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Hi

Several photos of this Bf 108B have appeared on eBay http://www.ebay.de/itm/4-Fotos-Flugzeug-Me-108-Staffelabzeichen-Kennung-NM-NR-Brennpunkt-Russland-/170726644979?pt=Militaria&hash=item27c019dcf3. The aircraft is coded NM+NR and the photos are somewhere in Russia. Included in the set is a splendid emblem...but I cannot find it anywhere. I have checked Ketley and Rolfe and Rosch's Luftwaffe Support Units, . The closest in terms of emblem subject appears to be the Flugzeuguberführungs emblem (Rosch p. 59), although it is clearly not the same emblem. Under the birds is a map of the UK. Any ideas?

Ian

This emblem was identified on the LEMB by Goran/F19Gladiator in Nov'10 as belonging to GS22 and the emblem consisted of an heraldic shield with a stylized eagle pulled by three smaller eagles and beneath the British Isles in cross hairs”. This unit was renamed 3.(GS)/KGrzbV2 in November 1941. (Source: p77 of "Messerschmitt Me321/323 The Luftwaffe’s “Giants” in World War II, Hans-Peter Dabrowski, [Schiffer, 2002])

Cheers
Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

Thanks Peter

I assume that 'GS' would be Grosse-segelflugzeuge., for Heavy-glider

Ian

According to "Messerschmitt Me321/323 The Luftwaffe’s “Giants” in World War II, Hans-Peter Dabrowski, [Schiffer, 2002], GS = Großraumsegler-Staffeln and there were four such units formed at Leipheim & Obertraubling in mid-1941. Each had an authorised strength of 6 x Me321's and several tow-plane flights of Bf110's and He111's. These four GS units were:

GS1 was destined for the Northern sector of the Soviet Union
GS2 was to be the supply & ferry Staffel for all other Großraumsegler-Staffeln
GS22 was to see action in the Central sector of the Soviet Union
GS4 was to see action in the Southern sector of the Soviet Union

With regards GS22, according to page 184 of "Luftwaffe Codes, Markings and Units 1939-45" by B.Rosch [Schiffer, 1995] GS22 was formed in May'41, later to become 3(GS)./KGzbV2 in Mar'42 and then GS-Kdo 1 in Nov'42...

Cheers
Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

Was my taking time to answer your question of use to you Ian?

Yes thanks for the information, especially the meaning of GS, which I couldn’t find in any sources. When I went to my own emblem database I found a graphic of the emblem listed under KGzbV 2, so that fits in with your information.

Cheers

Ian