4.(S)/LG2 Insignia: background color, origins & relation to personal insignia of Adolf Galland

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Working through information on the photos of Bf109E-4/B "White N" of 4.(S)/LG2 down at Langenhoe, Essex, on 29.10.40, and thereafter widely displayed in Scotland, the following questions/problem arose:

1) The insignia for this unit is very nearly the same as the "Mickey Maus" insignia used by Adolf Galland on his Bf109s while Gesch Kde of JG26 in 1940-41. It appears that he carried the insignia used on his Hs123 while he was the StaKap of 4.(S)/LG2 during 1939 and into early 1940, when he transferred to the Stab of JG27. We don't have a photo of his Hs123 (that I know of), L2+AM, but we do have photos of several other examples, including L2+BM, that apparently show this being used at least back to the Polish Campaign of 9.39. So, did Galland, as Sta Kap, chose the insignia for 4.(S)/LG2 sometime in 1939, and then he just later carried this forward as his personal insignia? Could it even have been a personal insignia on his Hs123, L2+AM, which was then adopted as the Staffel insignia? What is the original source of this design? Obviously it's based on the Disney "Mickey Maus," but where did this specific design, with a cigar in its mouth, originate? This could well relate to Galland's habit of smoking cigars, which would suggest a personal insignia of his design or done for him.

2) On images of this insignia in 1939-40 on 4 Staffel a/c, both Hs123s and Bf109Es, most show this insignia apparently with a yellow circular background. This yellow background is confirmed by the report of the crash inspector for "White N" down on 29.10.40. "Crest: black and white Mickey Mouse holding axe in one hand and large pistol in the other, all on yellow dic." However, the standard reference work (Ketley and Rolfe) shows this insignia on a blue circular disc. Photos of this on a 109 from the second half of 1940 (yellow nose) may show a blue background, but these could also show a plane from early 1941 in the Balkans, or just reflect the characteristics of the film used and/or lighting conditions. Or did the color of the circular background change at some point from yellow to blue?

Anybody have any insights or information on these issues?

Regards,