Rumanian insignia (for Dénes?)

[CJE]

Although of poor quality, this photograph (ECPA-D) is of some interest as it depicts a Ju 87 D-5 (865 ?) seized by the Luftwaffe after Rumania declared war on Germany in August 1944 and impressed by III./SG 2.
Can anyone shed light on the insignia on the fin?

Thanks in advance.

Chris

[Dénes Bernád]

O.K., I'll try to answer this query.

This Stuka (indeed a D-5) was originally part of Grupul 6 picaj. The insignia on the fin represents a black cat in a white disk. I published a photo of the same unit in my book, 'Rumanian Air Force, The Prime Decade', by Squadron/Signal, p. 60. Unfortunately, only a tiny bit of the emblem is visible on that photo.

By the way, the whole air park of this ARR dive bomber group was seized by the Germans following the Rumanian coup d'état of Aug. 23, 1944. However, these airplanes were not really captured, as they had been German property all along.

Is there anything more to this photo, perhaps more from the same negative reel?

[CJE]

Yes, Dénes, but there is no close-op on the unit badge.
That's what I'm looking for.


There are several reels at ECPA-D re ex-Rumanian Ju 87 Ds used by III./SG 2, including DAA 1482 with a mission by Htpm Lothar Lau (published in Aéro-Journal #37, June 2004).
The pic I posted is from reel LFT4F411, a new designation from ECPA. Some ex-Rumanian Ju 87 Ds still sport their original SKZ's.

Chris