Ju88 P-1 Insignia

[kaki3152]

While going through my photo files, I found this photo of a Ju88 P-1 with an insignia. The insignia looks like a dagger through a turtle.

Is this the insignia of Panzerjaeger Staffel 92?

[G.R.Morrison]

Axel Urbanke wrote a two-page article in Luftwaffe im Focus No 6 which included three photos, including the one you posted. This Ju 88P belonged to the 3. Staffel of the "Versuchs Kommando für Panzerbekämpfung." This unit had no Einheitskennung, but used "H" as a Staffel-designator. +GH, +KH and +OH are known examples. The emblem, applied on both sides was a red turtle pierced by a sword.

This unit was disbanded in Oct. 1943 and the six aircraft transferred to III/KG 1 (Stab, 7. & 8. Staffeln).

GRM

[Larry deZeng]

Urbanke's research expands my work done in 2003:

Einsatzkommando Ju 88 (Pz.)


Formation and History. (Aug 43 - Oct 43)
Said to have been formed in August 1943, probably at Rechlin, as an operational test unit for the Ju 88P-1 equipped with the 75mm PaK 40L anti-tank gun, then moved to Flensburg shortly after formation. Nothing further is known about the unit, but the equipment (Ju 88P-1) and the location (Flensburg) provide a direct link to III./KG 1, which transferred from Seshchinskaya on the central sector of the Eastern Front to Flensburg without aircraft on 12 August 1943 to convert to Ju 88P-1s, although this project was cancelled in October before it could get off the ground.

L.

[edNorth]

Versuchskommando für Panzerbekampfung
- Panzerjagerkommando Weiss
An experimental unit for tank fighting, formed in July 1942 under command of Major Hubertus Hitschold. It was based at Rechlin/ Roggenheim. A few Ju 88 P conversions were assigned to this unit in early 1943, along with other types. They tested the 50 mm BK 50, 75 mm BK 75 and 40 mm PaK 40 anti-tank cannons.
Operational elements were dispatched to the Eastern Front as Panzerjagerkommando Weiss in Spring of 1943. Commanded by Schlactflieger Major Otto Weiss. The Ju 88 P was soon rejected due to the 75 mm cannons tendency to crumple the nose and damaging the wooden propellors. Unit then used the Ju 87 D and Hs 129 B against Soviet armour. Parent unit at Rechlin was disbanded in June 1943 and the elements at the front dispersed to other units.
- Panzerjagerstaffel 92
Some Ju 88 P (Tank Busters) were pressed into service with this unit in 1943 for further experimentation. Intended to be operated in one Gruppe, this project came to nothing.

Aircraft operated (code unk):

..+GH Ju 88 P-1 xxx ......43 ( )
..+KH Ju 88 P-1 xxx ......43 ( )
..+OH Ju 88 P-1 xxx ......43 ( )

-Ed

[kaki3152]

Thanks to all. Now, I can identify the insignia