Sinisa Sestanovic

You are most welcome, Goran . I believe that you are right, it is likely that the JG5 reorganization at that late stage of war did not prompt certain Staffeln to change their identification number colours, hence the usual colour-code sequence used for the individual Staffel identification no longer applies. Perhaps the photo shows the 5./JG5 Fw190A aircraft then. Best Regards, Sidney

Hi Goran, I tend to agree with you that the aircraft did not belong to 16./JG5. With reference to Michael Holm here one can find the following info: "In 2.45 13./JG5 became 9./JG5 and was transferred to III./JG5, and a new 13./JG5 was formed from the old 16./JG5. IV./JG5 now had: 13./JG5, 14./JG5 and 15./JG5". It appears that what was left of the JG5 fighter strength in Norway after February 1945 (i.e. II./JG5, III./JG5 and IV./JG5) was reduced in strength to three Staffeln per each Gruppe. If the above is correct, 16./JG5 did not exist at the end of the war. For the III./JG5 at that time, it says: "In 2.45 9/JG5 became 5./JG5, 12./JG5 became 7./JG5, and a new 9./JG5 was formed from 13./JG5. III./JG5 now had: 9./JG5, 10./JG5 and 11./JG5". If the above is correct, 12./JG5 did not exist at the end of the war. Further reference is made to http://www.luftwaffe.no/SIG/1945/werk.html Information about Werk.no of Luftwaffe aircrafts left in Norway 10.8.45: 21 nos. Fw190 at Herdla belonged to Stab II/JG5; 5./JG5 and 9./JG5. 7 nos. Fw190 at Kjevik and 20 nos. Fw190 at Lister: These Fw190 at Kjevik and Lister arrived Norway 5.5.45 from Denmark and Germany. Mainly from JG11, JG26 and NJG11. Thus, it would appear that the Fw190's from the photo belonged to either Stab II./JG5, 5./JG5 or 9./JG5. Regards, Sidney

Goran, Fw190 #2 I believe that there is at least a possibility that 'Blue 12' belonged to 16./JG5. It is a pity that we cannot see a circle (III./JG5) or wavy line (IV./JG5) for positive identification. Regards, Sidney

This might be more interesting issue than I thought initially. Both 2./JG52 and 5./JG52 were the 2nd Staffeln in I./JG52 and II./JG52 respectively, and both used identification numerals in black during the BoB. With reference to Jochen Prien and others "JV der Deutschen LW 1934-1945", page 158, the loss list of II./JG52 actually listed Bf109E-1, WNr. 3367, "Red 14" piloted by Uffz. Leo Zauenbrecher of 5./JG52 being lost on 12 August 1940. Perhaps some of the LEMB Experten can shed more lights on the issue. Regards, Sidney

Gents... Bf109 No.2 here: In spite of the 5./JG52 emblem on the engine cowling, the aircraft is reported to have belonged to 2./JG52 and was piloted by Uffz. Leo Zaunbrecher. With reference to Eric Mombeek's Jagdwaffe series of books - Battle of Britain Phase One, pages 68 and 69, the aircraft was apparently marked "red 14". Was not able to identify the numeral "1" from the available photographic evidence though, only "4". Once again, thank you for the effort. Regards, Sidney

John, Just a quick query, those photos showing Fw190's of JG6 - was there the former ZG26 "Horst Wessel" emblem applied on these aircraft? Regards, Sidney

I would agree with Chris that the tactical markings, including the "wavy"-line behind the Balkenkreuz, indicate that this Bf109E-4 or Bf109E-7 would be the "yellow 5" belonging to the 9th Staffel of an unknown third Gruppe. Not exactly sure if it was 9./JG2 though, but there is a possibility that it was the case. It is likely that this was a transferred aircraft awaiting the tactical markings repaint. Regards, Sidney

Peter, The 7./JG2 emblem was discarded sometime in the summer of 1941 along with all the other JG2 emblems, including herewith the Geschwader emblem. It bore the distinction of being the only III./JG2 Staffel emblem re-introduced with the advent of Fw190A-1/A-2 in service sometime in the spring/summer of 1942. From the available photographic evidence it is difficult to say when it was finally discarded, but I believe that it was still applied on the Staffel's Fw190A-4's, so my estimate would be winter 1942-43. Regards, Sidney

Franck, I believe that this is one of the early Friedrich's prototypes (note the rectangular supercharger intake) based on the Bf109E-1 airframe, with the spinner cap removed. The absence of the radiator does seem strange though. Regards, Sidney