Looking for insignia images for III./KG55 during 1940-41

[Peter Cornwell]

Larry,

By way of clarification, the photo of the tailplane of 2808 illustrating the article by Andy Saunders on pp 170/172 of The Blitz T&N Vol.2 is, I suspect, the same as that used in the Hall/Quinlan book. Apparently, they document it as the aircraft down at Windsor Great Park in the early hours of 9 April, 1941, which Simon Parry gives as 2908 in his extensive loss lists (commencing November 1940) prepared for The Blitz T&N Vol.2. Let's give credit where it is due.

[Larry Hickey]

Trevor/Peter,

I checked my copy of the K-Reports, and right on, Trevor, it does prove the existence of this insignia as stated as of 8 October, 1940. My hunch is that this pushes the first use of this emblem design at least back into September, 1940. This information raises a further problem, however, as the Rolfe/Ketley reference shows a yellow (gold) shield with 3 red fish for 8 Staffel. I would give the K-Report more credit than the latter, since it is a first hand, contemporary source for color information on a known 8. Staffel machine.

So now, what color are my light-colored fish on a 9. Staffel-version of this shield, and what is the background color of the shield? (blue shield?--instead of red-- with yellow fish???). And if two different squadrons of III. Gr had related shield emblems, what is the presumed appearance of this shield on the tails of 7. Staffel and Gruppenstab aircraft? Do we have photographic references for either unit?

I did a run on this again against the 10,000+ Luftwaffe photos from the 1939-40 period now in the EOE data base, and found one more example from an eBay auction in 2006. It is virtually identical to the Andy Saunders photo in both Cornwell's "The Blitz T&N, VOl II" P. 171, as Peter Cornwell correctly noted, and the Hall/Quinlan reference cited earlier. They are the same photo. The full Staffel code isn't visible in this "new" photo, but it definitely is a KG55 machine, as the "G1" code is visible. So now at least three photos are known of this insignia in two different variations. Do we have any further info/photo references on the use of this insignia in III./KG55?

Thanx,

[obdl3945]

Hi...

Gents, please excuse my ignorance, but what exactly is the EOE data base? Is it something that can be accessed online?

Thanks...