Introduction: This is a basic introduction to what is an intricate subject. As such, it is intended to complement the pages dealing with RAF and USAAF codes. For specific information on Luftwaffe markings I would recommend Ruy Horta's Luftwaffe Page for precise details. While the system at first sight seems over elaborate it did provide a means for extremely accurate identification. As the system for marking Luftwaffe aircraft was unique, it is necessary to describe a generalised command hierarchy. There were, of course many exceptions to the general rule, particularly late in the war. A Geschwader comprised 100-160 aircraft and was divided into 3-4 Gruppen each of approximately 30-40 aircraft. In turn each Gruppe was made up of 3 Staffeln, these having 12-16 aircraft. Gruppen and Staffeln were indicated by Roman and Arabic numerals respectively. Thus III./KG 26 indicates the third Gruppe of Kampfgeschwader 26, while 3./KG 26 denotes the third Staffel of the Geschwader. All aircraft, with the exception of Jagdgeschwader, which will be dealt with separately, normally displayed a four digit code, two forward and two aft of the Balkankreuz. The first two digits indicated the Geschwader. The third, usually colour coded, indicated the individual aircraft within the Staffel and the fourth denoted which Staffel and Gruppe within the Geschwader. The
colour codes used were as follows: For simplicity these are roughly
matched to RAF units of equivalent status.
|
3rd Digit
Blue Geschwader Stab (Group HQ ) |
|
Green Gruppe Stab (Wing HQ) |
|
White 1,4,7,10, 13 Staffeln (Sqn) |
|
Red 2,5,8,11,14 Staffeln (Sqn) |
|
Yellow 3,6,9,12,15 Staffeln (Sqn) |
4th digit
Geschwader Stab |
Gruppe Stab |
Staffel |
Staffel |
Staffel |
Geschwader |
A |
|||
Gruppe I |
B |
H (1) |
K (2) |
L (3) |
Gruppe II |
C |
M (4) |
N (5) |
P (6) |
Gruppe III |
D |
R (7) |
S (8) |
T (9) |
Gruppe VI |
E |
U (10) |
V (11) |
W(12) |
Gruppe V |
F |
X (13) |
Y (14) |
Z (15) |
Thus A1 KS indicates aircraft "K" of 8 Staffel III./KG 53
Geschwader Codes (not Jagdgeschwader)
Kampfgeschwader |
|
Zerstörergeshwader |
Nachtjagdgeschwader |
|||||
KG 1 |
V4 |
KGr zbV 1 |
1Z |
ZG1 |
2J |
NJG 1 (Transient) |
G9 |
H1 |
II./KG 1 |
3X |
KG zbV 6 |
G6 |
ZG 1 |
6U |
NJG 2 partial |
4R |
6M |
KG 2 |
U5 |
KGr zbV 9 |
9P |
ZG 2 |
2S |
NJG 2 |
R4 |
4E |
KG 3 |
5K |
KGr zbV 108 |
7Ü |
I./ZG 2 |
3M |
NJG 3 |
B4 |
5F |
KG 4 |
5J |
KGr zvV 126 |
1T |
I./ZG 26 |
U8 |
NJG 3 |
D5 |
P2 |
KG 6 |
3E |
KGr zbV 172 |
N3 |
II./ZG 26 |
3U |
NJG 3 |
3J |
4N |
KG 27 |
1G |
KGr zbV 172 |
L5 |
IV./ZG 26 |
4A |
NJG 4 |
3C |
5D |
KG 27 |
1H |
KGr zbV 172 |
4V |
ZG 76 |
2N |
NJG 5 |
C9 |
V7 |
KG 30 |
4D |
KGr zbV 700 |
7V |
I/ZG 52, II./ZG2 |
A2 |
NJG 6 |
2Z |
8H |
KG 51 |
9K |
KGr zbV 800 |
8T |
ZStaffel 210 |
2H |
NJG 11 |
3W |
H8 |
KG 53 |
A1 |
KGr 100 |
6N |
Stukageschwader |
NJG 100 |
W7 |
6K |
|
KG 54 |
B3 |
KGr 606 |
7T |
I./St TrG 126 |
J9 |
NJG 101 |
9W |
C2 |
KG 54 |
2F |
I./StG 1 |
A5 |
NJG 102 |
7J |
A6 |
||
KG 55 |
F8 |
StG 2 |
S1 |
NJG 200 |
8V |
C6 |
||
KG 60 |
P1 |
KFGr 106 |
M2 |
StG 3 |
S7 |
NJGr
10 and NJ Stfl |
D9 |
7A |
KG 66 |
Z6 |
I./KFGr
806, |
M8 |
II./StG 51 |
6G |
NJStfl/KG
40 |
4C |
E6 |
KG 76 |
F1 |
KFGr 406 |
K6 |
III./StG 51 |
6G |
Nachtschlachtgruppe |
T6 |
|
KG 77 |
3Z |
KFGr 506 |
S4 |
StG 77, SG 77 |
S2 |
NSGr 1 |
V8 |
F6 |
KG 100 |
6N |
KFGr 706 |
61 |
LG 1 |
L1 |
NSGr 4 |
1K |
4U |
