his help with photos on this unit.
Regards,
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