Luftwaffe Yellow Tactical Markings

[Enzo the Magnificent]

When did the Luftwaffe start to use yellow tractical markings?

I am currently building a Tamiya Bf109E as an E-1 in the markings of Fw Artur Beese's aircraft of 9/JG26. The aircraft was force landed and destroyed on 24 August 1940. I am using decals from an Aeromaster sheet which presents the aircraft with a yellow nose and rudder. However, the instruction sheet of the Eduard 1/32 E-1 states that this aircraft was destroyed before the tactical markings were applied.

Which is correct? Are there any photos of the crashed aircraft available on t'interweb?

[tango98]

Hi Enzo,

The yellow tactical markings first appeared on the Channel-based 109s in mid-August (first reported on 10th August), the first two units positively identified as using them being JG 26 and JG 54. As far as yellow markings on the E-1 of Beese, photographs of his aircraft laying with its back broken at St Inglevert show no readily identifiable areas of yellow other than for a V segment at the top of the rudder (unfortunately, the wing tips are not visible in any of the photos) even though by the time of the incident on 24 August, the aircraft of all three Gruppen of JG 26 had been carrying such markings for over a week. Based on what is visible in photos of other 109s from the same Staffel between 18 - 26 August, it is extremely likely that the tips of both the main wings and tail planes were also painted yellow.

Aeromaster took their information from the incorrect profile in the Classic Colours Jagdwaffe book on the Battle of Britain Phase Two. Not their fault really as the wrong profile showing a yellow nose was used instead of the corrected one.

HTH

Dave

Edited May 25, 2010 by tango98

[Enzo the Magnificent]

photographs of his aircraft laying with its back broken at St Inglevert show no readily identifiable areas of yellow other than for a V segment at the top of the rudder (unfortunately, the wing tips are not visible in any of the photos) even though by the time of the incident on 24 August, the aircraft of all three Gruppen of JG 26 had been carrying such markings for over a week.

Thanks for the information, Dave.

Am I right to infer that the aircraft did not have a yellow nose, but did have a yellow segment at the top of the rudder and is also likely to have had yellow wingtips and tail tips? Would that be upper and lowersurfaces?

Any idea where I could find the photos so I can have a look myself?

[tango98]

Hi Enzo,

As far as could be determined from the photos of the aircraft it did not have a yellow-painted nose and although partially obscured by sand, the spinner appears to have been plain old black-green 70. If in fact the tips of the wings and tail planes had been painted yellow then yes, the colour would have been applied to both upper and lower surfaces.

There are four photos that I know of this incident, two are in a private collection in Belgium and two appear on p.148 of the Classic Colours 'Jagdwaffe - Battle of Britain Phase Two'. Also, the fuel triangle marking on this aircraft was determined to have been either white or pale yellow with a red border.

HTH

Dave

[Enzo the Magnificent]

Thanks for all the info, Dave. I'm now sorted - I think! I'm going to paint the aircraft with wing and tail tips in yellow, as well as the yellow quadrant on the rudder. I shall have to look around for a red bordered fuel marking. I have some very narrow red line decals. Maybe that will work.

Thanks again.