Luftwaffe Aircraft Camouflage and Markings

So dear Wilbur1 don't drink so much, because you could sign something what could be used against you.


Njaco it is a nice link to a nice site. THX

As Charles has suggested here some LW markings used for markings of Gruppen,commanders etc...

Hi everyone,

Great thread. I'm wondering about Luftwaffe camouflage and markings during the Siege of Malta, specifically the JU-88s and BF Me-109s. As they were re-assigned from the eastern front to Malta, would they have been repainted the tropical camouflage of their North African counterparts? Would that have happened immediately at the beginning of that campaign or gradually throughout?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I thought Charles might have meant emblems. Too many to post but these links show a few. Unsure if most are correct.

Luftwaffe Emblems

LW - Geschwader

Luftwaffe Emblems Part 1: Fighters

Possible you are right.Nice sites that can come in handy.

Some great info guys! I agree with Wojtec regarding the use of available colours, but I think natural fading of paints and repair touch-ups would also account for shade variations seen in many photos.

I once read an account of a US WW2 fighter being restored in the states (can't remember what it was), and apparently 8 different shades of Zinc Chromate were found throughout the aircraft!

As a side note, I read that in early war Luftwaffe aircraft, RLM 02 Grau was to be painted in 'all areas visible to the pilot or ground crew'. The rlm 02 was later changed to RLM 66 Schwarzgrau for cockpit areas, other areas remaining 02. Interior of fueslages, wings, etc remained natural metal, although may have been primed with RLM 00 Wassershell, a clear lacquer to prevent corrosion.

You are right A4K.RLM02 was the kind of an preservative for interior.But it was a bit later.The pre-war LF planes had their interiors in colours of materials that these were made of.The kind of Zinc Chromate paint ,which was rather a kind of chemical preservation then the paint, had been used for all aluminium sheets before RLM02 become the interior paint.It is my opinion.
You have mentioned about the US WW2 figter.I think that this situation occured because it is a feature of the kind paints.One coat - yellow metalic tonality, two layers - yellow-greenish tonalit etc....The best example is to mix some yellow Humbrol paint H154 with one drop of H11 and then add one drop more end more.Try this and notice the mixture tonality.It will be from yellow to dark green with metalic tonality.

That's a great tip mate, thanks!
For US aircraft I usually use a Humbrol 80 or similar, and mix in either 74 or 81 till I get the effect I want, greener in cockpit areas, yellower in engine bays and undercarriage wells.

Recently I used straight 81 for the engine bay of an F6F hellcat, and washed a dark grey pastel/ watercolour mix over it to darken it, especially toward the rear of the cowling. It's not a bad effect.
(I still brush paint BTW, I hope to get an airbrush this year though, -after 6 years here, it looks like I'll be sticking round for a while!)

I'll have to give your method a go to see if it's better!

Your method is also good.But as memory serves the US interior paint looked a bit different form the English and German ones.Besides if the preservative is not achieved by a chemical way its tonality depends on what a kind of a material it was painted and how many cotes there were applied.Of course a primer colour should be taken into consideration.

For early RAF aircraft (including Spitfires Mk.I-V), I prefer Humbrol 31 (enamel) for the cockpit and internal fueslage, while I prefer a mix closer to 80 for later versions. This decision was made judging by photos and available info.

For Luftwaffe aircraft, I loved the Aeromaster paints, which they stopped producing a few years back. Shame, their RLM 02 was the closest match to the original (going by original colour photos and chips). Revells 45 is too strong in hue I think, better if lightened a little with a light grey

(This is all in my opinion, of course)

Nice
For RLM02 yuo can use Gunze H70,Pactra A77,AeroMaster 1010,Testors enamel 2071,Xtracolor X201 and Lifecolor UA071.

Personally I use Humbrol 84 and add sometimes some drops of white one.

That's an interesting idea Wojtec, I'll give that a go too!

Ah I don't remember if I've mentioned it earlier but for sure you know about it.The smaller scale model is the lighter colours should be.Just to recall myself.

