Yellow markings of Luftflotte 4

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hello,

I have been studying the yellow rudder and cowling band of aircraft attached to Luftflotte 4 in spring 1945. Well known examples are the aircraft of II./JG 52 at Neubiberg.

Now, while it is clear that the aircraft found at Neubiberg were from II./JG 52 since this unit moved to Neubiberg in the last days of the war, why is it commonly assumed that Bf 109s found at other locations but with the yellow rudder and band belonged to II./JG 52?

Not that I have doubts, but more to understand the reasons behind. Apart from II./JG 52, also

• Stab/JG 76 (Wien in April 1945),
• II./JG 51 (Fels am Wagram in April 1945), and
• I./JG 53 (Hörsching in April 1945)

were part of Luftflotte 4 and should have had these markings. I./JG 53 was disbanded on 18 April 1945 and its aircraft became a part of II./JG 52 (KTB LfI.Kdo.6).

I guess that II./JG 51 was also disbanded in April 1945 (http://www.ww2.dk/air/jagd/jg51.htm) and that this may be the reason why on 8 May 1945 the only Bf 109s fighters of Luftflotte 4 belonged to II./JG 52?

Regards,
Roger

[yogybär]

As Stab / JG76 never had any A/C afaik, you answered the question nearly yourself. But don't forget the Nahaufklärer: One well-known example landed in Fürth after capitulation and was photographed in colour with P51 in the background. Don't know the unit by heart now, but it was identified as a 109G-10, having the longer Beulen at least. If you want, I can search for the picture.

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hallo Jörg,

Thank you for your message. Yes, I remember the color photo.

Do you know for sure that II./JG 51 was disbanded before the end of the war? And if so, who got their aircraft? I am sure there were still some aircraft of II./JG 51 around in May 1945 and maybe they were confused with II./JG 51 aircraft.

Regards,
Roger

[Maciej Góralczyk]

According to JaPo book on Bf 109 G-10/U4, II./JG 51 was disbanded on 12 April 1945 at Fels am Wagram. Its pilots either joined II./JG 52 or were transferred to Lechfeld to retrain for Me 262. The aircraft were taken by JG 52.

The plane mentioned by yogybär was Bf 109 G-10/R2, W.Nr.770269 coded 5F+12 of 2./NAG 14. Another one from this unit which landed at Fürth-Atzenhof on 8 May 1945 was Bf 109 G-14, W.Nr. 463141. There are series of photos of both aircraft from Jim Crow's collection.

[John Beaman]

According to Luftwaffe documents issued on, I think Mar 17/45, all aircraft in Luftfl. 4 were to have the yellow fuselage band removed and the yellow "V" on the left wing (if any were left) removed and replaced with the yellow rudder and the nose band. Aside from JG 52, there are numerous photos of SG and SKG Fw 190 units wearing these markings as well as Ju-87 machines.

[Dénes Bernád]

Hs 129s wore this late-war ID markings, too.

[cproyston]

Sorry to join this conversation late, but as covered above II./JG52 swallowed up pretty much all of the available aircraft from the dissolution of I./JG53 and II./JG51 ("Rosemarie", Bf 109G-10, White 11+- at Neubiberg even shows the overpaint of the previous II./JG51 II. gruppe bar forward of the overpainted number - the usual II./JG51 position).

The yellow cowl/rudder was introduced by 4. Fliegerkorps around 7th March 1945 and I have it, evidenced by photos in my collection, on at least the following types:

Hs 126,
Hs 129,
Bf 109G, K
Fw 190F, D
Fw 189,
He 111,
Ju 188,
Ju 87,
Si 204

Again sorry to be late for the party, as it were,

Cheers,
Chris

[Dénes Bernád]

Originally Posted by cproyston

The yellow cowl/rudder was introduced by 4. Fliegerkorps around 7th March 1945...

Was it 4. Fliegerkorps, or Luftflotte 4?