Avias B534 with 1. and 2./JG 70?

[Merlin]

Martin,

The LKS 8 was formed in 1941 for officer training of Flak units, they did not have any aircraft. I have no proof that any LKS ever has had an Avia B534.

During 1939 these aircraft were on duty with:
JFS Werneuchen
JFS Stolp
JG 71
TGr 186
and a very few with school units.

[Martin V]

Thank You Rasmussen very much for your info. I would love to know
regarding JFS4 Avias, did they wear single digit or double digit white numbers till September 1940? Can You please share if possible?

Merlin ,
in the Czech book mentioned above , there is, in Czech, p.21, a short "memoir"
of a member of I/JG71, this unknown pilot mentions their Avias as being ex- LKS8.
I believe that is the origin of the info about Avias with LKS8.

BR,
Martin

[Rasmussen]

There are mentioned 3-digit-numbers (I'd guess the W.Nr.) and 2-digit numbers (if this white numbers or W.Nr.'s I can't say).

[Martin V]

Thank You Sir, much appreciated.
B.R., Martin

[sidney]

Gentlemen,

Thank you for this discussion, it really is highly valued, especially the references from the pilots' logs. I thought that the thread captured a limited attention of the members.

I would like to try and discuss post No.21 above: "During 1939 these aircraft were on duty with: JFS Werneuchen, JFS Stolp, JG 71, TGr 186 and a very few with school units."

Does that mean that references to the Avias B534 being on duty with I./JG 70 during the summer of 1939, as found in Bob, Trautloft and Held, JG 54: A Photographic History of the Grünherzjäger (i.e., Post No.1), John Weal's book Jagdgeschwader 54 "Grünherz" (i.e., Post No.2) and Foreign Planes in the Service of the Luftwaffe (1938-1945) by Jean-Louis Roba (Post No.7), can all be safely discarded?

Furthermore, post No.3, what about the time-location conflict in the series of photographs in the JVF der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934-1945, Teil 2, II./Jagdgeschwader 52, pages 322 and 323, photos 381 – 384 featuring the Staffel’s Avia B534 aircraft with the 1./JG 71 (early) winged devil emblem and caption "... some pilots of 1./JG 71 at "readiness" at Bad Aibling in the beginning of September 1939..", while at that time 1./JG 71 was already supposed to be based at Böblingen (i.e., from 29 August 1939), and definitely equipped with the Bf 109 D-1 aircraft.

Thus, it would appear that those photos were either taken with 1./JG 71 at Bad Aibling sometime earlier, in July/August 1939, or
if they were taken in the beginning of September 1939 (as they appear to be), they were likely not taken with 1./JG 71 at Bad Aibling, but with some other unit elsewhere.

[Martin V]

Hi sidney,
thank You for the nice breakdown of some of the unanswered aspects of early use of B-534 in Luftwaffe service. Post No.21 by Merlin indeed is of interest.
I do not have answers, if anyone can please donate any Avia B-534 flugbuch (1939)entries please do not hesitate.I am curious regarding the style of marking of B-534s with JFS Werneuchen, also JFS Stolp, is there any info regarding use of color for fuselage bands, numbers...etc?
B.R. Martin

[Dénes Bernád]

As a side note, the Avia B.534 was also sold to Bulgaria (77 or 78 units, no firm confirmation available).

[Martin V]

Thank You Dénes, this is another interesting chapter in B-534 history, I am very much interested in the camouflage and markings of these Avias, is there any photographic evidence of the style of marking used on these planes while they were still in German hands?(Before they were crated and sent on train to Bulgaria?) Were there any fuselage crosses used? Are there any documents or flugbucher entries related to the export of these planes?
B.R.
Martin

[Dénes Bernád]

Martin, I have not seen photos of the Avias while being crated, or being unloaded in Bulgaria; however, based on their constr. nos. one can try to find photos while they were in Luftwaffe service, sporting German markings.

[Martin V]

There is a new B-534 (about its service in Bulgaria) book coming this year from Japo publishers , so I hope we learn more regarding any German export markings on Avias B-534 soon, as well as the actual construction numbers.
Dénes I really liked Your Avia B-534 chapter in the Hungarian Fighter Colors 1930-45 Vol 2 book, dealing with the first captured Avia B-534, (24/3/1939 by Hungary). In the very first photo on page 202, the plane still wearing the old Czechoslovak insignia, is there any damage visible on the plane?(For instance just above the tailwheel.) Also, are the bombs still attached under the wing?
Best Regards, Martin