Strange markings from Fw 190D-9 “red 18+~” made me curious to understand more about this.
Since I./EKG(J) was changed as V./EJG2 on 29 March 1945, I first though that it was a wavy line used for this five group. But it doesn’t work I was not able to find others staffeln using this same wavy line as well as the very distinctive bright yellow fuselage band just back from the Balken cross. Even when I saw that I./EKG(J) losses were mainly Bf 109. (Losses from 1945 published in “Luftwaffe over Czech territory, 1945” p222 report: Bu181x1, Bf109G-6 & G-14 x8, Fw190A x2 and Fw44 x1)
Then when I saw Bf 109 “black 29+-“ I remember when I discovered “JG301 extraordinary markings” so I try to search in that way. So I give a look to fantastic data base from Marc-André Haldimann
https://www.flickr.com/photos/28092068@N03/albums and there I found “yellow 20+I” from witch Rabe Anton had recorded a strange surrender flight from Ansbach, home from 3./EKG(J) up to Luneville. Here:
http://109lair.hobbyvista.com/index1024.htm (Cf: articles > JG7 Bf109 ?)
Things now became clear I just need to find similar white markings on Bf109 from Budweiss, home from 1./EKG(J). So I turn back to M-A.H. Flickr database and Bingo they were numerous there at surrender ! Up to now, they were just erroneously identified as part from NAGr.14 (Cf: Luftwaffe over Czech Territory). But with fuselage number up to 34 they are certainly more from a school unit than a “reco” one.
Finally I remembered Bf 109 “25+I” from EKG(J)55 but when you know that 13./KG55 became 3./EKGr(J) then 3./EKG(J), this explain his school number and the vertical yellow fuselage bar from 3./EKG(J) when the emblem come from it’s previous unit.
So we have:
1./EKG(J): “white +”
2./EKG(J): “black + -“
3./EKG(J): “yellow + I”
4./EKG(J): “red + ~”
(Actually “blue” can’t be completely rule out, so I would be glad if someone can confirm this from a logbook or from a color picture, according to Eric Larger in his Fw190D books, it seems that there is one not yet published from Red 31 ? )
Source:
All the images are from “Luftwaffe over Czech territory 1945”,
except:
Bf109 “y 20+I” that come from Monogram Close-up N° 7 (109G part2)
Bf 109 “y 25+I” that come from M-A.H. database
https://www.flickr.com/photos/280920...7640139678655/
and Ar96 “56+~” that come from there:
http://www.vrtulnik.cz/ww2/k_plzensky.htm )