KG 101 |
5T |
KFGr 806 |
M7 |
LG 2 |
L2 |
Transportgeschwader |
G2 |
|
KG 200 |
A3 |
KFGr 906 |
8L |
TG 1 |
1Z |
|||
SKG210 |
S9 |
LLG 1 |
H4 |
TG 2 |
8T |
7R |
||
Miscellaneous Units |
Minesweeper Units |
TG 4 |
4V |
D1 |
||||
Wetterstaffel 5 |
1B |
Minensuchgruppe der Luftwaffe |
3K |
TG 5 |
J4 |
6R |
||
Stabsschwarm Luftflotte 6 |
K1 |
TG 8 |
C8 |
6W |
||||
Non-operational |
W1 |
TG 30 |
S3 |
X4 |
||||
X Fliegerdivision Command |
2P |
Non-operational |
W6 |
TG 290 |
J4 |
F7 |
||
X Fliegerkorps Command |
P4 |
Non-operational |
W8 |
TGr Herzog |
6Z |
K7 |
||
Non-operational |
W9 |
TG zbV 600 |
6M |
|||||
Sonderstaffel Tranzozean |
P5 |
Bordfliegergruppe 196 |
T3 |
|
222 Lufttransportstaffel |
X4 |
||
Bordfliegergruppe 196 |
6W |
|||||||
Kommando der Erprobungsstell |
E7 |
J2 |
||||||
Wekusta 1 |
D7 |
Erprobungsgruppe 210 |
S9 |
9V |
||||
Wekusta 26 |
5M |
Versuchsverband ObdL |
T9 |
F2 |
||||
T5 |
||||||||
Kurierstaffel Finland |
1R |
Aufklärungsgruppen (Reconnaisance Units)
Seeaufklärungsgruppen
(Maritime Reconnaisance)Aufklärungsgruppe 10
H1
Seeaufklärungsgruppe 125 7R Aufklärungsgruppe 11
6M
Seeaufklärungsgruppe 126 D1 Aufklärungsgruppe 13
4E
Seeaufklärungsgruppe 127 6R Aufklärungsgruppe 14
5F
Seeaufklärungsgruppe 128 6W Aufklärungsgruppe 21
P2
Seeaufklärungsgruppe 129 X4 Aufklärungsgruppe 22
4N
Seeaufklärungsgruppe 130 F7 Aufklärungsgruppe 31
5D
NachtSeeaufklärungsgruppe ObdL K7 Aufklärungsgruppe 32
V7
Nahaufklärungsgruppe 8 6M Aufklärungsgruppe 33
8H
Nahaufklärungsgruppe 33 J2 Aufklärungsgruppe 33
H8
Aufklärungsgruppe 41
6K
Long-Range Reconnaisance Units Aufklärungsgruppe 41
C2
Fernaufklärungsgruppe J2 Aufklärungsgruppe 120
A6
1./Fernaufklärungsgruppe 100 9V Aufklärungsgruppe 121
C6
Erganzungs-Fernaufklärungsgruppe F2 3./Aufklärungsgruppe 121
7A
1&2/Aufklärungsgruppe ObdL T5 Aufklärungsgruppe 122
E6
Aufklärungsgruppe 122
T6
Aufklärungsgruppe 122
F6
Aufklärungsgruppe 123
4U
Aufklärungsgruppe 124
G2
In addition to this coding system there were "Honour Titles", or named Staffeln
Geschwader Honour Titles were insignia in the form of shields or emblems displayed below the cockpit or on the forward fuselage. Some examples are shown below.
Jagdgeschwader |
Kampfgeschwader |
Zerstörergeschwader |
JG 1 Oesau |
KG 1 Hindenberg |
ZG 1 Wespen |
JG 2 Richthofen |
KG 2 Holzhammer |
ZG 26 Horst Wesel |
JG 3 Udet |
KG 3 Blitz |
Aufklärungsgruppe |
JG 5 Eismeer |
KG 4 General Wever |
10 Tannenberg |
JG 26 Schlageter |
KG 26 Löwen |
124 Richthofen |
JG 27 Afrika |
KG 27 Boelke |
Stukageschwader |
JG 51 Molders |
KG 30 Adler |
StG 2 Immelmann |
JG 53 Pik As |
KG 51 Edelweiss |
Schnellkampfgeschwader |
JG 54 Grünherz |
KG 53 Legion Kondor |
SKG 210 Wespen |
JG 77 Herz As |
KG 54 Totenkopf |
|
KG 55 Griefen |
Jagdgeschwader: |
Gruppe___________________Function
The diagram below then gives a coding for a fictitional Fw190 of Gruppen Kommandeur of II./JG 4., the aircraft being "No 8" assigned to the eighth Staffel. In reality, as both the Green 8 and the bar aft of the Balkankreuz indicate the Gruppe, the bar would likely not have been painted. |
JG 4
NB: 2. Prior to October 1943 SchG 1 SchG 2 displayed a black triangle on one side or other of the Balkankreuz plus a letter in the Staffel colour. After 1943 this was changed to a coloured letter forward of the Balkankreuz with all other marks similar to the parent Jagdgeschwader. Reichsverteidigungbande: |