9./ZG26 Historical Images

[jojovtx]

So why is the 9./ZG26 110 showing 3U LT? I see that it is in yellow. Man this stuff is so confusing. As organised as the Germans were in WW2 they sure didn't seem to have much in the way of standard for aircraft markings.

[aelius]

My own understanding is tenuous at best, but "3U" designates the unit code (ZG26); "L" the letter of the aircraft in the color of the Staffel, which is yellow; and "T" 9 Staffel.

As Ilya and company say in the Pilot's Notes to Cliffs of Dover: "The tactical markings system for the Luftwaffe in WWII must have been designed by a mad genius."

[csThor]

And if you think there was order in the german system ... forget it. While researching the units, markings and emblems for CloD I stumbled across numerous exceptions to the standard rules ... for example I./KG 1 continued to use the tactical codes of a IV. Gruppe (it had been IV./KG 255 before). Same goes for a number of Stuka units and even some destroyers. The BoB, in that respect, was pretty wild and chaotic since a lot of units had been amalgamated into new units right before the battle.

[SNAFU]

That seem to reflect the amateurish organization of the LW and its aristrocratic affectation quite well, or not? (At least compared to Dowdings staff.)

[csThor]

No really. In fact it's simply a sign of restructuring. The peace-time unit designation system was based on the static Luftgaue (or Luftflotten) - which was simply too inflexible for a war. The Battle of France had shown that unified Geschwader structures were better than individual Gruppen assigned to "foreign" Stäbe ... a unified Geschwader identity did not only promise better morale and cohesion but also simplified supply and operational details.