Luftwaffe unit emblems - "Battle of Britain" era

[John Vasco]

Originally Posted by Christian Schulz

Thx, Mr. Vasco! So it's just the "British Isles" with the crosshair? ... *hints noted*

Yes. This is it:

[sidney]

Hello Christian,

These are all very good points that you have addressed.

a. 1./JG 26 - there are very few photos showing this particular emblem, and they are invariably taken from the port side. The emblem dimensions were significant, estimated at 350x600mm (WxH)- from that perspective it is reasonable to believe that the emblem was applied on the aircraft port side only, or otherwise it would have taken too much of the 'black men' precious free time.

b. 4./JG 26 - Widely publicised by the British and American press, Horst Perez's aircraft sported the emblem on the port side only. The emblem was hand- painted, and probably quite time consuming to apply, so my vote is - in general, the port side only (note that exceptions are always possible).

c. 6./JG 26 - Yes, there are a few.

d. Stab III./JG 26 - not clear from the available photographic evidence. Karl Ries reported it on both sides of the aircraft.

e. 8./JG 26 - I believe on the port side only because of its dimensions.

f. I./JG 51 - I firmly believe so, and there is no photographic evidence to prove otherwise.

g. 1./JG 51 - if the Gruppe emblem was applied on the port side of the aircraft, it is reasonable to believe that the same applies to the Staffel emblems. Furthermore, there is no photographic evidence to prove otherwise.

h. 2./JG 52 - I do not think that the 'Rabbatz' ever belonged to 2./JG 52. The hastily formed 11.(N)/JG 72 was renamed 5./JG 52 directly, and equipped with the Bf-109s much to the pilots' relief.

i. 4./JG 52 - both sides of the fuselage to the best of my knowledge - see "Jagdfliegerverbände Vol 2 - der Sitzkrieg"

j. 5./JG 52 - In, I believe, "Jagdfliegerverbände Vol 2 - der Sitzkrieg" there is a photo showing a 5./JG 52 Bf-109 collision, which would indicate that the emblem, in its initial form at least, was applied on the port side only. Following the introduction of the Geschwader emblem (winter 1940/41 or early 1941), all Staffel emblems were much reduced in size, simplified or overpainted altogether. It is thus possible that the later version of the 5./JG 52 emblem was applied on both sides of the aircraft.

k. III./JG 52 - The 'Jagdwaffe - Attack in the West' reference might be incorrect. It is thought that the early Gruppe emblem was introduced by the new Gruppekommandeur, Hptm. Alexander von Winterfeldt, following their withdrawal from the front-line duty, possibly as morale-booster.

Hope that the above is useful.

Regards,
Sidney