Luftwaffe unit emblems - "Battle of Britain" era

[Franek Grabowski]

With the best will available I do not see any eagle nor winged rabbit, and attacking owl seems an option being a very popular bird.

[robert]

I have seen better photos so there is no option for owl.

Robert

[F19Gladiator]

Originally Posted by robert

I have seen better photos so there is no option for owl.

Robert

I trust you have a very good picture memory Robert, but would it possible for you to make arrangements to see one of these 'better photos" for our enlightment on this subject, preferrably posted for others to create their own opinion? I understand from your answers that these "better photos" are not in your possession but you seem to be in a good relation to the owner(s).

I can understand that some might find it a bit irritating, even stupid, to bring up long established "facts", regarding Luftwaffe emblems for discussion, but I suppose this is one of the reasons why forums like this exist - for learning and also sometimes to test old dogma around luftwaffe camouflage and markings and other subjects which are far from fully explored yet.
I learn something every day I visit this forum and I love it!

Regarding this emblem, which I have been posting pictures of, I have so far learnt that:

1.Good pictures are scarce.
2.Pictures I have posted indicates that the emblem might have been photographed in both finished and not yet fininshed versions - some alternatively possibly abrased by wear.
3.Someone (Larry??) owns better pictures but they have not yet been published - not to my knowledge at least.
4.Axel Urbanke published an alternative explanation of what the emblem depicts in "Luftwaffe im Focus", which by some forum participants has been bluntly turned down.
5.The background story of the emblem, it's inspiration and why it replaced the "Grasshopper" emblem has not yet been explained.
6. Date of it's introduction is not known for certain.

.......and as you have noticed I have objections against the emblem resembling an eagle! It might have been intended to represent an eagle, but it doesn't look like one or at least is a very untypical representation of the well known bird - All according to my own eyes of course!

Based on the above findings 1-6, I conclude that there is a lot more to learn again. Fine!

However, as I in my hobbies as well as in my occupation for a living, usually do not take all "facts" at face value, I kindly ask anyone who has any substantial evidence supporting fact based answers regarding this emblem to share them with us in order to increase our knowledge.

I am fully aware of that much has been lost over the passing 67 years since 1940, but still surprisingly much material previously unseen surfaces today!

(When I started getting interested in Luftwaffe markings in the 1960's I could never dream of the amount of publications coming out forty years later and the detailed information available, as already by then WW2 was something way back in time in my mind and anticipating much was already lost for ever. For those who were not around or old enough to read books at that time, go and check what was available and published in 1965 and compare with today. Amazing development!)

Again, I am looking for sources, including photographic material, regarding this emblem explaining it's origin, motif and use.

Cheers to all participating in the discussion!
Goran

[sidney]

Gladiator,

On a closer look, it looks to me like a body of a seagull (would refer to the contemporary theatre of operation) with the eagle's wings attached to it(Luftwaffe).

If you take into account that the Staffel was based nearby the cliffs on the French side of the Channel because of the Bf-109's limited endurance, and that it had to fly its missions over the Channel to reach England - the seagull, a bird that dominates such environment, sounds quite plausible.

Thanks again for the photo.

Regards,
Sidney

[Peter Cornwell]

Goran,

The exact details of the 1./JG26 emblem are attached. I cannot offer you any photos but the form is taken from the Staffel stick-pin of Gustav Kemen who was captured on 14 August 1940.

[sidney]

...Another possible explanation would be that the emblem artist used the colour white for the presentation purposes only - in order to make the bird's body visible against its wings and tail in black.

Still looks to me like a cross between the said two birds of prey.

Sidney

[F19Gladiator]

Originally Posted by Peter Cornwell

Goran,

The exact details of the 1./JG26 emblem are attached. I cannot offer you any photos but the form is taken from the Staffel stick-pin of Gustav Kemen who was captured on 14 August 1940.

Thank you for the picture Peter, very much appreciated!

Studying this variant I find that it shows some differences to the versions seen on the photos I have posted on this thread:

• The shape of the wings is different. The aircraft versions have more elongated wings with markedly more pointed tips.

• The position the wings are shown is different. The needle has an obvious U-shaped area between the wings which is different on the aircraft versions and more V-shaped.

• The position of the head differs as the aircraft versions tend to show a head, or what ought to be intended to be a head at least, above an imaginary horizontal line where the body ends.

The pin version showing a head turned down below the above mentioned line.

When the emblem is painted on the fuselage it seems that a white background has been added to make the emblem stand out, this giving the aircraft version bird wings look as they have white wing primaries and secondaries tips.

The drawing based on the pin is an interesting addition to understanding the emblem.

Another conclusion is that the actual emblem as seen on the 109s or as per the pin are quite different from the version commonly seen in print, for example in "Luftwaffen Embleme 1939-1945" by Ketley and Rolfe, p.49. This "litterature version" is also posted further back on this thread for comparison.

There is also a small (very small?) chance that the eagle pin found on the pilot was coincidential and had nothing to do with the unit emblem, even if most Luftwaffe afficienados would turn that objection down, though I believe a skilled attorney could achieve it receiving "Circumstantial evidence" status at most in front of a court!

Thanks again Peter!
Cheers!
Goran

[Peter Cornwell]

Goran,

You may accept it or reject it - that's your call. All I can tell you is that the pin came from that pilot. Paint on the fuselage or enamel on a pin are both subject to differences in interpretation I guess.

[F19Gladiator]

Originally Posted by Peter Cornwell

Goran,

You may accept it or reject it - that's your call. All I can tell you is that the pin came from that pilot. Paint on the fuselage or enamel on a pin are both subject to differences in interpretation I guess.

It is likely that there is a connection between the image copied from the pin and the unit emblem. I'd say they are similar but different.

So far an important conclusion from both the pin image and the emblems from aircraft pictures posted, is that the emblem does not look like the published work I refer to in my previous post.

Thanks again for sharing.
Goran