AIRCAM AVIATION SERIES NOS8 LUFTWAFFE COLOUR SCHEMES AND MARKINGS 1935-45 VOLUME 2KNOWN LUFTWAFFE CODES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER At ... Kampfgeschwader 53 “Legion Condor"* Wr... Nachtiagdeschwader 100 ‘A T/Zerstorergeschwader 52 X4.--Luft-Transportstaffel (See) 222 3 ..-Kampfgeschwader 200 26 ..-Kampfgeschwader 66 AS. Stukageschwader 1 ‘A6 Aufklarungsgruppe 120 B3 ...Kampfgeschwader 54 “Totenkopf” Ci ““Erprobungskommando 16 58 Transportgeschwader 5 Nachtjagdgeschwader $ St 15.(2)/Jagdgeschwader. § “Bismeer™ Rimplgechader 27 "Boole Kampigeschwader 26 “Lowen” “Nacttsehlachtgruppe 4 Kampfgruppe 126 Kampfgeschovader 28 ROvbN 1/Transportgeschwader Versuchstaffel 30 erstrergeschwader 1 third formation) Zeretorergeschwder 76 cecond formation) Zerstorergeschwader3(ssond formation) Rchijagigeschwader 6 scNtcivagdgeschwader 4 (JG 6 from January to July Nechtagdgeschorader 3 ‘ochtyagdstaffl Norwegen Erprobungstlle Rechin Exprobugstelle Reelin Kampfgeschwader 76 Srukapeschwvader 76 (1939-40) ‘Aufklarungsgruppe 122 1943) ‘Kampfgeschwader 40 3B ...Kampfgeschwader 6 Kampfgeschwader 55 “Griefen” 3K... Minensuchsgruppe ‘Aufklirungsgruppe 124 3M. Zerstorergeschwader 2 first formation) KGrebV2 3U ...Zerstorergeschwader 26 “Horst Wessel” (second forma- Zerostorergeschwader 1 (first formation) tion) ‘Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 3W... Nachtschlachtgruppe 11 ‘Nachtjagdgeschwader 4 (original code) 32... Kampfgeschwader 153/Kampfgeschwader 77 ‘Luftlandgeschwader t 4A “LIV Zerstorergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel" Fransportstaffel 5 ‘Kampfgeschwader 25/Kampfgeschwader 30 “Adler” Stukageschwader s (1942-43) “Aufklirungsgruppe 22 Kisten Flieger Gruppe 406 ‘Lehrgeschwader 1 Lehrgeschwader 2 KGrabV 5 ‘Kilsten Flieger Gruppe/Kampfigruppe 106 Kampfgruppe 806 Zerstorergeschwader 76 (second formation) Kampfgeschwader 60 ‘Aulklarungsgruppe 21 “Trans-Ozean Statfel Land Il/Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 ‘Stukageschwader 77 “Transportgruppe 30 Kiisten Flieger Gruppe/Kampfgruppe 506 Stukageschwader 3 TIL, LV, and part of II/Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 ‘Aulkldrungsgruppe 123 UKGrebV 172) Transportgeschwader 3 ‘-Aufklirungsgruppe 31 “Aufklarungs gruppe 14/Nahaufklirungsgruppe 14 “Kampfgeschwader 4 General Wever”™ ‘Rampfgeschwader 3 “Blitz” “Wettererkundungsstaffel 26 T11/Stukageschwader 51 KGrabV 108/Transportgruppe 20 Kampfgruppe/Kampfgeschwader 100 ‘See-Aufllarungsgruppe 127 ‘Zerstorergeschwader 1 (second formation) ‘See-Aufklirungsgruppe 128 “Aufkliungsgruppe 121 Erprobungsgruppe) Schnelles Kampfgeschwader 210 a ‘Aufklarungsgruppe 10 “Tannenburg™ larungsgruppe 125 Bord-Flieger Gruppe 196 Kampfgruppe 606 Stukageschwader 2 “Immelman” KGrebV 700 Versuchsverband Ob.4.L. SCAufldirungsgruppe 33 Kampfgeschwader 2 “Holzhammer” Kiisten Flieger Gruppe 906 Zerstorergeschwader 26 “Horst Wessel” (first forma KGrabV Soo) Transportgeschwader 2 “Uokampfgeschwader sr “Edelweiss” Femnaufklirunsgruppe 5 Nachtjagdgeschwader 101 Aufklarungsgruppe 32 Junkers Ju 62/30 ot 1V/KGebV 1, on-a Balkan airfield during 1941 or 1942, Noto the nearest axcraft. 124+BF has grey segments on the Ke stendard splnier camouflage. cowls. rudder and wing-tips are yellow. (via R. Ward)AIRCAM AVIATION SERIES No. S8 VOL. 2 LUFTWAFFE COLOUR SCHEMES AND MARKINGS 1935-45 Geschwader The author and Il. Text by Martin Windrow AIRCA and the ane della Republic period 1923 to 1944 Illustrated by Richard Ward FC) Blohm und Voss By 1386-1 Published by: Osprey Publishing Limited, England 12-14 Long Acre ‘ondon WC2 Lid. 1971, SBN 85046 0030 ited, Wallop, Hampshiee May 1971 Printed in Hong Kono son 1976A formation of Heinkel He 111 bombers aver France, 1940, hatonal markings and the unitemblam on the nose areal entirely typical Of the early “oMthodox" period of Lufwatte markings. (W'S. National Brehivee) LUFTWAFFE Colour Schemes & Markings 1935-4: BOMBER UNITS Prior 1 the open deployment of military aircraft by the young Luftwaffe in 1935, many types of aircraft were opera ied ostensibly as civil oF government transports and training machines, which were in fact fulliling 4 clandestine réle in the reparations for military