6/JG52 Eagle emblem Blue or red?

[Miguel]

Hello all,

In Bernd Barbas' "Gerhard Barkhorn - Das vergessene As" appear some photos and one Claes Sundin's profile of 109 Es of 6/JG52. The Eagle emblem is described and depicted as "red". I have always seen that emblem as dark blue or black (Prien et al.' JFV, Jagdwaffe Series, etc...).
So, I have now different reliable authors and two divergent emblem descriptions.
Does anyone have any more data that can help to solve this conflict?
Thank you very much for your time.
Miguel

[Clint Mitchell]

There are A.I.1(g) reports that confirm the colour of the Eagle as being blue.

[sidney]

Here it is the relevant excerpt from the A.I.1(g) report of 2 October 1940, 3/66.

[ouidjat]

Gentlemen,

One report doesn't make a rule for all unit, for all periods.
As Miguel wrote, I'll be surprised Bernd and Axel weren't aware of this (these?) report(s), including Jochen since he is a regular "supervisor" to Axel's publications.
But, indeed, a misinterpretation is always possible.

This said; which one is blue?
...

Best regards, Franck.

PS: all source from eBay.

[sidney]

Franck,

They would all be blue. The early variant of the emblem was just outlined in blue, while the later variants of the emblem were blue with yellow details, or blue outlined in white.

And it is not just one report, but at least two that I am aware of.

Regaards,
Sinisa

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

I can't speak for any period later than the end of 12.40, but up to that time the 6 Staffel eagles were blue. We've studied this carefully for our EoE profile project, and I have no doubt about the blue conclusion for that the 1940 period. Also, I don't think the Jochen Prien "supervises" the Urbanke publications, but he can speak for himself on that. I do know that he sees and comments on the EoE Profiles and our 6 Staffel profiles during 1940 are all blue.

[Miguel]

Thank you all very much for your quick answers.
It was very surprising, at least for me, to see the emblem "red" and had to ask.
Thanks again and best regards.

Miguel

[ChrisS]

Miguel, I think it's a good thing to question, sometimes in so doing myths of the past are exposed. But on this occasion Bernd Barbas is mistaken.

Cheers

Chris

[piero]

In the b/w phtos the colour red is generally dark/very dark and the blue is
very pale, similar to 02. Considering this, I think that the eagle was blue.
HTH
Giampiero Piva

[sidney]

I do not wish to extend this discussion more than it is necessary, but as far as the colour of this emblem is concerned, I believe that it was in the darker shade of blue, which Axel Urbanke/Bernd Barbas might have mistaken for red while studying the original negatives. Anyhow, I suspect that soon enough we will read about this particular emblem in the next editions of the LimF.