Squadron recognition

Balkenkreuz

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

Junkers Ju 88 with L1 AA of the Lehrgeschwader 1

Heinkel He 111 with A1 BT of Kampfgeschwader 53

Dornier Do 17 of Kampfgeschwader 3

Focke-Wulf Fw 200 with F8 GH of Kampfgeschwader 40

Messerschmitt Me 110 with 3C GR of the 4th night fighter squadron

A complete list of all IDs used can be found here.

squadron	Identifier
Training Squadron 1	L1
Training Squadron 2	L2
Combat Squadron 1	V4
Combat Squadron 2	U5
Combat Squadron 3	5K
Combat Squadron 4	5Y
Combat Squadron 6	K6
Combat Squadron 25	E6
Combat Squadron 26	1H
Combat Squadron 27	1G
Kampfgeschwader 28	2F
Combat Squadron 30	4D
Kampfgeschwader 40	F8
Kampfgeschwader 50	E8
Combat Squadron 51	9K
Combat Squadron 53	A1
Kampfgeschwader 54	B3
Combat Squadron 55	G1
Combat Squadron 60	P1
Combat Squadron 66	Z6
Combat Squadron 76	F1
Kampfgeschwader 77	3Z
Kampfgeschwader 100	6N
Combat Squadron 101	5T
Combat Squadron 102	A8
Combat Squadron 200	A3
Sturzkampfgeschwader 1	A5
Dive Squadron 2	T6
Dive Squadron 3	H7, S7
Dive Squadron 5	J9
Sturzkampfgeschwader 51	6G
Sturzkampfgeschwader 76	S1
Sturzkampfgeschwader 77	S2
Schnellkampfgeschwader 210	S9
Transport Squadron 1	1Z
Transport Squadron 2	G6
Transport squadron 3	9P
Transport squadron 4	G6
Transport squadron 5	C8
Airborne Squadron 1	H4
Airborne Squadron 2	F7
Night Fighter Squadron 1	G9
Night Fighter Squadron 2	R4, 4R
Night Fighter Squadron 3	D5
Night Fighter Squadron 4	3C
Night Fighter Squadron 5	C9
Night Fighter Squadron 6	2Z
Destroyer Squadron 1	2Y
Destroyer Squadron 2	A2, 3M
Destroyer Squadron 26	U8, 3U
Destroyer Squadron 52	A2
Destroyer Squadron 76	M8, 2N

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

• Aircraft registration
• Association badge of the Air Force

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

1. ↑ Karl Ries Jr .: Markings and camouflages of the Luftwaffe, Volume 1 , p. 17.
2. ↑ List of all squadron identifications on luftarchiv.de
3. ↑ License plates for powered aircraft, helicopters and cargo gliders from 1939 to 1945