air power. The standard colour ‘Scheme was pale grey, often with areas of black around the engine cowlings, and With the civil registration letters in large black characters on wing and fuselage surfaces Shortly after the announcement of the birth" of the Luftwaffe, many of these machines appeared in their new livery 5 Undisguised bombers. These, and bombers subse- quently delivered, were generally finished in the three-colour Segment camouflage previously described; an occasional difference was the pattem of the upper surfaces, which was ‘sometimes painted on large aircraft with curved rather than ‘angular colour divisions. An exception was the Junkers Ju 2/3m bomber-transport aircraft. Many of these continued {o sport their pale grey scheme with black cowlings until 1938, with the’ addition of military-style national markings the five character fuselage codes of the day. Typical unit markings for a Ju s2/3m bomber would include the code identifying aircraft “E”” of the first Staffel, 1 Gruppe, Kampigeschwader 152, the seventh Geschwader formed in Luftereis II, Berlin Colour view Jx provides a typical example of a bomber of this period finished in the segment scheme. This Dornier Kampfgeschwader 255 bears the code 54 + F24: aircraft" of the fourth Staffel, II Gruppe, KG 255, the fourth Gesch- wader of Luftkreis V, Munchen. ‘The national markings are Conventional; the red fin band was retained until late in 1938, ‘The codes were repeated under the wings in the sequence +54, “The bombers sent to Spain to equip Kampfgruppe 88 of the Condor Legion varied considerably in their appearance. The first aircraft supplied were, as already mentioned, Junkers Ju 52/3m transports, which were later converted back to their bomber configuration by the refixing of their ventral gun “dustbins” and bomb racks; this was a simple task for which all Ju 52/3s were designed. For the sake of consistency these ‘dual-purpose aircraft are described in the paragraphs on transport units, ‘The main equipment of K.88 was. the Henkel He 111 bomber, in its B and E models, of which some 17s eventually served in Spain, Some were painted in segment he painting of the splinter camouflage, the four-character fuselage codes. the camouflage, some in overall pale grey, some in RLM grey Photographs of the Legion mustered at Leon in 1939 show that alreraft in these diverse schemes served side by side right up to the end of the Civil War. The usual Nationalist mark- ings were employed, and white-painted wing tips were com- mon, ‘The type number for Heinkel was "25", examples of scament-painted aircraft include “25.6”, 25 5.46", ‘Aircraft finished in pale grey included 125.18", and "25,30" if Practices may be observed in photographs of Condar Legion bombers. Staffel insignia were Quite common, The Gruppe often mounted operations with mixed German-Spanish crews, and the Spaniards christened the Heinkel “Pedro; this name was frequently painted on the side of the aircraft's nose behind the nose ‘transparency, ‘usually in white capitals and above a number—e. PEDRO 3 Pilots seem to have enjoyed a considerable measure of freedom to decorate their aircraft with personal insignia, usually on the fin or fuselage sides, and some fairly extrava- gant examples have been illustrated; few can have been s0 onspicuous, however, as the epitaph for his dead Scottie dog painted on ‘the tail Of “25.15” by a grieving pilot! This ‘machine is ilustrated in eolour as view KE panying photograph. This aircraft also displ Common in K-88, a diving Condor with a bomb in its talons Superimposed on’the black fuselage disc. Striping of spinners and propeller blade tips in the Spanish colours was also quite During 1938 the segment camouflage began to give way—in home-based bomber units—to the familiar splinter of two shades of green. Repainting orders were not obeyed overnight, however, and for months examples of the older styles were still to be seen. Later in 1938 the red tail band gave way to the imple black and white swastika, and the five character code ‘was abandoned in favour of the four character style described ‘earlier. Some aircraft were finished in schearsgrim, but the This, then, was the standard scheme whi the norm for