Research request – Bf 109 E-7 WNr. 4212 (S9+LS), 8./ZG 1, July 1942

[Wurger]

And some more ... if the code was S9+AA for instance, it was the plane of the ZG1 Stab. In the case the ZG Stab (Staff/headquarters) Staffel ID letter ( the latest in the code ) was "A" and the individual letter was of blue. If it was an aircraft belonged to the Gruppe ( regiment ) Stab squadron the last letter was as listed below but the individual letter was of green.

I Gruppe - B
II Gruppe - C
III Gruppe - D
IV Gruppe - E
V Gruppe - F

Here is the Bf 109E-7/B of the Stab squadron of the III./ZG1 ... the green letter "C" is almost unnoticeable contrary to the "D" one that indicates the III Gruppe.

 

[Den.S]

That's a very good point, thanks! It fits well with the idea that S9+LS (8./ZG 1) and S9+OR (7./ZG 1) operated from the same airfield at the time.

The S9 code didn't belonged to the 8th or the 9th squadron actually but to the ZG1 regiment. When the III Gruppe of the ZG1 was formed and equiped with the Bf 109E-7/B (E-4/B) on 4 January 1942, they created the 7th, 8th and 9th squadrons. As memo serves, the S9 code belonged to the Erprobungsgruppe 210, Schnellkampfgeschwader 210 initailly and then just to the Zerstörergeschwader 1 from 1942 to 1943.
Because the Gruppe was the Jabo one but not the fighter unit , the markings were the same as used for the KG or SG squadrons. The regiment code was painted on left of the LW cross and then the individual letter of an aircraft in the squadron and the letter identifying the squadron on the right. Additionally, the colour of the individaual letter indicated the squadron ( Staffel ) as well. The examples: the 8th Staffel full code was S9+AS where the "A' was red and the black "S" was the 8th squadron ID. Also it looks like the 8th Staffel could have the individual letter of the black. The 9th Staffel kite wore the S9+GT code where the "G" aircraft individual letter was of the yellow and the "T" indicated the 9th squadron. See the images below.

BTW ... the 7th Staffel had the "R" letter as its ID and the aircraft individual letter was of the white.

The 7th Staffel ...
View attachment 851392

The 8th Staffel ...
View attachment 851391
View attachment 851393
View attachment 851395

The 9th Staffel ...
View attachment 851394

 

[Wurger]

My pleasure.