Unidentified He111 insignia on two force-landed a/c Western Campaign

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

I'm trying to ID two He111s that force-landed, probably in the west during the May-June 1940 campaign. I've never seen this insignia before, which appears to be two wings in contrasting colors, with another inner wing inside the one with a light color. The photos don't show unit codes, so I'm hoping that with the ID of the insignia, I can narrow down my search for candidates. I thought that this was an incomplete insignia until it appeared in the same form on a second aircraft that I recently purchased on eBay.

Does anybody recognize this insignia? It certainly isn't one of the ones in all the standard reference works on the subject.

Thanks for your assistance.

Regards,

http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=4&u=11993385

[David Ransome]

Hi Larry,

Does it have to be a German used Heinkel? I don't immediately recognise it either but it does have a similarity to at least one Hungarian squadron emblem used in 1944 on Me210, from memory.

Regards,

David

[robert]

Hi,

could it be connected with KG1?

Regards

Robert

[Dénes Bernád]

Originally Posted by David Ransome

...it does have a similarity to at least one Hungarian squadron emblem used in 1944 on Me210, from memory.

This doesn't look like any known emblem painted on Hungarian airplanes.

[David Ransome]

Hi Denes,

Just dug the book out, 'Hungarian Eagles', on the back cover , No. 36. Forgive lack of accents "Sas - eagle - 102/1. Gyorsbombazo szazad, Hajduboszormeny. Me 210Ca-1. 1944-1945"

I kknew that it wasn't exactly the same but the wing shape and shading were similar albeit not two toned, and I couldn't tell whether all was visible on the 111! Like many squadron emblems I thought that there may have been earlier or later versions.

Regards,

David

[ChrisS]

I've run the image through photoshop, enhanced it, put it into negative and can only agree with David, even if there is no bomb, or indeed an eagles head the rest of the image, the two wings conforms very closly to the unit makings in 'Hungarian Eagles'.

Cheers

Chris

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Regarding the suggestion of a Hungarian connection to these photos, there is another photo from the same series that shows a He111 in clearly German markings, with a handwritten caption that I think says that this is in "Frankreich." This would seem to argue against a Hungarian connection. I'll try and post this photo later this evening when I get some time.

What is this emblem supposed to be, a pair of bird's wings?

Regards,

[ChrisS]

The other possible option, if it's a Luftwaffe machine, is a variation on KG 30's diving Eagle:

[Larry Hickey]

I finally got back to this. If this works correctly here is the photo of the He111 shown with the insignia along with a caption, which I can't read. I think this says that this He111 came down in France.

Anyone else got any ideas about this one?

http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=5&u=11993385

Thanx,

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Late last May, I posted a question about the ID of a unit insignia that had an unusual wing-type design. We really got nowhere with the identification of this. I've since obtained several photos of what I think are three different He111s carrying this insignia on both sides of the nose, all probably force-landed during the French Campaign. I'm now suspecting that these could be from 1 and 3 Staffel of an U-I Gr, possible I./LG1. I've now got very clear images of this insignia, which I didn't have before. It turns out that Ketley/Rolfe did have this in their reference book, but at the very end as an U/I emblem. I've attached a copy here. This obviously was on aircraft of a main-line He111 unit that lost several a/c during the FC. With this additional info, can anyone help with an ID of this unit? or have further photos of any of these forced landings, perhaps showing unit codes?

http://www.servimg.com/image_preview...=13&u=11993385

Thanks for any help.