much of the rest of the Luftwaffe’ existence Variations were based mainly on geographical considerations ; unlike the aircraft of the Fighter Arm, the bombers did not ‘undergo an official change of camouflage for daylight opera-tions in 194 Bombers taking part in the daylight operations in the West in Togo were aiaost exclusively fined in these colours; ‘here were, however, eceasional insignia changes. Photographs Shin showing Heinkels with two Bulkenkreus on each upper sting surface a small cross atthe extreme Up and a larger one Further inboard This odd effect is unexplained. Much more ommen Wwas the painting of large transverse or chordwise furs of white or yellow on the wings of bombers —usually the {op outboard surface ofthe starboard wing and similar bars reach side of the vertical tal surface; thete indicated, by the umber of bars, the Gruppe of the aireraft, and were an Shem tnd formation-Reeping device (see La). ‘The use of Scloured rudders, probably for the same reasom, was not un- now, colour iw Ka tlustats an example, The se view tino underlines another marking practice which was to become itereanngly popular-—the painting ofa “mission tally” on the {al Usually these were simply rows of white or yellow bars or Shoes on fn of rudder; sometimes they were more informative, Zing’ dated or grouped under the name of a targets and Cecitionally they, were quite elaborate, involving small Sinouettes of ships, factories, barrage balloons, and so forth Tt was. occasionally observed that the Luftwaffe bomber pilots mission clasp —Promtugspange—was painted on the Tail after the appropriate number of mission bars "The repetition of the entie four character code under the wings was already declining in frequency in too, in favour of he simpler system of carrying only the individual letter, tinder both wing tips, outboard of the Balkenkreuz. The use of unit insignia on the aoses of bombers persisted for some time’ the practice was not so frequently olverved after about Yous, but ia some units the insignia were marked on the geet right up to the end ofthe war, although the squadrons were onl tattered remnant of their former strength, and had Tnrgely lost their identity through disastrous, losses and shortages, Wher the Luftwatle’s daylight bombing offensive against Briain was defeated in the summer of 1940, the switch of emphasis to night raiding led to modifications. in. colour Schemes and markings; these were to Become general for night Serer forte rv the wa and were pid wih att soluble paint on a purely temporury basis. A typical example wolthe cil iMstrted in view Key; the Underides are covered with a coat of matt black, as are large areas of the fuselage sides, while the splinter pattem on the top surfaces has been blotched. with black. The national markings are Almost blotted out, and the individual leer isthe only part of the code left visible ‘The unobscuzed unit badge is interesting. Operations ‘onthe Eastern Front, commencing in the sutmmer of 1942, did not call for any major alterations of nlour or pattern, beyond the predictable addition of yellow swing tip undersides, and in some cases yellow bely bands ndlor engine cowlings. ‘The Dorner illustrated as view J2 typical of the German bombers operating ia the Balkans tnd Russia inthe early daye of the campaign. With the onset Of the Russian winter, however, the predictable steps were {ken 10 camouflage bombers operating from snow-covered fields, “The "uwual’ cheouie variety. of schemes appeared; Oven wht, wht etches sprayed over the base en "funda pattern, intricate patterns of flecks und speckles — were “employed arbitarliy. Colour view 'Kq shows. an interesting version, a "snake-skin” pattem of white and green na Heinkel of KC; $3, All these varlations of snow camouflage rere to be repeated in successive winters, and in time the Uiastic reduction of markings and insignia they involved ‘would become a year-round practice in sunnter chimes the bombers of the Lufwaffe's Mediter- ranean and desert forees adopted equally predictable camou- Hage, ‘The ‘basic. sandy ‘brown was sometimes patterned tri blotches of green, as on the Ju 88A-q of Lehrgeschwader whic is shown as Ké on the colour pages; more often 