Ju 52 markings on the tail??

[cbe2009]

Hello!

I have a photo of a Ju 52 from Africa. on the tail it has the following markings:

D 4
J

What does that mean?

Thanks in advance

Christian

[Kutscha]

This might be of some help Christian.

B2 J

B - group code letter
2 - 2cd squadron
J - 10th a/c

This type of code is said to be used as units were formed and dissolved at short notice for various operations.

ref. S/S #1186 Junkers Ju 52 In Action

[CJE]

No, the letter is for the C/O's name: B = Beckmann (KGr.zbV. 500).
D is yet unknown - will become IV./TG 3 in April 1943.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Chris

You must have misunderstood the German Ju 52 tactical codings. According to Karl Kössler they had nothing to do with the name of any commander what so ever.

Since I am not fluent in German and has not read his booklet from cover to cover, I read that the letter B stood for KGr.z.b.V.500 and not who was its commander.

The letter D stood for IV./KG.z.b.V.1
A quick look through the booklet seems to confirm Kutscha's points that the number indicated the Staffel within the unit, ie the 4th St within the IV Gruppe and the letter below was the aeroplanes number in the unit, ie in this case xx+Jx as its fuselage code.

Cheers
Stig

[CJE]

Interesting.
I was quoting from Barry Rosch's book. Is it outdated and is there a new list somewhere?

[ju55dk]

Originally Posted by Stig Jarlevik

Chris

You must have misunderstood the German Ju 52 tactical codings. According to Karl Kössler they had nothing to do with the name of any commander what so ever.

Since I am not fluent in German and has not read his booklet from cover to cover, I read that the letter B stood for KGr.z.b.V.500 and not who was its commander.

The letter D stood for IV./KG.z.b.V.1
A quick look through the booklet seems to confirm Kutscha's points that the number indicated the Staffel within the unit, ie the 4th St within the IV Gruppe and the letter below was the aeroplanes number in the unit, ie in this case xx+Jx as its fuselage code.

Cheers
Stig

Having the same book and reading german there seems to be a connection with the letter at least in some cases!
P was Kgr zbv 400 under command of Major Pfister!
W was Kgr zbv Wittstock unit was created at Wittstock.
B was Kgr zbv 500 under command of Major Beckmann
K was Einsatzgrp. Kupschuss under command of Major Kupschuss later Kgr zbv Frankfurt!

Junker

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hmmmmm

Sounds like I am wrong...
So what you are saying is that every time a unit changed its commander they painted a new tactical code?? In that case they sure had better not to chose commanders who had the same first letter in their last name...
Sounds really weird to me....

Cheers
Stig

[RudiS]

You can find some more info about the use of these "tactical codes" on this site (in german) :
http://www.luftarchiv.de/

On the menu on the left choose "Luftfahrtindustrie" , then choose "1939-1945" right below "Motorflugzeuge".

So in the case of Christian's picture :
D = Name of the Commander of the new or temporary formed unit
4 = 4th Staffel
J = aircraft letter within the 4th Staffel

Hope this might help,
Rudi.

[GrahamB]

Hi,

Stig is correct, the D stands for IV./KGzbV 1, 4 the fourth staffel and J the individual aircraft letter.

ie aircraft 'J' in 16/KGzbV 1

Cheers

GrahamB

[CJE]

All of us could be right... There are a few gaps in the C/Os of this unit.
But Stig's remark makes sense: did they change their tactical codes each time they had a new C/O?

BTW, does anyone know which Ju 52 unit had a white dot as tactical code on the fin?

Chris