Pre-war Heinkel He114 colour scheme

[obdl3945]

Hi...

Can anyone provide a picture/photo or any links to same, showing an He114 floatplane in pre-war overall pale grey (not RLM02) scheme with both of the following, please?

1) Tail marking in pre-January 1939 style, ie with swastika on white disc set again red background.
2) A pre-war style code, ie 60+???

All sources checked so far show aircraft with one or the other, but I would ideally like some confirmation, if possible, of a machine which carried both.

Additionally, I have also noticed photos of an He114 coded 6L+TOS. Can anyone enlighten me as to how this would be interpreted? The unit was apparently 10.Staffel (See)/LG2. My reference clearly shows it with the swastika on a red background as described above, but the '6L' code is more reminiscent of a wartime code. I have no idea how to interpret the 'TOS' part of the code.

Thanks in advance.

Paul

[Doug Stankey]

I have checked my prewar coastal unit files and found that the only units to have used this aircraft type and also have the 60 code were:



Stab/ Kü Fl.Gr. 106 – code 60+x10, where x represents the individual aircraft identifier.
Stab/Kü Fl.Gr. 306 – code 60+x30
Stab/Kü Fl.Gr. 406 – code 60+x40
1.(M)/Kü Fl.Gr. 406 – code 60+x41
Stab/Kü Fl.Gr. 506 – code 60+x50
1.(M)/Kü Fl.Gr. 506 – code 60+x51
Stab/Kü Fl.Gr. 706 – code 60+x70
1.(M)/Kü Fl.Gr. 706 – code 60+x71

As it happens, I collect prewar codes and note the source of the information such as odd photos. I have seen no photos of He 114s with the 60 code.

As for the 6L code, I have many examples but few source notes. One is the He 60 Profile by Flugzeug Publications. They all end in “OS”, without exception. Anyone out there have an idea where this strange code came from? The unit (10.(See)/LG 2 existed from November 1938 to October 1939, yet this style of code was officially obsoleted and replaced as of November 1, 1938!

That’s all I can say on this subject.

[Seaplanes]

The unit code 6L+ was used by Lehrstaffel (See) Travemünde. I have noted the following aircraft:
He 114A W.Nr. 2268 6L+U0S
He 114A W.Nr. 2269 6L+V0S
He 114A W.Nr. 2270 6L+T0S 15.07.38 allocated to Lehrst. (See) Trav.
He 114A W.Nr. 2282 6L+W0S 15.07.38 allocated to Lehrst. (See) Trav.
Please also observe that the 0 in the aircraft code is a zero and not an O.

[obdl3945]

Doug/Seaplanes...

Many thanks, gentlemen, for your prompt replies. Seapleanes, the information you provided has been extremely helpful. Thank you.

Doug, likewise, and I will PM you in due course.

Kindest regards,

Paul

[Doug Stankey]

To add to the fray, here’s all the examples of 6L + codes that I have found:

6L+ U0S – He 114
6L+T0S – He 114
6L+B0S – He 60
6L+D0S – Do 18
6L+M0S – Ju 87 A
6L+L0S - Ju 87 A
6L+A0S – He 60
6L+B0S – He 60
6L+C0S – He 60
6L+U0S – He 60
6L+E0S – Do 18
6L+V0S – He 114
6L+U0S – He 114

Related to the subject of 6L+ codes of 10.(See)/LG 2, there is a similar anomaly in the prewar codes of LG 1. Examples:

2L+D21 – Do 17 E
2L+D4K – Do 17 E/F
2L+K32 – He 111 D/E
2L+E_1 – Ju 87A, where the _ represents an obscured digit (probably a 4).

These can be confirmed to be all of LG 1 (at that time “LG” since LG 1 was formed from LG on 1 November 1938) as illustrated in the Taghon LG 1 history.
The first case is from 2.(K)/LG.
The second case is from Stab IV.(St)/LG, for post strike recon.
The third case is from 8.(K)/LG.
The fourth case is from 10.(St)/LG.


As we are on the subject of naval pre-war codes, I would like to point out that while the 60+ codes ran on a generally clear system, there are two exceptions. Examples:

60+E81 – on a He 60
60+Y91 – on a He 60
60+E95 – on a He 60

The first example is NOT of 1./Kü Fl.Gr. 806 because it didn’t exist pre-war! It is most likely 1. /Trägergruppe 186.

Similarly, the second and third examples are NOT of 1. and 5./Kü Fl. Gr. 906, because it also did not exist pre-war! In fact, they are apparently of 1. and 5./Bo.Fl. Gr. 196. The Staffel numbers are a strong clue.

[ChrisS]

Hello Paul Doug & Seaplanes

This is an aircraft I really know very little about, however:

I have an eBay capture of three He 114 marked:
60+U51 (I have a colour profile of this aircraft also)
60+W51
60+V51
With a unit marking on the cowling which I believe is 1./ Ku.Fl.Gr 506.

And another marked:
60+Z71
The unit marking a total indistinguishable blurr.

Cheers

Chris