1 was {eft unadorned, as in view Ke illustrating a Heinkel of KG 4, ‘The use of white belly bands, white engine undertrays and white wing tips was common in the tropical zane. “in Europe, and. especially in the ranks of bomber units operating over the Sea, a number of new schemes were in use Pine weid’war years; theie very. variety suggests that n0 Sfncral specification governed their use. One is lustrated as Siew Fin Vol. Is the scheme of two shades of grey seems ‘a logical choice for an aircraft flying patrols over the winter ‘htimtic: This Dornier displays an inereasingly. widespread pasctcs in the later hall of the war; only the individual etter Tia earned on the fuselage, but both the individual and ‘tana leuers are marked in sual characters on the fin, Some Domniets of KG do during this per carried the fl four Shuracier code on the fin, hyphenated, and small enough to ftom the aren below and lft of the swastika. Simultaneously the fuselage code markings Was reduced to one or tW0 letters nly, Most European-based bombers during 1942 and 1943 SEdined the conventional splinter-patterned upper surfaces, SSE Gnesi ae bie or tack depenting om ei Diuring the winter of 1043/44 the Luftwaffe opened a belated bombing offensive agamat England in retaltation fr the growing ICA. night campaign over German citi and Vietren “This assaults usually known as “The Little itz", tras desighated Operation Steinbock, and iavolved some of the nucheweakened Rampfgeschwader in heavy losses from the Gictent RACE. night fighter force. A relatively new unit, KG Ser was based in France with late-model Ju 885 and Ju 18853 this unit wos used in the pathlinder and target fle during the “Lite Blite™ F3, Vol 1, shows a Ju 885 Sr/RG 66 in one of the night colour schemes used at this time, particularly interesting sn that it covers both upper and Pearfaces of the sirerat. This the so-called "wave- taitoe™ pattsrny a looping pattem of pale grey lines on a dark fe) ground. Originally evolved for use by mattime recon Sehsder and bomber airrat had proved so effective that {Rapread to conventional bombing units and intruders, and the baste pattern appeared in sever differen colour combina {ons the most common being pale blue ines on a dark green background. "the Junkers Ju 188 of KG 66 shown a6 Pa Vol. hy is inished in one of these combinations— pale blue with grey. “scribble” —with might black under infces, Other iferaft of this unit were finished in Overall ‘lack, with no forther embellishment. "The mont common scheme used on the Dornier Do 217 and Heinkel He 177 bombers engaged in 'Steinbock” and other fight operations late an the war consisted of black under- ‘Mbfncee and sides, withthe top of the fuselage, wings and cil Fuinted medium ot pale grey, with a dark grey patern either Rotiles or “wavermiror", The Do 217M illustrated as F6, Vol tis typial ofthe period. The last two leters ofthe code de marked on the fin ts tiny characters, and the individual fener alone appears on the fuselage. Often, alreaft of this type carried the Werke Nummer on the side of the nose, URrnedlatcly behind’ the nose transparency. in a central position on the height ofthe nose in small white characters Fr wve early in 1944 that an extra marking was observed on the tuilvef-some German bombers, large number, usally mark- Sin white, ‘The exact significance of this marking. is Grkoway it as almost gertinly-an. individual acraft ‘umber, butt would seem ridiculous to award such numbers ‘while stl retaining the four eharacter code system, or even the Jada acral lone ‘During, 1044 the, Kamplgeschwader presented a sorry contrat to tee predecessors four year earlier. Many units feck bcen decimated in endless tnctial operations in support Gtiground troops.on the Russian Front; some of the fmous Statics had diseppeared completly, otters had been reduced fort handfal of men and aiteraft ‘Two of the most famous tits, KG 27 “Boelcke” and KG ss, had been reduced to a Strength of one Stafel each; and KG 4 was among the shwader which had been remustered as a tansport unit. ‘The pathfinders of the Battle of Bean and the Blitz, KG Too, were still Teading, ia.a sense atleast; equipped in part ath Dorner Do 217K finished in