I’ve seen aircraft with theater bands before, and I know what they mean. What I need help with is- what do they stand for? I think I’ve seen yellow and white, for sure, and possibly red. But what theater do they represent, be it Soviet, Atlantic, or what?
Or, barring that, what would the color be for the Atlantic? (Anti-shipping aircraft. Think Fw 200 Condor.)
Thanks!
Ok here it is…
Jagdeschwader Markings
Bands From a translated Luftwaffe document dated 20 February 1945: "Subject: Jagdgeschwader markings By order of the Reichsmarschall and for the purpose of improving aerial recognition, Jagdgeschwader aircraft are to be marked by fuselage-encircling coloured stripes as indicated in the appended enclosure [see below]. Attention of troops down to platoon level is to be drawn to these markings which should simplify the recognition and distinction of our own aircraft. IA
[signature illegible]
Leutnant u. Ord - Offz.
Widths for bands were: one colour band - 900 mm, two colour band - 450 mm each, three colour band - 300 mm each. The colours for each Jagdgeschwader were listed as below:
J.G.1 - Bright Red
J.G.3 - White
J.G.11 - Yellow
J.G.27 - Bright Green
J.G.53 - Black
J.G.54 - Bright Blue
J.G.5 - Black / Yellow
J.G.7 - Blue / Red J.G.
J.G.26 - Black / White
J.G.52 - Red / White
J.G.77 - White / Green
J.G.301 - Yellow /Red
J.G.2 - Yellow / White / Yellow
J.G.4 - Black / White / Black
J.G.6 - Bright Red / White / Bright Red
J.G.51 - Bright Green / White / Bright Green
J.G.300 - Bright Blue / White / Bright Blue
On the Eastern Front (Russia), the Theater Band color was RLM 04 Yellow.
In the Balkans (Yugoslavia, Greece, Crete) the color was RLM 27 Yellow.
The Mediterranean Theater aircraft were marked in RLM 21 White.
There was a fuselage band, and in most cases, wingtips were also painted.
Late in the war, when Germany was on the defense, Different units had color-coded RV bands on the fuselage. These were two-color, in vertical stripes or checkers.
Hope this helps.