TR fuselage code

[ianatheling]

Hi

This would not be the actual unit code. Since +TR are the last two letters then these are either the last two letters of a four letter stammkennzeichen (stkz) or verbandzeichen (vbkz). In the case of the vbkz +TR would indicate aircraft ‘T’ of a 7. Staffel. The two figure alpha-numerical unit code before the balkenkreuz would give us the unit. Two aircraft would not carry the same letters at the same time.

The number 15 before the balkenkreuz is however a tactical code used instead of the vbkz for fighters and some other units. There would not normally be any characters on the other side of the cross (other than gruppe markings).

I would suggest that your examples are actually part of a stkz. In this case the 15 has been painted over the first original two letters. Normally the last two letters (TR) would have also been painted over, but there are many examples where this was not done. It does seem odd (although not impossible) that a Bf 109 and Ju 87 would both have the same 15+TR code in the same location. I have however found eight Ju 87’s (mostly Ju 87D) with __+TR stkz and nineteen Bf 109 (F and G) with __+TR .

Ian

[ChrisS]

Hello Guy

Perhaps if you post a picture of these aircraft we would have a better chance of identification.

Chris