splinter pattern they were once he te of gues bor om pe in, Suern E famous enti-ehipping unit, KG 26 “Lowen” ‘wan fying hu 1889 in Northern France, sll concentrating on Trartine’ targets but with only very moderate succes the reraft were punted in splinter and light blue, wih light blue Rfavermiror™ applied over the green upper surfaces and sles Photographs show thatthe fll four character code was Mil paited'on the fuselage, although the ny sizeof the frst, two ‘characters rendered them almost invisible among the Samouflage, and the pracice of colouring the third character Stem to have been abandoned.60 An Hs 126 spatter plane of 2 (H)/74 in North Alvica carrying the code 5F+AK and the unit badge on the cowling. The lust camouflage is dappled over and much weathered whle the wt lupour surtacats finished in sand patehot ovet 3 spinier scheme (US National Archives) her Based fn complex of airfields East Prussia the unit was equipped With the impressive fut accident-prone He 177 Grey; and ‘uring the summer of 1944 formations of up to 99 alrraft Wwould rise misjestically from these forest ai East to bom targets behind the Russian lines, These opera tions provide the only German parallel to the Alli tee of four-engine bombers inthe strategic role. An aircraft of KG is llastrated as colour view M3: note the characteristially simall size of the Greschwader code. “Another new assignment for the best ofthe surviving bomber pilots—many of whom were undergoing hasty conversion {0 fighter arcraft—wan retaining an the fit of dhe jet bombers to come ino service. The “Edelweirs Geschwader KG_s1, was one of the units selected to fly the new Messer schmitt Me 262A-2 jet ghter-bomber;. although down to Gruppe strent the nit had considerable nuisance valus, fand'continued. is hitand-run rds on-advancing. Allied forces until late stage of the fighting. Mx illustrates an air rat of RG 51 innhed in basic pale Blue overal, with green averminror:parrem. Another veteran wing. wat KG 76, which operated the first true jet bomber in the world-—the Arado Ar 234. Their aitraft were painted in a conventional Splinter pattsen and comted with a special high-gloss past hed dope, squeeze every last drop of speed out of thems am Ar 234 of KG 76 is shown as view Ma TThe shoreage of fucl which strangled the Luftwaffe in 194s givin even mor cpg lst onthe borer foree than ‘upon the less “thitty"intercgptor; and. the bombers were awarded only a low priority for supplis. By the end of toga the piston-engined bombers had ceased (0 provide any serious threat to the Allies olated units fought fn whe fuel Tasted, but ina strategic sense their operations ‘were merely pin-pricks. ‘TRANSPORT UNITS In the early days of the Luftwaffe, the distinction between bomber and transport units was not entirely rigid, Squadrons equipped with the Junkers Ju s2/3m were intended for both functions, and only the units specifically set aside for para~ troop raining, such ay ‘Luftlandgeschwader equipped with bomb racks and gun positions. Thus the early colour scheme was that of a bomber unit. The first use of transports to support a force in combat, as already mentioned, was the airlift of Moorish troops from Spanish Morocco to Spain’ in aid of Franco's Nationalist rebels, In November of 1936 the Condor Legion was formed, and the bomber component originally comprised three Staffeln of Ju 52/3ms. Like other Legion types they were painted in a variety of ways; camouflaged, overall pale grey, and overall RLM grey. ‘The type number was “22. These ies were largely phased out as bombers late in 1937 with the arrival of more modeen equipment, and thence- forward they were used in the transport and genera uty rile. Numbers were handed over to the Spanitn Nationalist tir arm proper; in series with Spanish units they seem to have been almost inyarably camouflaged, and t have eared "large white St Andrew's crosson the fuselage side in Audion 10 the usual national markings. A Condor Legion Machine of K's shown as view Or on the colout pages "The eather ambiguous role of tne Ju $2 units was tetted in their designation ="KGr2bV" ax “KGzbV" short Tor “"homiber formation on special detachment" The Bhiskies campaigns of 1939 and "940 called