I'd like to know about the origin of JG54 staffel's emblem.

[jun]

First of all, I apologize for my bad English because I used a translator. Nice to meet you. I'm a retired soldier in the Korean tank unit, and I recently became interested in WW2. In particular, I became interested in the WW2 German Air Force unit called JG54, of which I would like to ask about the shape and origin of the emblem of 7, 8, and 9 Staffel.

In the case of the 7th Staffel, it looks like Hermes' shoes are combined with the symbol of Hamburg. The 8th Staffel features a red bird, and the 9th Staffel features the head of the Red Devil. Some say it symbolizes the region of origin, and I wonder if it's right, and I also want to know what exactly these three figures represent and what they mean. thank you!

 

[Snautzer01]

Hi and Welcome.

Good question. I am not near my books right now but i am sure some one can answer this.
Perhaps Wurger has a moment.

 

[Wurger]

The 7./JG54, 8./JG54 and 9./JG54 were the Staffelen of the III Gruppe of the JG54. All of them belonged to the JG21, I Gruppe earlier. The JG21 was formed on 15th July 1939 based at the Jesau airfield near Königsberg, Eastern Prussia. The emblem of the unit was the "Jesau Kreuz" ...

and consisted of :

Stab I./JG21
1./JG21
2./JG21
3./JG21

On the 6th July 1940 the I./JG21 became the Third Gruppe of the JG54 ( III./JG54 ) ...

Stab I./JG21 became Stab III./JG54
1./JG21 became 7./JG54
2./JG21 became 8./JG54
3./JG21 became 9./JG54

The "Jesau Kreuz" emblem of the I./JG21 was adobted by the III./JG54. The 7 and 8 Staffel "inherited" the emblems of the 1 and 2./JG21 while the "Hunting Falcon " of the 3./JG21 was changed to the one with the dvil's head in the shield called the "Grinning Devil's Head". I may be wrong but initially the emblem could be a personal one used by Hans Ekkehard Bob ( or he was the authour of the badge ) who served just in the 3./JG21. In October 1940, he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 54 for a short period and then he became the Staffelkapitän of 9./JG54. The 3./JG21 (9./JG54} was known as the "Devils Squadron" and the name seems to be given because of the heavy fights over the Poland and France in 1939-1940. But certainly it could be because of the emblem that seems to be introduced in early 1940.

The 1./JG21 (7./JG54), from late 1939 to the end of Battle of Britain, was stationed near the Germen-Netherlands bordrline, and to remember it, the Staffel applied the emblem of the "Winged Clog" at the beginning of the 1940. After the 1./JG21 had become the 7./JG54 the Staffel emblem was improved in early 1942 and the "Flying Clog" was superimposed to Coat of Arms of Hamburg.

The emblem of the 2./JG21 (8./JG54) was a red-white sparrow IIRC.

There are known three variants of the 7./G54 emblem , also two ones of the 8./JG54 and two of the 9 Staffel.

7./JG54

8./JG54

9./G54

 

[jun]

The 7./JG54, 8./JG54 and 9./JG54 were the Staffelen of the III Gruppe of the JG54. All of them belonged to the JG21, I Gruppe earlier. The JG21 was formed on 15th July 1939 based at the Jesau airfield near Königsberg, Eastern Prussia. The emblem of the unit was the "Jesau Kreuz" ...

View attachment 754431

and consisted of :

Stab I./JG21
1./JG21
2./JG21
3./JG21

On the 6th July 1940 the I./JG21 became the Third Gruppe of the JG54 ( III./JG54 ) ...

Stab I./JG21 became Stab III./JG54
1./JG21 became 7./JG54
2./JG21 became 8./JG54
3./JG21 became 9./JG54

The "Jesau Kreuz" emblem of the I./JG21 was adobted by the III./JG54. The 7 and 8 Staffel "inherited" the emblems of the 1 and 2./JG21 while the "Hunting Falcon " of the 3./JG21 was changed to the one with the dvil's head in the shield called the "Grinning Devil's Head". I may be wrong but initially the emblem could be a personal one used by Hans Ekkehard Bob ( or he was the authour of the badge ) who served just in the 3./JG21. In October 1940, he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 54 for a short period and then he became the Staffelkapitän of 9./JG54. The 3./JG21 (9./JG54} was known as the "Devils Squadron" and the name seems to be given because of the heavy fights over the Poland and France in 1939-1940. But certainly it could be because of the emblem that seems to be introduced in early 1940.

The 1./JG21 (7./JG54), from late 1939 to the end of Battle of Britain, was stationed near the Germen-Netherlands bordrline, and to remember it, the Staffel applied the emblem of the "Winged Clog" at the beginning of the 1940. After the 1./JG21 had become the 7./JG54 the Staffel emblem was improved in early 1942 and the "Flying Clog" was superimposed to Coat of Arms of Hamburg.

The emblem of the 2./JG21 (8./JG54) was a red-white sparrow IIRC.

There are known three variants of the 7./G54 emblem , also two ones of the 8./JG54 and two of the 9 Staffel.

7./JG54
View attachment 754432

8./JG54
View attachment 754412

9./G54
View attachment 754413

thank you so much!!

 

[Wurger]

My pleasure.

 

[stona]

Be careful not to confuse the 3./JG 21 and later 9./JG 54 devil's head with the very similar emblem of 2./JG 26 (before the colour was changed).

People who should know better have done so

 

[Wurger]

Actually the 2./JG26 devil's head emblem was just the head only without the shield as the background. But a good point, Steve.