postcard of DO 217 question on colours

[brewerjerry]

Hi All,
i have seen this in a few books, anyone know if the colours are right ?
yellow engine cowlings and a white tail band ?
cheers
jerry

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...0%3D%26fvi%3D1

[Pilot]

Color'r are obvious

[obdl3945]

Hi, Jerry...

These markings have intrigued me for years. I believe the machines are U5+BD and U5+CR from Gruppenstab, III.Gruppe and 7.Staffel, KG2 respectively. They were based in France during 1942-43, and all markings were apparently white... fuselage and wing bands and cowlings. Stills from the same roll of film can be found in the excellent new publication, Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-45 Volume1 by de Zeng, Stankey and Creek (Ian Allan) and Luftwaffe Codes, Markings & Units 1935-45 by Barry Rosch (Schiffer), the latter of which also shows U5+AR by its hangar, amongst many other publications over the years.

I can't for the life of me remember the reason for their application, but they are rather eye-catching for any interested modeller. Maybe someone else can supply the reason for these markings, please, and put me out of my misery...?

Regards...

[Brian Bines]

Were these a tempoary application to cover possible daylight missions away from their normal area of operations i.e the Channel Dash in Feb.42 or the Torch landings later that year. It would be good to get a definite answer,

Regards

Brian Bines

[brewerjerry]

Hi
Thanks for the replies, I have been puzzled over the other sources with the yellow / white, but if stills form a film are available, this then clinches it and also explains a photo i had seen in a book, where the 217 had lighter cowls than a 190 parked alongside.
As to their use, one person told me it was for the 'invasion' of vichy southern france, think it might have been nov 42 ?
cheers
jerry

[F19Gladiator]

Jerry, I believe you are right regarding the markings and the connection to the occupation of Vichy France. The white wing bands were used during "Case Anton" on November 10, 1942, when the Germans occupied Vichy France.
Br
Goran