for large numbers ef Transports 10 takepart iny and suppor, tapidly-moviag invasiom atacs, and these nits played an active part inthe occupation of Denmark, Norway, France. andthe Low Countries; in the latter esse, they payed a heavy price in men and airrah "The unigue airborne invasion of Crete was 10 be the lat ‘operation ats types the "butcher's bill was appalling high, and some 170 Junkers transports were destroyed ot badly Slimaged. The typical colour scheme of the Ju. 23m 18 temperate zones comprised an overal cot of scyaraprin fon upper and side tures, wilh pale biue undersides this Femained standard finish throughout the war: The usual four Sharacter code appeared on the fuselage sides, and whol} of partly under thewings, Unit insignis were frequent patted tn the central cowlingy and cowlings were sometimes wily oF paraly painted in the Staffel colour. Transport Gruppen ‘stay comprised four Stal, and the colouring ofthe ed ove leer stun fen abandoned In winter erations the {anspor were given the usual coat of show camouflage, and stew O6 lustrates a machine serving in Rusia, The fst two Tetters of he code have been painted over; end the {ant two are repeated in. stll characters above the swastika, ‘The fuer letters bear no diect relationship to the unit odes; Frequently seen on transports, they are focal and temporary markings. introduced tease ground handling ‘on busy Amtrips. Certain sicraf, howeter, such a= that show. ia ow Oi, carried the number of thei unit at te top af the Fuilder; and many photographs of Junkers of IVT show the number on the fudder, surmousted by a Stall badges iivew Os. ‘The designation “Rat gave way 10 he moe logical" tansporegeschwader” in May 1943 "Fowards the end ofthe war, with heavy tosses and a deyper- te nce for transport of al iypes to support crumbling frat ney craft offing schools tad civilan organtations were frequently pressed into service; four-lewer radio cal sign lan registrations, an school cies were observed gaara gered hut fee in Scrich “Transport g 3 MARITIME UNITS ‘The Kiisten Flieger Gruppen, while administered as part of the Luftwaffe, often included mixed air force naval crews and operated in the closest collaboration with the Navy. In the pre-war years their machines were painted overall in RLM. grey, both above and below, and marked with a unique style ‘of code, No complete Geschwader was ever formed in this branch of the service, so the second. number of the five character cod was replaced by “O", The thre Stall of each Gruppe had separate duties and equipments 1 Staffel ‘was the reconnaissance force and operated He 60 and He 42 machines; 2 Staffel used Do 32 and Do 18 flying boats; and the multi-purpose 3 Staffel used He so and He 115 floatplazes, ‘Thus the code of an He 59 of 3./K.FLGr.706 is quoted by Ries as 60 + Br3: 6 = Luftkreis VI, Kiel (which administered all coastal units.) B = Individual aircraft lerter VII Gruppe; the seventh Gruppe formed in Luftkreis VI 3 =3 Staffel At the beginning of the war the RLM grey colour scheme ave Way 10 a conventional splinter pattern of two shades of fren, Nos. 72 and 73, on all upper and side surfaces, with pale blue undersides; and a four character code identified the Aircraft in the usual way, the first (wo characters referring (0Black-oreen covers all upper and side surtaces of these Junkers Ju 52/3m snsports of /1/KGr2 BV 1 inflight ever the Mediterranean The Black-areen covers a! PP are {or ground handling purposes. and have no cbvious connection with the unit detai—uniess the 8” refers Pes fuer that this n'8 State avcrat. confirmed by ts code 124-HN. (U.S. National Archives), the Gruppe. From 1941 onwards the splinter was replaced by Overall green No. 72; and maritime bomber units, a few of Which operated in the torpedo-dropping and mining role with Ju 8 alfcraft, were later to add the pale blue “scribble” of the ‘wave-mirror pattern to the basic ‘An example of the tarlier 1940 scheme is shown as view MS; this Dornier was shot down during the Battle of Britain, ‘Air-sea rescue units, or Seenotstaffeln, usually employed the Heinkel He 59 floatplane painted in an ambulance scheme — see view Mand carrying civil registration letters, although Some of