Bf 110 identification codes

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cap'n paleo
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Bf 110 identification codes

#1

Post by cap'n paleo » 08 Jul 2020, 02:32

My wife's grandfather was a member of 5./ZG52. There is a photo of him standing in front of a Bf 110 with the code A2 HK. My question is this...
Was the A2 code used exclusively with this unit? Or was the A2 used by other Bf 110 units?

Thanks!

Randy Pence

GregSingh
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Re: Bf 110 identification codes

#2

Post by GregSingh » 08 Jul 2020, 04:05

Are you sure about the unit?
There wasn't 5./ZG52 according to here: http://www.ww2.dk/air/zerstorer/zg52.htm
Perhaps you meant 5./ZG2

It seems A2 applied only to ZG52 / ZG2
https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Bf-110/ZG52-ZG2-A2.html


cap'n paleo
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Re: Bf 110 identification codes

#3

Post by cap'n paleo » 08 Jul 2020, 05:55

ZG52 became ZG 2 on 26 June, 1940, according to what I understand. But the question remains,
did the A2 designation only apply to this unit?

cap'n paleo
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Re: Bf 110 identification codes

#4

Post by cap'n paleo » 08 Jul 2020, 05:58

And in my limited knowledge, the last letter of the four figure code designated the Staffel that the plane
belonged to. I (maybe mistakenly) assumed that the K was assigned to a fifth staffel.

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von thoma
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Re: Bf 110 identification codes

#5

Post by von thoma » 11 Jul 2020, 03:36

Was the A2 code used exclusively with this unit ? Or was the A2 used by other Bf 110 units ?
Yes, was a code only used by Zerstörergeschwader 52 ( later I./ZG2 )

Another Bf 110 code units examples ;

E8 - I./Zerstörergeschwader 26

U8 - Zerstörergeschwader 26

3M - Zerstörergeschwader 2 (1939-40)

3U - Zerstörergeschwader 26 (from 5.1939), and I./NJG4

G9 - Zerstörergeschwader 1 (1940)
And in my limited knowledge, the last letter of the four figure code designated the Staffel that the plane
belonged to. I (maybe mistakenly) assumed that the K was assigned to a fifth staffel.
A2+HK = 2./ Zerstörergeschwader 52 ( I.Gruppe )
Are you sure about the code letter 'K' ? Because if were a code A2+HN = 5./ Zerstörergeschwader 52 (II. Gruppe)

A2 was identification code unit, H was the identification letter of the individual aircraft within the Staffel, and
'K' letter was for 2nd. Staffel, belonging to I. Gruppe. The letter asigned for fifth Staffel was 'N', but belonging to II. Gruppe.
Identification letter it could be painted in the colour asigned for the Staffel; 1º Staffel White , 2nd Staffel Red, and 3º Staffel Yellow ( I.Gruppe )
In this case identification letter 'H' was in RED colour.
It takes a little time to understand
" The right to believe is the right of those who don't know "

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von thoma
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Re: Bf 110 identification codes

#6

Post by von thoma » 17 Jul 2020, 17:14

That chart might help ;

Gruppe colours.jpg
" The right to believe is the right of those who don't know "

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