CX/MSS/T209/34

Signed IA No. 718. Dated 7/6:

Subject: marking of a/c.

The Staffel to report by 0700/8/6 to FAG 123:

A) Present marking of a/c.

B) (B% Whether) in present battle conditions, the necessity for special markings exists.

C) If necessity exists, suggestions for this marking are to be made. For example, yellow paint on the outside third of the underside of the wing, of the engine projection or of the tail unit, spirals on the propeller (smudge) of fighter a/c, white or yellow rings on the fuselage etc.

NOTE: Source believes above to be addressed to 4.(F)/123.

CX/MSS/T209/183

((1)) Stamped 8/6, No. 213/44:

Subject: identification marks of our a/c.

Lower part of cockpit cover and side fins yellow. Cross on fuselage and wings. Upper and lower fuselage blue identification figures will suffice.

Take-off so far not possible, as the airfield continually being flown over.

04.30 hours [GMT] low-level attack on our a/c (plural) while taxying to take-off. No damage.

((2)) To IA from Met Recce Staffel [Wekusta] 51, Nr. 358 on 8/6:

Subject: Identification of a/c (plural)

A) Camouflage paint for sea with cross and letters.

B) No. Yellow paint would reduce the camouflage over the sea.

NOTE:

1) FAG 123 requested a report by 8/6 on suitability of a/c camouflage (T209/43).

2) Source is almost certain ((1)) was addressed to Recce Gr. 123 and beileves it was sent by 4.(F)/123.

HQ British Second Army to 30 Corps at 06.00 hours: "PHANTOM [GHQ Liaison Regiment] report enemy marking black and white lines on Me 109 and Fw 190 wings. Source US 4 Div."

CX/MSS/T225/88

On 23/6, from ABIOC ((C% JG)) 27 to 5 ((Jagddiv.)) ((IA Ops)):

Ref: your communication 1006:

Proposal: Propeller (boss) painted as a spiral and whole tail unit white.

CX/MSS/T227/74

Dated 25/6, addressed to (Roman) II/11, Technical Officer:

From now on a/c are to have only the following markings: a spiral in the airscrew spinner, a cross, a tactical number and Gruppenbalken. All other markings such as bands around the fuselage £ Bauchbinden £, yellow engine cowlings and tail units etc. are to be removed immediately. Report that this has been done to the Geschwader Technical Officer by 2000/26/6.

NOTES:

1) Source believes that the above was from Stab JG 1.

2) It is not clear how wide application of this order was. But it may be noted that on 23/6 JG 27 submitted a proposal about aircraft markings to 5 JD (T225/88).

Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv RL 2-I/80

Chief of Luftwaffe Operations Staff, Ia Nr. 4532/44 g.Kdos. 20. Ang.

Day’s events on 25 June 1944 …

9. 2145 hrs. General Koller – Oberst i.G. Christian

According to radio monitoring it is very difficult for the English to distinguish their own planes from FZG 76 missiles, so it is proposed to make it still harder for the enemy by marking the 76 missiles with the invasion colours of Allied aircraft (black-white stripes)

10. 2240 hrs. General Koller – Oberst von Below

General Koller asks the Führer to instruct that the FZG 76 should be marked with the black-white stripes (not the national insignia) of Allied planes.

0040 hrs. Oberst von Below sends word that the Führer agrees to this.

Bundesarchiv RH 19-XII/2

Luftflottenkommando 3 Fhr.Abt./Ia Flieg. Nr. 10209/44.g.kdos. v. 26.6.44

By order of OKL, the yellow recognition markings used on our aircraft until now no longer apply.

Additional recognition markings only on fighter, ground attack and reconnaissance aircraft. Black-white spirals on the spinner.

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