Luftwaffe Symbols and Codes: 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 makings 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 (Bomber Units) Kampfgruppen Zerstörergeshwader (Heavy Fighter Units) Nachtjagdgeschwader (Night Fighter Units) 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 (Stuka Units) 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 Finland/ Norway D9 7A KG 66 Z6 I./KFGr 806, II./KflGr 806 M8 II./StG 51 6G NJStfl/KG 40 Kdo Kunkel 4C E6 KG 76 F1 KFGr 406 K6 III./StG 51 6G Nachtschlachtgruppe (Night Ground Attack) 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 Transport Units 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) Aufklärungsgruppe 10 H1 Aufklärungsgruppe 11 6M Aufklärungsgruppe 13 4E Aufklärungsgruppe 14 5F Aufklärungsgruppe 21 P2 Aufklärungsgruppe 22 4N Aufklärungsgruppe 31 5D Aufklärungsgruppe 32 V7 Aufklärungsgruppe 33 8H Aufklärungsgruppe 33 H8 Aufklärungsgruppe 41 6K Aufklärungsgruppe 41 C2 Aufklärungsgruppe 120 A6 Aufklärungsgruppe 121 C6 3./Aufklärungsgruppe 121 7A Aufklärungsgruppe 122 E6 Aufklärungsgruppe 122 T6 Aufklärungsgruppe 122 F6 Aufklärungsgruppe 123 4U Aufklärungsgruppe 124 G2 Seeaufklärungsgruppen (Maritime Reconnaisance) Seeaufklärungsgruppe 125 7R Seeaufklärungsgruppe 126 D1 Seeaufklärungsgruppe 127 6R Seeaufklärungsgruppe 128 6W Seeaufklärungsgruppe 129 X4 Seeaufklärungsgruppe 130 F7 NachtSeeaufklärungsgruppe ObdL K7 Nahaufklärungsgruppe 8 6M Nahaufklärungsgruppe 33 J2 Long-Range Reconnaisance Units Fernaufklärungsgruppe J2 1./Fernaufklärungsgruppe 100 9V Erganzungs-Fernaufklärungsgruppe F2 1&2/Aufklärungsgruppe ObdL T5 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: Rather than the two digit code the Geschwader was indicated by the Geschwaderzeichen, or unit emblem. (Note: a Geschwaderzeichen was not necessarily an "Honour Title". A number was then displayed forward of the Balkankreuz in the staffel colour, or in black and outlined in the staffel colour. The exception being aircraft of IV Gruppe with plain black numbers. Aft of the Balkankreuz the Gruppe was indicated by the symbols in the left column below. Further symbols, as seen in the right column, indicated the rank or appointment of the pilot. 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: 1. Not all Jabo Units displayed the bomb emblem. 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: From 20/2/45 coloured bands were applied to the aft fuselage to identify aircraft deployed for the defence of the Reich . I strongly suggest the link at the top of the page for full details.on these and other more specific markings and insignia. Note that in many cases the underside of the fuselage was painted varying shades to alert Ack-Ack gunners to friendly aircraft.