Want to add the codes used by the Luftwaffe. Unlike fighters, other unit types used codes on their machines to identify the unit to which they belonged. Here is a list from this site.

The Luftwaffe in Scale: Identification Codes of Luftwaffe Units 1939 - 1945

Code: Unit:
A1+ = KG 53 (Kampfgeschwader)
A2+ = I./ZG 52, (I./52nd Zerstroergeschwader, from 6.7.1940 onwards: II./ZG 2 = (II./2nd Zerstroergeschwader), Flugbereitschaft Kd.Gen.d.dt.L in
Finnland (HQ German Airforce Finland)
A3+ = KG 200 (200 Special Duties Wing), Versuchskdo. 200 (200 Trials
Unit), Versuchskdo. 36 (36 Trial Unit)
A4+ = with squadron letter .A - Luftbeobachterstaffel - 3rd fighter division,
spring / summer 1944
A5+ = 1./St.G.1 (I./1st Dive Bomber Wing), SG 1 (1st Assault Wing)
A6+ = Aufkl.Gr.120 (120 Reconnaissance Group)
A8+ = with the letters .H+.K seen on a He 111 in february 1942 at Grosetto (arial torpedo trials)

B1+ = Transport Squadron of I. Air Corps (occasionally also called Transport Squadron "Don")
B3+ = KG 54 (54 Bomber Wing)
B4+ = Night Fighter Squadron Finland
B7+ = Westa 1 (1rd Metrological Squadron)

C1+ = Test Centre Peenemünde (Me 163)
C2+ = Aufkl. Gr.41 (41st Reconaissance Group)
C3+ = Transport Squadron II. Air Corps
C5+ = Westa 26 (26th Metrological Squadron)/Lfl.6 with Squadron Letter . H
C6+ = KGr.z.b.V.600 (600 Special Duties Battle Group), Tr.FI.St.4 (4th Transport Squadron)
C8+ = I.+II./KG.z.b.V.323, TG 5 (I.+II./323 Special Duties Battle Group - 5 Transport Wing)
C9+ = NJG 5 (Nachtjagdgeschwader) also NJ 100 (100th Night Fighter Wing)

D1+ = SAGr.126 (126 Maritime Reconnaissance Wing), LD.Kdo.65 (65th Courier Detachment)
D3+ = 2nd Night Harassment Group
D5+ = NJG 3 (3rd Night Fighter Wing), frequently also with the code L1+
D7+ = Wekusta 5 (5th Metrological Squadron; from April 1943 onwards in connection with the code letter "N", previously 1B+ with the squadron letter "H")
D9+ = Night Fighter Squadron Norway, temporarily I./NJG 7

E1 - E7+ = Test Centre Rechlin (for Me 163 and Ar 234)
E8+ = 1./FKG 50

F1+ = KG 76 (76th Bomber Wing), I./St.G. 76 (I./76th Dive Bomber Wing; using the letter C,M,N,P of the II. Group as those of the I. Group had already been allocated to the I./KG 76 and, from 6.7.1940 onwards, to the III./St.G. 77)
F2+ = Erg.(F)Gr. (Long-range Reconaissance Replacment-Group)
F3+ = Aufkl.Gr.12 (12th Reconaissance Group)
F5+ = NAG 5 (5th Short-range Reconaissance Wing)
F6+ = Aufkl. Gr.122 (122th Reconaissance Group)
F7+ = I./LLG 2 (I./2nd Glider Assault Wing), SAGr. 130 (130 Maritime Reconaissance Wing; frequently also with the code 6I+)
F8+ = KG 40 (40 Bomber Wing), Transport Squadron "Condor"
G1+ = KG 55 (55 Bomber Wing)

G2+ = Aufkl.Gr.124 (124th Reconaissance Group)
G3+ = NJG 101 (101st Night Fighter Wing)
G5+ = Transport Squadron V. Air Corps
G6+ = KGrzbV.2; 101, 102, 103, 104+105 (2nd, 101st, 102nd, 103rd, 104th+105th Special Duties Battle Group), TG 4 (4th Transport Group), 1st Air Transport Group (Maritime)
G8+ = Transport Squadron IV. Air Corps
G9+ = NJG 1 (1st Night Fighter Wing), ZG 1 (1st Heavy Fighter Wing; initial formation), NJG 4 (4th Night Fighter Wing; only for a short period of time)

H1+ = Aufkl. Gr.12 (12th Reconaissance Group)
H4+ = LLG 1 (1st Glider Assault Wing)
H7+ = St.G.3 (3rd Dive Bomber Wing), SG 3 (3rd Assault Wing)
H8+ = Aufkl. Gr.33 (33rd Reconaissance Group)
H9+ = 7th Air Transport Squadron (Maritime)

J2+ = NAG 3 (3rd Short-range Reconnaissance Wing)
J4+ = 5th and 290th Air Transport Squadron
J6+ = KGr.z.b.V 500 (500 Special Duties Battle Group)
J9+ = StG 5 (5th Dive Bomber Wing), SG 5 (5th Assault Wing) (previously l./186fh Dive Bomber Wing, carrier-based, from 6.7.1940 onward III. /Dive Bomber Wing 1)

K1+ = Messenger Squadron of Ob.d.L. (High Command of Luftwaffe)
K6+ = Kü.fl.Gr.406 (406th Coastal Aviation Group) KG 6 (6th Bomber Wing).
K7+ = Aufkl.Gr.Nacht (Night Reconnaisance Group)
K9+ = Aufkl.Gr.B.d.L. (Reconnaisance Group High Command Luftwaffe) (also T5+)

L1+ = I./NJG 3(l./3rd Night Fighter Wing), I. u. IV. (Z)/LG 1 I./IV. (Heavy Fighter)/1st Instruction Wing, also I./5th Dive Bomber Wing (former IV./1st Dive Bomber Instruction Wing)
L2+ = LG 2 (2nd Instruction Wing)
L5+ = KGr.z.b.V.5 (5 Special Duties Battle Group), 7./Erg. Transportgeschwader (7./Transport Training Replacement Wing)
L7+ = seen with +AB-AF on Fi 156, Me 108 and Me 110

M2+ = Kü.fl. Gr.106 (106th Coastal Aviation Group)
M3+ = seen on a Ju 52/3m (unit ?)
M7+ = Kü.fl. G r.806 (806th Coastal Aviation Group)
M8+ = ZG 76 (76th Heavy Fighter Wing - first activation)

N1+ = High Capacity Transport Squadron from 30.1.1945 onward
N3+ = I./KGr.z.b.V.172 (I./172nd Special Duties Battle Group also 4V+)
N6+ = Unit Major Babekuhl
N7+ = seen on a Do 18 (unit ?)
N9+ = Flugbereitschaft Norwegen (Air Service Norway)

P1+ = KGr.60 (60th Battle Group)
P2+ = Aufkl. Gr.21 (21st Reconnaissance Group)
P4+ = Führungskette X. Fliegerkorps (Staff Flight X. Air Corps), Transportstaffel Fliegerführer Nord (Ost) (Transport Squadron Air Commander North (East)
P5+ = Sonderstaffel Trans-Ozean (Special Squadron Transocean), KGr.zbV. 108 (108th Special Duties Battle Group), Kdo. d. Transportfl. Chef See-Norwegen (Command of Chief. Maritim Transport Norway)

Q5+ = Westa 27 (27th Metrological Squadron)from October 1943 on, previously 5M+ together with Westa 26 (26th Metrological Squadron)/Lfl. 2 as an Squadron in Southern Greece

R4+ = 2 Night Fighter Wing

S1+ = St.G. 3 (3 Dive Bomber Wing (also S7+)
S2+ = St.G. 77, SG 77 (77 Dive Bomber Wing) (77 Assault Wing)
S3+ = KGr.z.b.V.5, Transportgruppe 30 (5th Special Duty Battle Group, 30th Transport Group)
S4+ = Kü.fl.Gr.506 (506th Coastal Aviation Group)
S7+ = St.G.3, SG 3 (3 Dive Bomber Wing, 3 Assault Wing)
S9+ = Erp.Gr.210, (at first 210th Testing Group until April 1941, then 210th Special Battle Group and from 1942 on Heavy Fighter Wing 1 together with 2N+)

T1+ = Aufkl. Gr.10 (10th Reconnaissance Group)
T3+ = 1./Bordfliegerstaffel 196 (1./Shipboard Squadron 196)
T5+ = Aufkl.St.Ob.d.L (Reconnaissance Squadron Commander-in-Chief Luftwaffe) 3.(Einsatz) Ob.d.L. (3rd Operational Squadron Commander-in-Chief Luftwaffe), Aufkl.Gr.100 (100th Reconnaissance Squadron), with last letter U = Wekusta Ob.d.L. (with last letter U = Meteorological Squadron Commander-in-Chief Luftwaffe)
T6+ = St.G.2 (2 Dive Bomber Wing), SG 2 (2 Assault Wing) mit letztem Buchstaben Z = St. Erg. St. des VIII FI.Korps (with Z as last letter = Dive Bomber Replacement Training Squadron of VIII. Air Corps).
T9+ = Experimental unit (Transport) High Command Luftwaffe, II./Experimental Unit Commander-in Chief Luftwaffe = Circus Rosarious, several special commandos

U2+ = Nachtrotte bei der NAG 5 (Night-Flight of 5 Short Range Reconnaissance Wing)
U5+ = KG 2 (2 Bomber Wing)
U8+ = I./ZG 26 (Erstaufstellung) (I./26 Heavy Fighter Winq (Initial Activation)
U9+ = NSG 3 (3 Night Assault Wing)

V1+ = Transportstaffel VIII. Fliegerkorps (Transport Squadron VIII. Air Corps)
V3+ = seen on a Ju 88 with the Squadron letters L+K in Cognac (France)
V4+ = KG 1 (1 Bomber Wing)
V7+ = Aufkl.Gr.32 (32nd Reconnaissance Group; during the war they partially used an own code: the squadron number was immediately right of the Balkenkreuz, followed by the letter indicating the aircraft within the squadron, e.g. V7+2G was aircraft "G" within the squadron).

W1-W3+ = Me 321 Unit (Cargo Glider)
W5+ = Me 321 Unit (Cargo Glider)
W7+ = Me 321 Unit (Cargo Glider), NJG 100 (100 Night Fighter Wing)
W8-W9+ = Me 321 Unit (Cargo Glider)

X4+ = Air Transport Group (Maritime) 222, later also SAGr. 129 (129th Maritime Reconnaissance Group)
X8+ = Flugbereitschaft RLM Staaken (Aviation Ministry's Air Service Staaken)

Z4+ = Transport Squadron of III. Air Corps
Z5+ = seen on a Do 17 (unit unknown)
Z6+ KG 66 (66th Bomber Wing)

1B+ = 13.(Z)/JG 5/13. ( )/5th Fighter Wing (only in connection with "X" as the final code letter), 5th Metrological Air Squadron (only in connection with "H" as the final letter)
1G+ KG 27 (27th Bomber Wing)
1H+ KG 26 (26th Bomber Wing)
1K+ NSGr.4 (4th Night Harassment Group)
1L+ seen on a Me 110, Ju 88 and He 219 with the squadron letters L+K at Test Centre Werneuchen.
1R+ Courier Squadron in Finland (perhaps Courier Squadron AOK Lapland?)
1T+ KG 28 (28th Bomber Wing), KGr. 126 (126th Bomber Group)
1Z+ KGrzbV. 1 (1st Special Duties Battle Group), TG 1 Savoia Staffel (1st Transport Wing Savoia-Squadron), III./KGrzbV. 1 (III./1st Special Duties Battle Group)

2B+ 2. Fliegerschuldivision (2nd Air Training Division)
2F+ until March 1940: KG 54 (54th Bomber Wing), 5./KG 28 (5./28th Bomber Wing)
2H+ 210th Trial Unit
2J+ ZG 1 (1st Heavy Fighter Wing; after reforming)
2N+ ZG 76 (76th Heavy Fighter Wing; after reforming), Originally II./ZG 1, from July 1940 onwards III./ZG 76)
2P+ X. Flying Division
2S+ I./ZG 2 (l./2nd Heavy Fighter Wing; after reforming)
2Z+ NJG 6 (6th Night Fighter Wing - from August 1943 onwards)

3C+ NJG 4 (4th Night Fighter Wing), NJG 6 (1-7.1943)
3E+ KG 6 (6th Bomber Wing)
3J+ NJG 3 (3rd Night Fighter Wing) also labelled D5+
3K+ Luftwaffe Mine Searching Group
3M+ ZG 2 (2nd Heavy Fighter Wing, initial formation)
3U+ ZG 26 (26th Heavy Fighter Wing; initial formation. Also used onferry aircraft by the 6th Fighter Wing from August 1944 onwards)
3W+ NSG 11 (11th Night Harassment Wing)
3X+ II./KG 1 (II./1st Bomber Wing; originally until 18. 9. 1939 I./KG 152 (I./152nd Bomber Wing)
3Z+ KG 77 (77th Bomber Wing: perhaps temporarily also called KG 153 (153rd Bomber Wing)

4A+ IV./ZG 26 (after the dissolution of ZG 26: IV/26th Heavy Fighter Wing in Norway, early August 1944
4B+ Westa 3 (3rd Metrological Squadron)
4D+ KG 30 (30th Bomber Wing), I./KG 25 (l./25th Bomber Wing)
4E+ Aufkl.Gr. 13 (13th Reconnaissance Group: later: 15th Short-range Reconnaissance Wing)
4F+ KGr.z.b.V. 400 (400th Special Duties Battle Group)
4M+ Erg.Z.Gr. (Replacement Group), later I./152nd Assault Wing)
4N+ Aufkl.Gr. 22 (22nd Reconnaissance Group), Westa 3 with Squadron letter "H"
4Q+ Liaison Squadron of 7th Flying Division
4R+ 7./NJG 2 (7./2nd Night Fighter Wing) in spring 1944 the code for this unit was changed from R4 to 4R
4T+ Westa 51 (51st Metrological Squadron) with Squadron letter "H"
4U+ Aufkl. Gr.123 (123rd Reconnaissance Group)
4V+ KGr.z.b.V. 9+106 (9th+106th Special Duties Battle Group), l./KGr.z.b. V. 172 (172nd Special Duties Battle Group), KGr.z.b. V. Neapel (Special Duties Battle Group Naples), TG 3 (3rd Transport Squadron), TG 4 (in April 1945: 4th Transport Squadron)

5B+ 10th Night Harassment Wing (i.e. the renamed II./ 1st Glider Assault Wing as from September 1944)
5D+ Aufkl. Gr.31 (31st Reconnaissance Group)
5F+ Aufkl. Gr.14 (14th Reconnaissance Wing; later also called 14th Short-range Reconnaissance Wing)
5J+ KG 4 (4th Bomber Wing)
5K+ KG 3 (3rd Bomber Wing)
5M+ Westa 26 (26th Metrological Squadron) Lfl. 2, Westa 26 Squadron southern Greece, renamed on 10.6.43 to Westa 27. No Squadron letter were painted on the aircrafts.
5T+ KSG 1 (1st; from 1. 2. 1943 onwards: KG 101 101st Bomber Wing)
5W+ Maritime Transport Group
5Z+ Wekusta 26 (26th Metrological Squadron) with the squadron letter A + H.


6A+ NAG 12 (12th Short-range Reconnaissance Wing)
6G+ St.G. 51 (51st Dive Bomber Wing), the original designation lll./St.G. 51 was still kept after reforming to 11./St.G. 1 on 6.7.1940
6H+ Aircraft Replacement Group (Maritime) Kamp
6I+ Kü.FI.Gr.706 (706th Coastal Reconnaissance Group), KGr.z.b.V 108 (108th Special Duties Battle Group), TG 20 (20th Transport Wing), SAGr. 130 (130th Maritime Reconnaissance Wing)
6K+ Aufkl.Gr. 23 (23rd Reconnaissance Group)
6M+ Coastal Squadron Krim, 11th Reconnaissance Group, plus several machines of the 8th Short-range Reconnaissance Wing at the end of the war
6N+ KG 100 (100 Bomber Wing) aicrafts with the squadron letter "R" were assigned to the 17th test- and instructional unit)
6Q+ Replacement Squadron St.G.2 as 6Q+C. with letters in ascending order. Probably SG 151
6R+ SAGr. 127 (127th Maritime Reconnaissance Wing)
6U+ ZG 1 (1st Heavy Fighter Wing; after reforming)
6W+ SAGr. 128 (128th Maritime Reconnaissance Group), Bordfliegergruppe 128 (128th Shipborne Wing)
6Z+ Transport Group Herzog 1945

7A+ Aufkl.Gr. 121 (121st Reconnaissance Wing)
7J+ NJG 102 (102nd Night Fighter Wing)
7R+ SAGr. 125 (125th Maritime Reconnaissance Group)
7T+ Kü.fl.Gr.606 (606th Coastal Reconnaissance Group), KGr. 606 (606th Bomber Group)
7U+ KGr.z.b.V. 108 (108th Special Duties Battle Group)
7V+ KGr.z.b.V. 700 (700th Special Duties Battle Group)

8A+ 1st Air Transport Group (Maritime)
8I+ 3./(H) Pz. NAG 16 (3./(AC) Anti-tank Squadron, NAG 16 (16th Short-range Reconnaissance Wing))
8L+ Kü.FI.Gr. 906 (906th Coastal Reconnaissance Group), SAGr.131 (131th Maritime Reconnaissance Wing)
8Q+ Transportgruppe 10, 10th Transport Group, seen on SM 82 (Squadron Unit unknown)
8T+ KGr.z.b.V. 800, später TG 2 (800th Special Duties Battle Group, later renamed 2nd Transport Wing)
8U+ Stab Transportfliegerführer 2 (HQ AOC "Transportfliegerführer 2")
8V+ NJG 200 (200th Night Fighter Wing)

9G+ Ju 52 Formation
9K+ KG 51 (51st Bomber Wing)
9N+ Seen on Fi 156 + Me110 (Unit unknown)
9P+ KGr.z.b.V. 9, 40, 50, 60, Frankfurt+Wittstock (9th, 40th, 50th, 60th Special Duties Battle Group, Frankfurt+Wittstock)
9V+ FAG 5 (5th Long-range Reconnaissance Wing)
9W+ NJG 101 (101st Night Fighter Wing)

Phantastisch !!!!

Njaco, WOW!! Thankyou! That must have been some work compiling that lot...

You're right too, paint shades do need to be 'scaled down' according to how the real thing would look from that distance ( and thanks again for the colour tips!)

I actually was going to type what I have in papers but then decided to do a quick search. Cut and paste from that site. Left a few things out but its pretty good site. A few more profiles there for placement.

I'm trying to identify the markings on a FW 190 plastic kit that I'm putting together. It's a Fujimi 1/48 scale and contains a set of decals for 5 aircraft, one of which is a "Black 13" but not "Pips" Priller's, since it has a red rudder and lower engine panel, and a white (JG2?) fuselage band. It has the common eagle motif - including the head - along the fuselage.
Please can anyone identify this aircraft and pilot?

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