Ju 52 markings on the tail??

[Peter D Evans]

Afternoon all...

Ken Merrick, in his "Luftwaffe Camouflage & Markings 1933-45, volume 2" says:

"The markings were applied to the rudder and consisted of a pair comprising a letter and number (or an 'S' if a Stab aircraft) with a single letter below the pair. The first letter identified the parent unit, the number identified the temporary Staffel that had been created within that unit, while the last letter was that of the individual aircraft letter within that formation."

Examples with images shown are:

Ju52/3m coded 4V+AT with T1 and J on the rudder
T = KG.z.b.V.172
1 = 1.Staffel
J = aircraft ID letter within IV./TG 3


Ju52 with D3 and F on the rudder
D = IV./KG.z.b.V 1
3 = 3.Staffel
F = aircraft letter

Merrick goes on to say:

"As always, there were oddities amongst the system. KG.z.b.V 1 was recorded using two letters in a white circle near the top of the fin, the first was the aircraft letter, the second was the code for the Gruppe. At other times, some units used the same system within their own structure as a quick recognition guide."

Still not found out what a white dot signified...

Cheers

Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator