Seeking info on 1./JGr126 W12+I, & unit penguin insignia on Bf109D-1s circa 11.39

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

"We're just finishing a color profile for the EoE Project of Bf109D-1, White 12+I, of 1./JGr126 that collided with a 2./ZG76 Bf110C-2 at Bönninghardt AF, Germany, on 06.11.39. Does anyone have the name of the pilot of this a/c? He was apparently not injured, but his plane was demolished. We're also seeking the W.Nr. of this Bf109D-1, which does not appear in the LW QM loss reports.

Although not visible in any of the photos that we have of this a/c, we now believe that this a/c carried the unit's "penguin with an umbrella insignia," as photos of other Bf109D-1s from that period did carry them. This is somewhat different in style than the version carried on the unit's Ar68s in 1938, or the 7./ZG26 insignia (successor to 1./JGr126) carried later on the units Bf110s. Does anyone have a good, close-up photo of this insignia on one of the unit's Bf109D-1s from the fall of 1939?

Who can help?

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator