Seeking info for color profile for Stab I./ZG76 Bf110 for 09.39 Period

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

We're doing a color profile of <<M8+AB of Hptm Günther Reinecke, Gr Kdr of I./ZG76 during the Polish Campaign. I do not have any photos from that period showing the prop spinners for Stab a/c for that period, nor the colors, (if not black, then green?) for the top and bottom wing a/c letters.

Does anyone have any information or photos which would settle these issues for the Sept., 1939, time frame?

I know that Ken Merrick did a color profile of this a/c for the old Kookabura volume "Luftwaffe Camouflage & Markings, 1935-45" P109, that showed his interpretation of the markings, but I've never seen any photos from that period that confirm what was illustrated there. The only photo reference that I know of for this a/c was in one of the old Karl Ries, Jr., books that did not illustrate those parts of the a/c.

Thanx for any assistance.

[sidney]

This undated photo of Hptm. Reinecke was taken from the book entitled Messerschmitt Bf 110 Aces of WW2, page 8. Probably is not of much help, but anyway...

[Larry Hickey]

Sinisa,

Thanx for forwarding this, which was not in our photo DB. I've now resolved that Gruppenstab a/c during the PC had a thin medium green ring near (but not at) the tip of the prop spinners.

Still looking for the colors and exact positioning of the a/c codes on the top and bottom of the wings. Were they in green, or was the under-wing code black as soon in the old Merrick profile?

[GaraiB]

Hello Larry,

I have one photos from internet, from ebay auction.
Bf110 M8+AB>>
But I am not expert to recognize this was taken at Polish Campaign. Photo not the best quality.

Best regards,

Balazs

[Larry Hickey]

Balazs,

Thanx for taking the time to post this photo and your comment. I do have that photo in the DB from the same source as you. It does show a later a/c in Norway, probably about April, 1940, so it doesn't solve the spinner markings problem.

However, at the EoE Working Group (WG) we now think that we've solved that issue: it was a very thin medium green ring near (but not on) the tip of the prop spinner. Based on photos from other a/c from I./ZG76 at the time, we also think that the unit used all-black a/c letters on the top and bottom of the wings at this time. Obviously, black doesn't contrast very well with the dark green paint on the top of the wings.