Question about I./KG53 insignia during 1940 on He111s

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

In working up the profile packages for I./KG53 He111s, I've found photos showing the Gr insignia (a stylized white diving eagle carrying a bomb in its talons superimposed over a black disc--Ketley & Rolfe #328) with a red circular ring around the insignia, as well as other examples that show this ring as yellow, as is indicated in all the standard references back to Karl Ries. This doesn't appear to be associated with the Staffel color, as examples exist of 3 Staffel a/c with red rings, when you'd expect them to be yellow.

Does anyone have an explanation for this anomaly? This isn't a one-off thing, but appears on several different a/c all the way back to the the Polish Campaign of 9.39 and forward into at least mid-1940.

Thanx for your help.

Regards,