II/KG 3 badge

[Chris Goss]

Out of interest, is the badge a blackbird, a thrush or a nightingale as I have heard it described as all 3 & does anyone know its origin? I was told one thing by a KG 3 pilot but would like to know if it was true

[Stig Jarlevik]

Well Chris

To be honest it does not look like anything you see in Europe.
No thrush or nightinggale would keep their tails like that.
Whoever invented the design and painted it for the first time was in my mind no bird watcher....
Since the blackbird is a thrush (Turdis familly) and this one IS black, well...make your own choice, but it is in such a case an awful blackbird.
The tail position is very wren like even though the rest of the bird has no wren features, so perhaps a very exotic way of combining various bird features into one?

Cheers
Stig

[GrafWolf]

Hello!

Should be a singing thrush! Comes form II./KG 153, which was
established 1936 at Merseburg. Merseburg owned a famous chorus
at that time. The badge should be a hint to that chorus.

My source: Luftwaffen Embleme 1939-1945
Barry Ketley/Mark Rolfe
Bernhard & Graefe Verlag
ISBN 3-7637-5986-7

Herzliche Grüsse aus Oberschwaben,

Wolfgang

[Tim O.]

It is definitely a stylised representation of a songbird rather than a particular species. That fits with the choir I think.

[Merlin]

The II./KG 153 later II./KG 3 was based from March 1936 until May 1939 at Finsterwalde and the bird relates to the old song "Wir sind die Sänger von Finsterwalde" (we are the singer from Finsterwalde) composed 1899 by Wilhelm Wolff.

This group was never based at Merseburg.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks all-this corresponds with what I was told in that it was the Amsel of Finsterwalde

[Flying_pencil]

That is certainly interesting!
Maybe this is a case of a symbol with many meanings and/or hidden meanings.

I quickly picked this out from net:


(image is a little different from some pictures I have)

I have seen the marking called "Nightingale" a book(s), a song bird also in the Thrush family.
I agree the bird is not accurate, more stylized (better to fit in circle?)
Nightingale sing their song pre dawn and after dusk, this leads me to believe that he large white circle is a full moon.

There is also something with the tree. While this image shows leaves, other images I have seen show some kind of berry (looks like a blackberry)

While KG 153 was founded in Merseburg, II Group was formed in Finsterwalde.

The song "Wir sind die Sänger von Finsterwalde" seems to be a local tradition in Finsterwalde.
How a Thrush became a proxy for the singers is uncertain, however an image search for song name shows the singers could be a group of 4 men in black tuxes, with tails. Could the bird be a euphemism for a singer?




Maybe the final answer still resides in Finsterwalde?

Put together of some big pieces of this puzzle, great job!

[Merlin]

have a look here:

http://www.blitzgeschwader.de/html/ii__gruppe_kg_3.html

There is a photo of the badge above the airport gate surrounded by the inscription "Wir sind die Sänger von Finsterwalde".

[Flying_pencil]

Originally Posted by Merlin

have a look here:

http://www.blitzgeschwader.de/html/ii__gruppe_kg_3.html

There is a photo of the badge above the airport gate surrounded by the inscription "Wir sind die Sänger von Finsterwalde".

Super!


But how did a blackbird become linked with the Finsterwalde singers?

Did they sing during the night till dawn, like some birds?

Also of note from that page:
"Some comrades had volunteered to operations in Spain in the Legion Condor. They flew their first combat missions in the experimental bomber squadrons."

[Stig Jarlevik]

Very few birds sing at night

Dawn and sunset is favoured by many species, especially the blackbird.
To me, being connected to blackbirds must be an honour, since no other bird (globally) sings as varied and beautiful as that male. He is also an expert in mimics. I have heard blackbirds sound like oyster catchers and wrens
Even female robins tend to get confused, since the male blackbird sounds better than her own partner....

Spring is soon here and once again it will be a privilege to wake up to his song of domination....

Cheers
Stig