Kevin Barclay-Jay
Airman
Several models exist of Helmut Wicks ME109E with different decals....all of my research says that the ensigner with the double chevrons was the plane in which he died ( went missing ) in October 1940...This is the model depicted in the Airfix 1/72 Dogfight set.
But I have many comments that this is the June aircraft and the decals as per Eduards 1/48 model is correct....then I found this on line:
"A Jagdgeschwader was made up of three (later four) Gruppen, indicated with Roman numbers. Each Gruppe had three Staffeln, of 12 aircraft, labelled with arabic numbers; these were numbered continously -- 7. Staffel was part of III. Gruppe. The point has the meaning of 'th' in German, so '2.' means '2nd'. The Staff (Stab) of each Gruppe had also four aircraft, and so did the staff of the geschwader. Theoretical strength was thus about 124 aircraft. The aircraft of the officers had special markings, placed in front of the German cross:
Geschwader Commander: <<| or <<-)
Geschwader Vice-Commander: <|
Geschwader first officer: <-
Staff Major: <||
Geschwader technical officer: <|
Gruppe Commander: <<
Gruppe vice-commander: <
Gruppe technical officer: <o
Staffel commander: 1"
so at the time of his death Wick had just been promoted to Geschwader of JG2...so the double chevrons would be correct.....then I looked at actual photos and it does look as if the double chevrons have been painted out.....can anybody shed any light.
Also seen Dundas's Spitfire shown as PRQ...this is definately incorrrect at the time of his death, it was definately PRO
But I have many comments that this is the June aircraft and the decals as per Eduards 1/48 model is correct....then I found this on line:
"A Jagdgeschwader was made up of three (later four) Gruppen, indicated with Roman numbers. Each Gruppe had three Staffeln, of 12 aircraft, labelled with arabic numbers; these were numbered continously -- 7. Staffel was part of III. Gruppe. The point has the meaning of 'th' in German, so '2.' means '2nd'. The Staff (Stab) of each Gruppe had also four aircraft, and so did the staff of the geschwader. Theoretical strength was thus about 124 aircraft. The aircraft of the officers had special markings, placed in front of the German cross:
Geschwader Commander: <<| or <<-)
Geschwader Vice-Commander: <|
Geschwader first officer: <-
Staff Major: <||
Geschwader technical officer: <|
Gruppe Commander: <<
Gruppe vice-commander: <
Gruppe technical officer: <o
Staffel commander: 1"
so at the time of his death Wick had just been promoted to Geschwader of JG2...so the double chevrons would be correct.....then I looked at actual photos and it does look as if the double chevrons have been painted out.....can anybody shed any light.
Also seen Dundas's Spitfire shown as PRQ...this is definately incorrrect at the time of his death, it was definately PRO
