glossary and abbreviations - air war...
TRANSCRIPT
© Air War Publications 20171
Glossary and AbbreviationsAA/AAA Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Aircraft ArtilleryA/B German basic flying licences, and also the designation used for basic flying schoolsAbschuss German word for aerial victoryAbsprungsplatz German advanced landing groundAbwurf German word for release (of bombs)Abteilung (abbreviated Abt.) German word for section, department or battalionAbwurfbehälter (abbreviated AB) German bomblet container, either 250 or 500 kg (AB 250 or AB 500)Ack-ack Allied slang for anti-aircraft fire derived from early-war British phonetic alphabet for ‘AA’Aeronautica della Sicilia Italian air force command in Sicily, controlling all Sicily-based unitsAR American Action Report, written after the completion of an operationArmed reconnaissance Reconnaissance mission on which ground targets were also attackedArmee Large German army formation consisting of two or more Korps under a single commanderArmy Air Corps (abbreviated AAC) United States Army Air Corps, precursor to the USAAFAS Designation used to indicate fitting of Daimler-Benz 605 AS engine to the Bf 109ASR Air/Sea RescueAusbildungsstaffel Luftwaffe training unit Aufklärungsfliegerschule German reconnaissance airman schoolAufklärungsgruppe (abbreviated AGr.) German air force reconnaissance groupAuftrag German word for task or missionAW American army unit designation, Automatic WeaponsB4 German 87 octane aviation fuelBauchlandung German word for belly-landingBefehl German word for orderBegleitschutz German word for escort [mission]Beobachter German word for an observer in an aircraftBereitschaft German word for readinessBesatzung German word for crewBetriebsstoff German word for fuel, oil and lubricantsBG American Bombardment Group, usually made up of four bombardment squadronsBildberichter German photo journalistBodenpersonal German word for ground personnelBodenteile German air unit’s ground personnel and equipmentBombenschütze German word for a bomb aimer in an aircraftBordfunker German word for a radio operator in an aircraftBordmechaniker German word for a mechanic in an aircraftBruchlandung German word for crash-landingBrückenkopf German word for bridgeheadBS American Bombardment Squadron, with an official strength of 12 to 18 aircraftBundesluftwaffe West German post-war air forceBundeswehr West German post-war armed forcesC3 German 100 octane aviation fuel used by Fw 190s and other typesCircus British air force operation flown on Channel Front involving large number of fighters escorting small number of bombers, intended to draw Luftwaffe fighters into the airComando Supremo Italian armed forces high commandCT Caccia Terrestre, Italian land-based fighter unitDeutsches Afrikakorps (abbreviated DAK) German Africa Corps, an army formation created in early 1941Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (abbreviated DKiG) German cross in goldDUKW American amphibious vehicleENTF American Eastern Naval Task Force in the invasion of SicilyErdabwehr German word for ground defence against aircraftErgänzungsgruppe (abbreviated Erg.Gr.) German air force replacement and training groupErgänzungsstaffel (abbreviated Erg.St.) German air force replacement and training squadronExperte German term for an ace, plural ExpertenFallschirmabsprung (abbreviated FSA) German word for bailing out of an aircraftFallschirmjäger German paratrooperFeldflugplatz German landing ground, plural FeldflugplätzeFeldgendarmerie German military policeFeldpostnummer (abbreviated FPN) German field post number, an identification number for the military mail serviceFernaufklärungsgruppe German long-range reconnaissance groupFG American Fighter Group, usually made up of three fighter squadrons, totalling 75 aircraftFlieger-Ausbildungs-Regiment (abbreviated FAR) German air force basic training regimentFlieger-Ersatz-Abteilung German air force replacement unit, which distributed new personnel to their frontline unitFliegerführer (abbreviated Fl.Fü) German Luftwaffe commander generally subordinate to a FliegerkorpsFliegerkorps German air corpsFliegerverbindungsoffizier (abbreviated Flivo) German word for army-air force liaison officerFlugabwehrkanone (abbreviated Flak) German word for anti-aircraft gun, with ‘flak’ used as an Allied term for anti-aircraft fireFlugbereitschaft German air force duty flight
Version 4,1 - 17 November 2017
© Air War Publications 20172
