Squadron recognition
The squadron identifier was a specific identifier for almost all air force squadrons during the Second World War . An exception was equipped with single engine fighter squadron and some training organizations. The identification system described here was introduced in the air force units at the end of 1938.
The identification of a squadron consisted of a number and a letter and was affixed in front of the cross on the fuselage and under the wings of the aircraft. The two letters after the cross marked the further position of the aircraft within the squadron. The season was indicated by the fourth letter. The third letter stood for the individual machine identification within a scale. This resulted in a four-digit number / letter combination that was only assigned once within the Air Force at a certain point in time.
Examples for this are:
- L1 AA = Lehrgeschwader 1 / Geschwaderstaff, aircraft A ( Geschwaderkommodore )
- A1 BT = Kampfgeschwader 53 / 9th Squadron, aircraft B
Squadron IDs
A complete list of all IDs used can be found here.
Scale IDs
Squadron unit | Identifier |
---|---|
Squadron staff | A (before blue letter) |
I. Group / staff | B (before green letter) |
II. Group / staff | C (green) |
III. Group / staff | D (green) |
IV. Group / staff | E (green) |
V. Group / staff | F (green) |
1st season | H (white) |
2nd season | K (red) |
3rd season | L (yellow) |
4th season | M (white) |
5th season | N (red) |
6th season | P (yellow) |
7th season | R (white) |
8th season | S (red) |
9th season | T (yellow) |
10th season | U (white) |
11th season | V (red) |
12th season | W (yellow) |
13th season | X (white) |
14th season | Y (red) |
15th season | Z (yellow) |
See also
literature
- Karl Ries Jr .: Markings and camouflages of the Luftwaffe, Volume 1 , Verlag Dieter Hoffmann, 3rd edition 1971.
- Wolfgang Dierich: The Air Force Associations 1935-1945 , Heinz Nickel Verlag, ISBN 3-925480-15-3 .
- John Weal: Luftwaffe Markings, Part 1 , in Wings of Fame, Vol. 16, pp. 148-157.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Karl Ries Jr .: Markings and camouflages of the Luftwaffe, Volume 1 , p. 17.
- ↑ List of all squadron identifications on luftarchiv.de
- ↑ License plates for powered aircraft, helicopters and cargo gliders from 1939 to 1945