Emblems of TrG 186

[Horst Weber]

Good evening Ian !

It's well possible, that the photo of STUKA J9+XK was taken in the preparations for the Western Campaign in April/Mai 1940 at the prepared airfields Hennweiler (from April 11th) or Ferschweiler (from May 10th). The whole atmosphere like crude natural camouflage and fuel barrels looks like that.

There is a very good book from the Staffelkapitän of 2. Gruppe, Helmut Mahlke, who describes the atmosphere on those days. He names his unit
I.(St.)/186(T) or 2.(St.)/186(T). On July 2nd 1940, they were renamed in
III./St.G.1. Helmut Mahlke was this day promoted to Gruppenkommandeur of III./St.G.1

His book has the title: STUKA Angriff : Sturzflug and was published in 1993 by Verlag E. S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH, Berlin Bonn Herford
ISBN # is 3 8132 0425 1

Hope this helps,

All the best !

Horst Weber