No. 4 ESN (Signal cartridge?)

[Jagdkommando]

Hi,

Recently I came over a text in a ORB from 06.02.1944 (333.sqn.) saying :

“P” gained hight and turned to port to get on tail of E/A which then fired a cartridge. “P” replied with No 4 ESN which seemed to satisfy E/A which did not open fire".


Maybe someone can tell me what the letters ESN means, and why its' written "No 4" in front of it ??
And how often did the LW in Norway change their colours of signal cartridges?? Weekly ??


Warmest regards,
Jagdkommando

[Amrit1]

Erkennungs Signale Nr 4

Number 4 because it was the 4th type

http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Atrium/4758/part4.htm

[Jagdkommando]

Hi,

Thank you so much!!!

Jagdkommando

[Bruce Dennis]

I'm lost. It seemed like the 333 Squadron aircraft launched the 4 ESN, yet the answer given clearly is for a German flare.

????????

Bruce

[Jagdkommando]

Hi Bruce,

It was the german seaplane from 1./406 that first fired a cartridge, which the 333.sqn. crew replied upon. But I also find it strange that the brits' would use the same term as the germans, "ESN"- Erkennungs Signale 4.

Or did the brits' used their own term, that ended up with the same letters ??

Jagdkomm.

[Bruce Dennis]

Originally Posted by Jagdkommando

... But I also find it strange that the brits' would use the same term as the germans, "ESN"- Erkennungs Signale 4.

Or did the brits' used their own term, that ended up with the same letters ??

Very strange indeed. To use the description in an ORB pretty much confirms that it was in common use (not secret, clearly understood by all parties concerned) and relevant. I am intrigued by the thought that the Allied pilots, staff officers and Intelligence officers were using German terminology to (A) describe their own devices and (B) record encounters with the enemy, which were then used to analyze the success or failure of tactics.

If the entry in the ORB betrays the knowledge that the Allies were aware of the colour and even the name of the Luftwaffe recognition signals, it was a gross breach of security. There must also be an English language answer, or you have stumbled across an abuse of the ULTRA security that has previously gone unrecognised.

Bruce

[junker]

I think the allied aircraft was equipped with a german flare gun and different code signals ESN 1-7.The ESN flare code system flare was developed by luftwaffe in 1936,allied aircraft did not use this system.