I've seen lots of explanations of the 'Grunherz' emblem of JG 54, including the reference to Trautloft's origins in Thuringia. Whilst reading excerpts from Hannes Trautloft's diary, the man who would later command the unit, I found an interesting entry from his time in Spain, which confirms this.
In December 1936 the then Leutnant Trautfloft drove to Seville to test fly the Bf 109 V3. He actually eventually flew V4 as V3 was damaged in an accident the day before he arrived.
On 13th December 1936 he wrote:
"We are still not in war paint. I have removed the top hat we painted on our machines until now and had a green heart painted on the aircraft instead. Thuringia, my home country and the green heart of Germany, should be here too."
There you have it from the horse's mouth so to speak. The emblem wouldn't reappear until 1941 and Barbarossa.
Cheers
Steve
In December 1936 the then Leutnant Trautfloft drove to Seville to test fly the Bf 109 V3. He actually eventually flew V4 as V3 was damaged in an accident the day before he arrived.
On 13th December 1936 he wrote:
"We are still not in war paint. I have removed the top hat we painted on our machines until now and had a green heart painted on the aircraft instead. Thuringia, my home country and the green heart of Germany, should be here too."
There you have it from the horse's mouth so to speak. The emblem wouldn't reappear until 1941 and Barbarossa.
Cheers
Steve
