The mystery of insignia colors on KG26 He111s during 1939-1940

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

I'm trying to puzzle out some photo mysteries with early KG26 photos. On P. 75 of the excellent de Zeng/Stankey book, "Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945" Vol I, it shows, in color, "The badge of I./K.G.26 (sic) comprised a white seated lion in profile on a green shield." However, on P. 81 it says the "Aircraft of the four Gruppen of K.G.26 carried the seated lion emblem: black on a white shield by the first Gruppe, red on a white shield by the second, black on a yellow shield by the third and black on a blue shield by the fourth." The second Gruppe colors of a white shield with a red lion, motto and thin outline is confirmed in a color photo on P.84. Another well-known color photo shows the described I Gruppe insignia of a white shield with a black lion, in this case apparently a 3 Staffel a/c (yellow prop spinner front).

My problem is the first reference to I./KG26 having a green shield with a white lion, which seems to contradict the second reference in the same source. I have photos showing an He111 with a dark shield and a white lion, that I've been evaluating for a profile. It apparently shows 1H+BB of Stab I./KG26, that I strongly suspect was taken on the first day of the war: 01.09.39. This clearly has a dark (green?) shield and a white lion and motto. All other early war I./KG26 aircraft photos seem to show a white shield and a black lion. Is it possible that there is a typographical error in the de Zeng/Stankey book and the Green shield is for I Gruppenstab a/c only, while the subordinate Staffeln all used a white shield/black lion? Are there other photos of early-war Stab I./KG26 He111s showing a dark shield and white lion for the unit insignia?

I note that the de Zeng/Stankey book directly contradicts the Ketley/Rolfe insignia book, "Luftwaffe Emblems 1939-45," P. 54, which shows, in color, the I Gr insignia of white shield/black lion, II Gr yellow shield/black lion, III Gr a red shield/black lion, and makes no mention whatsoever of a green shield/white lion version. I believe the II and III Gr insignias in this standard reference source (currently undergoing revisions) are incorrect.

Does anyone have any photos or other reference material that can clarify if only Stab I./KG26 flew He111s during the early war period with a green shield/white lion, and can confirm that III./KG26 flew a/c with a yellow shield and a black lion? Do color photos showing this latter version of the insignia exist? What about the Gesch Stab of KG26 during 1939-40? What color shield/lion combination did it use? Photos on the Humbie He111, 1H+JA from Stab./KG26, shot down in Scotland on Oct 28, 1939, clearly show a light colored (white?) shield, with a dark (black, or even possibly blue?) lion.

It drives me nuts that after 70 years we still don't have the answers to these kinds of questions on such a well-known unit.

Who can help resolve this?

I would post photos illustrating these problems but I've used my max space to post photo images on this board, and I don't want to drop photos from my previous posts to make room for more images in the event that someone will eventually help solve older mysteries posed by those photos. Is there any way to increase the MB that I can post on this website? I'm planning to start duplicating a lot of my posts on the LEMB Board, where Peter Evans has kindly offered to create a separate section for EoE reference posts, but I'd still like to be able to post additional photos on this Board as well. Are there any options? I know that there are some people who don't read both message boards.


Regards,