Question on 1./106 Staffel Badge

[Tim O.]

I have been trying to establish the origins of the 'three dice and a cup' Staffel badge used by 1. Staffel, Küstenfliegergruppe 106. I have found the German dice game 'Schock' via Google and I guess it is a potential inspiration but I have no idea why it would be chosen for a Staffel badge. The unit was established in List in 1936 but I cannot establish any heraldic link there. Does anyone have any ideas?

The plaque below shows the badge.

[Tim O.]

Thank you Mr Goss! I clearly missed the obvious that the dice read 1, 1, 6!

[Buckeye30]

Tim. I believe the 1-1-6 on the dice refers to it's forming from 2.(M)/Fl.Gr.(See) 116 pre-war.
Nick

[Tim O.]

Thanks Nick.

I will look into that angle further.

[Merlin]

The eyes on the dices were not fixed and they have no meaning.

On photos, where they are readable, I have found these combinations:
1-5-6, 6-1-1, 1-1-3 and 3-3-3.

[Tim O.]

Originally Posted by Merlin

The eyes on the dices were not fixed and they have no meaning.

On photos, where they are readable, I have found these combinations:
1-5-6, 6-1-1, 1-1-3 and 3-3-3.

Hi Merlin

I have a wall plaque (shown earlier) and two schnapps cups bearing the badge. One cup is dated 1938 and one dated 1939. All three have the 1, 1, 6, combination and say 'K.A. St. 1/106'.

I wonder if the different number combinations signify differences?

I have quite a lot of photos of 1./106 aircraft carrying the badge but sadly the numbers on the dice cannot be seen clearly.

[Buckeye30]

Hi Merlin. Have you seen this page ? There were several re-designations.
There are 2 pictures of 1./KuFl.Gr.206 in Barry Ketley's book on Luftwaffe emblems; one shows 3-3-3 dice (1937-38) and 1-1-3 (1939-40 on a black shield).
Nick

http://www.ww2.dk/air/seefl/kflgr106.htm

[Tim O.]

Originally Posted by Buckeye30

Hi Merlin. Have you seen this page ? There were several re-designations.
There are 2 pictures of 1./KuFl.Gr.206 in Barry Ketley's book on Luftwaffe emblems; one shows 3-3-3 dice (1937-38) and 1-1-3 (1939-40 on a black shield).
Nick

http://www.ww2.dk/air/seefl/kflgr106.htm

Hi Nick

I have never been sure if Ketley has this quite right but the re-designations of this unit are certainly very confusing.

Checking through the earlier images in one of the photo albums associated with this plaque and the cups I noted this nice image. All the aircraft are carrying those pre-war 06-aircraft lettter-1-1 codes. Looking at page 72 of David Wadham's Aufklärer Volume One, these codes should be read in reverse: 1. Staffel, 106, with the individual aircraft letter squeezed in between the '11' and the Balkenkreuz. I note that '6' was also coincidentally the Luftkreis code for Kiel, where naval units were based.

Thanks for your help!

[Buckeye30]

Tim. The "6" did mean LKK VI Kiel; this is how Karl Ries explained the system.

In See/Kusten Staffeln the last number ( 1,2,3) was for duty and type ie...
1.Staffel in Gruppe = reconnaissance Staffel ( floatplanes He.42 - He.60)
2.Staffel = flying boat staffel (Do.32, do.18)
3.Staffel = Multi-purpose Staffel (floatplanes He.59, He.115).


Regards
Nick

[Tim O.]

Thanks again Nick.