the duties they carried out are the subject of some controversy RECONNAISSANCE UNITS ‘The Luftwaffe’s Aufklarungsstaffeln were divided into two categories; the Gruppe was the basic unit, and the Gruppe ‘number was prefixed by an “F” or an “H" to indicate the Tong range of local reconnaissance nature of the duties of exch Staffel, Staffeln often operated as autonomous units far from the parent Gruppe, und each Gruppe might comprise up t0 Sixdifferent Staffein, with several types of aircraft on strength, “The fist unit was formed in 1936, its aircraft painted and marked. in all. respects similarly to contemporary bomber tunits. A small force of Dornier Do 17 and Heinkel He 70 dhircraft was sent to Spain in the summer of 1937 a8 “A.88", the Condor Legion's reconnaissance Staffel. Photographs indicate that the Dorniers were painted in the three-colour segment scheme and the Heinkels in pale grey with black Coulings; the usual markings and codes, were carried, the type umber of the Dorniers being "27" and that of the Heinkels being “tq”. A handful of short-range Henschel Hs tabs wete also delivered to the Legion, with the type number 229 marked on their segment Camouflage; and some Fi 156 ‘Storch general duties machines were sometimes used for local Fecoanaissance, painted pale grey, with the type number a “The reorganisation of markings in the immediate pre-war period resulted in the reconnaissance units receiving normal Four character codes; the first two characters identified the Gruppe, the third and fourth the individual aircraft and the Stailel ‘respectively. ‘The Fernauklarungsstaffeln used a variety of alreraft types, usually camera-equipped versions of the Ju 88, the Do 17 and Do 215, and the Bf 110; BE 1098 were used by a few Staffeln, and were finished in the normal Factory scheme with a single identification letter painted ahead of or behind the fuselage cross, in the same way as the Sehlachtgeschwader. Short-range units employed the Hs 126 in mont eae lthough the Store and the Te 189 wee also ‘used in some numbers. ‘Camouflage and markings closely paralleled other branches of the service. Aircraft types tended to follow the marking practices of parallel units using the same types—i.e.»a Ju 88D Ffoonnalssaiice aircraft would be indistinguishable in appear tance from a Ju 88A bomber in the same zone of operations, xcept for specific code and insignia, ‘The standard splinter Gattern predominated, with the obvious exception of the BE To's factory-applied mottle scheme. All the usual geographi- Gl variations were to be observed; colour view Mg illustrates, ‘a typical Henschel in the desert. This example has one interesting feature; the second, rather than the third letter of the code has been painted in the Staffel colour, either through terror or personal whim, This underlines once more the Timited value of rigid application of regulations when identify. ing photographs of German aircraft. The Fw 189 illustrated ‘as J6 displays a local scheme designed to hide the aircraft Operating over the broken ground and ice floes of the White Sea coast; these wave-mirror patterns were not unustal ‘among reconnaissance units. Other Types of aircraft, the myriad varieties of foreign and German thachines employed by second-echelon units and testablishments in all areas of operations, generally followed the basic practices already described, depending upon type and area. They are often identifiable by the code; the factory frequentiy delivered machines still marked in a four-letter radio call sign code, used during manufacturers’ test pro- grammes; and when the first two characters of « code appear {fo be two letters rather than a letter-number combination, js a reasonable supposition that the aircraft did not serve’ as combat equipment. ‘There are—naturally!