TO:      ALL
FROM:    KEITH HEITMANN   (GVXV90A)
SUBJECT: SWOTL GROUP

Jagdwaffe: Organization and Aircraft Identification Markings

 The basic tactical element in the Jagdwaffe (Fighter arm)
was the Rotte,  consisting of two aircraft. Two rotten
formed a Schwarm and three or four  Schwarms made a Staffel.
Similarly, three Staffeln formed a Gruppe and  three or four
Gruppen formed the largest mobile, homogneous unit in the
Jagdwaffe, the Jagdgeschwader. The sizes of gruppen and
Jagdgeschwadern  varied depending upon the tactical
objective and the number of aircraft  and pilots available.
Although the Geschwader was under a single command,  it did
not necessarily operate as a unit from the same base, or
even from  the same front. The Jagdwaffe was a verly
flexible organization, and th e subunits of Gruppe and even
Staffel were often distributed to various  assignments
hundreds of miles apart, as the tactical situation demanded.
 For identification purposes, each Jagdgeschwader was given
an arabic numeral  preceded by the abbreviation for
Jagdgeschwader, JG. Therefore,  Jagdgeschwader number 51
would be writtenas JG51. The Gruppen were given  Roman
numerals which appeared before the Jagdgeschwader
identification but  separated from it with a slash. II
Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 would be  writtn as II/JG51.  An
Arabic numeral was given to each Staffel, and it was also
written before  the Jagdgeschwader identification thus:
3/JG51 for Staffel 3 of JG51. The  Staffel is identified
relative to the Jagdgeschwader in leiu f the Gruppe. The
reason that it was not confusing to identify the Staffel in
this manner  is because specific Staffeln are assigned to
each Gruppe, and once the  pattern is memorized, the Staffel
written identification tells at a glance  the Gruppe and
Geschwader as well. Stafeln 1,2, and 3 were assigned to
Gruppe  I; Staffeln 4, 5, and 6 to Gruppe II; Staffeln 7, 8,
and 9 to Gruppe III,  Staffeln 10, 11, 12 to Gruppe IV.
Therefore 3/JG51 tells us that it refers to  the 3rd Staffel
in the I Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51. With this arrangement,
 it was necessary to really identify the various aircraft in
the Staffel and  a combination of colors and numbers was
developed. the planes in each staffel  were number from 1 to
12. This number appeared on the fuselage side between  the
cockpit and the cross. Staffeln 1, 4, 7, and 10 used white
numbers; 2,4,  8, and 11 used red numbers; 3, 6, 9, and 12
used yellow numbers. Similarly,  each Gruppe was given an
identification symbol located on the fuselage  between the
cross and tail. I Gruppe had no symbol; II Gruppe was
assigned a  horizontal bar; III Gruppe at the onset used a
horizontal wavy bar and later  switched to a vertical bar;
IV Gruppe initially used a round dot, but this  was often
confused with the British roundel or corcarde insignia and
was  soon changed to a small latin cross. This system told
the viewer at a glance  the pilot, staffel, and Gruppe; for
example a plane sporting a white 3 and a  vertical bar is
aircraft No.3 from Staffel 7 in Gruppe III, because we know
 that Staffels 7, 8, 9 are assigned to Gruppe III, but only
Staffel 7 uses  white numbers. Staffelkapitan generally flew
plane No.1 in his Staffel.  Special symbols were assigned
for the Geschwaderkommodore and his staff, while  similar,
but not identical symbols were used for the
Gruppenkommandeur and  their staffs. Geschwader and Gruppen
staff flew in the own Schwarm rather  than part of an
integrated group. Staff markings were black with white
outlines.                           Keith Heitmann, GVXV90A


FROM:    KEITH HEITMANN   (GVXV90A)
SUBJECT: SWOTL GROUP

Depending on the period of the war here are some markings
for the Luftwaffe.(As best as Prodigy graphics will allow)
Geschwader Kommodore:
<<- + -  ("+" is the national cross, "-" horizontal bar)
<<l +    ("<"=chevron)        ----------------------------
Geschwader Adjutant:          | Geschwader markings were |
<l +     ("l"=vertical bar)   | black with white outline |
Geschwader Operations Officer:|--------------------------|
<- +
Geschwader Technical Officer:
<lO + ("O" is a large letter "o")
Geschwader Staff Major:
<ll +                         ----------------------------
I Gruppe Kammandeur:          | Gruppe markings were in  |
<< +                          | the color of their gruppe|
I Gruppe Adjutant:            | or black and white.      |
< +                           |--------------------------|
I Gruppe Techincal Officer:
<O +
II Gruppe Kammandeur:
<< + -
II Gruppe Adjutant:
< + -
II Gruppe Technical Officer:
<O + -
II Gruppe Staffel 6 "Yellow 2"
2 + - (yellow, except for national cross)
III Gruppe Kommandeur
<< + w or l ("w"=horizontal wavy line; "l"=vertical bar)
III Gruppe Adjutant:
< + w or l
III Gruppe Technical Officer:
<O + w or l
III Gruppe Staffel 7 "White 3"
3 + w or l (white; except for national cross)
IV Gruppe Kammandeur:
<< + * or + ("*"=large dot; "+"=small cross white outline)
IV Gruppe Adjutant:
< + * or +
IV Gruppe Technical Officer:
<O + * or +
IV Gruppe Staffel 11 "Red 9"
9 + * or +
These are the official markings used by all Luftwaffe
fighter aircraft. However, Luftwaffe markings for fighter
aircraft that served in the ground attack role differed
quite a bit. A Fw190G-3 from the one of the Schlacht
("Slaughter") or ground attack units had the markings like
this: S + - (yellow; except for national cross). This
aircraft was from the II/SG10, 2nd Gruppe of Schlacht
Geschwader 10. Yellow wing tips on the bottom of the wings
was common on the Eastern front.Some Schlacht aircraft used
a yellow "V" on the underside of the port wing tip.This was
for ground identification so they wouldn't be shot at by
their own troops.The top part of the "V" would wrap around
the leading edge and go back over the top of the wing about
1/3 of the way. Individual unit badges, personal markings
and so on had to be approved by the Geschwader Kommodore.
The Abbeville Kids (JG26) had yellow spinners and nose area
on all their 109s. Helmut Wick had a white spinner and nose
with a red penant and sword painted on it.
                                    Keith Heitmann, GVXV90A

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