—exceptions. The i 156 Storch, a general duties type popular throughout the [Luftwaffe and German Army, was observed in literally scores of different finishes, and one of the most attractive is shown as juadron “hack” operated by ‘cheme was obviously raining colour schemes, including a liberal use of yellow, for high visibility. View Ng illustrates a forcign type in second line finish, view Ng in a front-line scheme. Gliders are a special case, and the typical scheme is iflus- fated as O7, This Gotha displays a greyidack grey splinter pattern on the top surfaces, with sides mottled in grey and RLM grey. "The usual Russian theatre yellow areas are ‘apparent, and the numbers refer to individual aircraft 9 of the {st Staffel of the Schleppgruppe. ‘An additional symbol, again for ground handling purposes, epovars shorts of 6/KG2bV 2 in Sicily during 1888—the Binck snawhite angle above the swastika on the fin, ad fepeatog onthe wing leading edges. Note the white unda:-wingtips and fower segments of the engine rings. (US. National Archives)Peter + nem i ge [ont stantSEE COLOUR PAGE F, VOL!minsicua iL q 5 ia Il IN SERIES UNIT LUFTWAFFE Vese BBs Ose Vet o6 ABET! o410ee SB=FUG a fo)— =8 120, Norway, 1942 Fes Upper surfaces Black GreenPray cT ow =~av yoso o a,AIRCAM AVIATION SERIES Each publication in the original AIRCAM series illustrates fone type or major sub-type of a famous aircraft in the colour schemes and markings of the Air Forces of the World. Each issue contains eight pages of colour side- view illustrations with supporting black and white plan view drawings showing whare necessary both upper and under surfaces, one hundred-plus half-tone photographs. more than half of which have never previously been published, and between three and seven thousand words of text, The AIRCAM SPECIALS cover a wide renge of subjects from the three single-seat fighters of the Battle of Britain to present day Aerobatic Teams. Air Force Histories and Air Force Colour Schemes and Markings, and the Specials will have new titles added at rogular intervals. The content of Specials will vary. depending fon subject to between five and ten thousand words and between fifty and one hundred half-tone photographs: all will have eight full colour pages. ev eoe " 2 13 14 North American P-61D Mustang Republic P-47 Thunderbolt North American Mustang Mk 1/IV North American P-51B and D Mustang Supermarine Spitfire Mk 1/XVI, Merlin Engine North American P-51 8/C Mustang Curtiss (P-40) Kittyhawk Mk /IV Curtiss P-40 Warhawk Supermarine Spitfire—Griffon Engine Spad Scouts Lockheed P-38 Lightning Consolidated B-24 Liberator Avro Lancaster Nakajima Ki.43 Republic F/RF-84F Thunderstreak/Thunderflash Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Mitsubishi A6M-Zero-Sen North American F-86A/H Sabre ol. 1 Nakajima Ki.27/Manshu Ki.79 Grumman F6F3/5 Hellcat Canadair Sabre Mk 1/VI: Vol 2 Commonwealth Sabre Mk 30/32 Kawasaki Ki.61-1/1I| Hien/Ki.100 North American B-25C/H. Vought F4U-1/7 Corsair icane Mk 1/IV 44-1a/Ilb Shoki Hawker Hunter Douglas A-4 Skyhawk De Ha Nakajima Ki.84 Hayate MeDonnell F-4 Phantom Hawker Hui Nakajima land Mosquito AIRCAM ‘SPECIALS’ st s2 s5 s7 SB Battle of Britain The Supermarine Spire, Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt BETOBE, Finnish Air Force ‘A complete history of the Finnish Air Force fram formation te the present day Sharkmouth in two Volumes. The history of the SHARKMOUTH markings from ie ongin inthe German At Force in Oe fst World War to tho present day Czechoslovakian Air Force 1918-1970 A pictorial history of the Crechosiovakian Air Force through ‘wo World Wars to the presant ay Luftwaffe Colour Schemes & Markings 1935-1945, Vol. 1. Fighters and Ground Attack types Aerobatic Teams 1950-1970 Vol Luftwaffe: Colour Schemes & Markings 1936-1945. Vol. 2. Bombers Reconnaissance, Matiime. Training and. Liaison types Royal Netherlands Air Force Belgian Air Force Regia Aeronau Colour Schemes & Matkings. Vol. 1. Fighter Attack typos sand Ground Colour Schemes & Maritime, Tran United States Army Air Force Bombardment Group Identification Markings and Cages yoai-1948, Aerobatic Teams 1950-1970 Vol. 2 Netherlands East Indies Air Force West German Luftwaffe Battle of Brita Battle of Britai Bombers Vol | Bombers vol 2 Front Cover, top to bottom— Blonm und vost By 138C-1. un unknown Focke Wull Fw 1908-6, probably JG 2 Richthofen’ Tr Henschel Hs 1208-3, Gruppe. Sta Focke Wull Fw 2000-3 Condor, 1st Staifel Feraukarungsgruppe 120, Norway, 1942 19e4a6 v(P2)/G 9, Russ He 1ITH_KG 4 ‘General Wever, Rusts 1043-4 ing wnt, Tiiquovl, France 1943, SBN 85085 083 0 Not forsale in USA