Flugboot German flying boatFlugzeugführerschule (abbreviated FFS) German air force pilot schoolFS American Fighter Squadron, with an official strength of 24 aircraftFührerreserve Ob.d.L. German leader reserve of the Commander-in-Chief of the LuftwaffeFührungsstab German command staffFunkgerät (abbreviated FuG) German word for radio or radio equipmentGefechtsstand German command postGeneralderJagdflieger (abbreviated GdJ) German designation for leader of the Luftwaffe fighter arm, not necessarily with the rank of GeneralGeneralderKampfflieger (abbreviated GdK) German designation for leader of the Luftwaffe bomber arm, not necessarily with the rank of GeneralGeneral der Panzertruppe German general of armoured troopsGeneralderSchlachtflieger(abbreviated GdS) German designation for leader of the Luftwaffe ground-attack arm, not necessarily with the rank of GeneralGeneralquartiermeister (abbreviated GQM) German word for quartermaster generalGeneralstabderLuftwaffe German air force general staffGeschwader German Luftwaffewing, divided into Gruppen with an official strength of 112 to 276 aircraft - the number of aircraft grew throughout the war, plural GeschwaderGeschwaderadjutant German officer in Geschwader responsible for administrative mattersGeschwaderkommodore German commander of a Geschwader, plural GeschwaderkommodorenGeschwaderstab German Geschwader headquarters staff, plural GeschwaderstäbeGroupe de Chasse (abbreviated GC) French fighter group, usually made up of two or three fighter squadrons, totalling 26 or 38 aircraftGrünherz German word meaning green heart, referring to the fighter unit Jagdgeschwader 54Gruppe German Luftwaffe group subordinate to a Geschwaderstab, with an official strength of 36 to 48 aircraft, plural GruppenGruppenadjutant German officer in Gruppe responsible for administrative mattersGruppenarzt German medical officer of a GruppeGruppenkommandeur German commander of a Gruppe, plural GruppenkommandeureGruppenstab German Gruppe headquarters flight, plural GruppenstäbeGruppo Italian air force unit, equivalent to a German Gruppe, plural GruppiHauptkampflinie (abbreviated HKL) German word for main line of resistanceHauptmann beim Stab (abbreviated Hptm. beim Stab) German captain in the headquarters flight of a Gruppe, although the position could be held by an OberleutnantHauptquartier German word for headquartersHE High ExplosiveHeckschütze German word for rear gunner, thus ‘Il-2 m.H.’ means a Soviet Il-2 ground-attack aircraft with a rear gunnerHeer The German armyHeeresgruppe (abbreviated HG) German army group, usually followed by a letter or locationHerausschuβ (abbreviated HSS) Enemy bomber separated from the protection of its formation by German aircraft attackHigh Speed Launch (abbreviated HSL) British motor boat used primarily for Air/Sea RescueHit-and-run raid Bombing raid by aircraft using speed, low-altitude and surprise to avoid defencesHMHS His Majesty’s Hospital ShipHMS His Majesty’s Ship, a British Royal Navy vesselIa German operations officerIc German intelligence officerJ2 German jet fuel Jabogruppe German fighter-bomber group, plural JabogruppenJabostaffel German fighter-bomber squadron, plural JabostaffelnJagdbomber (abbreviated Jabo) German fighter-bomber aircraftJagdbombermitgroβerReichweite(abbreviated Jabo/Rei) German fighter-bomber aircraft with extended rangeJagddivision (abbreviated JD) German fighter divisionJagdfliegerführer (abbreviated Jafü) German officer in command of fighter operations for an area such as Sicily or Southern ItalyJagdfliegerschule(abbreviated JFS) German advanced fighter pilot training schoolJagdfliegervorschule (abbreviated JFVS) German fighter pilot schoolJagdflugzeug German word for fighter aircraftJagdgeschwader (abbreviated JG) German fighter wingJagdgruppe (abbreviated JGr.) German fighter groupJagdkorps (abbreviated JK) German air force fighter corpsJagdwaffe German fighter air forceJäger German word for fighter aircraftJägerplatz German fighter airfieldKampfflugzeug German word for bomber aircraftKampfgeschwader (abbreviated KG) German bomber wingKampfgeschwader zur besonderen Verwendung (abbreviated KGzbV) German air force battle wing for special duties, designation for an early war transport unitKampfgruppe (abbreviated KGr.) German army combat group of variable size. Also a German bomber groupKampfgruppe zur besonderen Verwendung (abbreviated KGrzbV) German air force battle group for special duties, designation for an early war transport unitKampfschulgeschwader (abbreviated KSG) German bomber training wingKampfverband German battle unitKanonenvogel German slang for ‘Cannon Bird’, the Ju 87 G armed with two 37 mm flak cannons for anti- tank warfareKatschmarek German term for wingman
© Air War Publications 20173
Kette German formation of three aircraftKommandeur German commander of a Gruppe, full term Gruppenkommandeur, plural KommandeureKommando (abbreviated Kdo) Small German formation of men or aircraftKommodore German commander of a Geschwader, full term Geschwaderkommodore, plural KommodorenKraftfahrzeug (abbreviated Kfz.) German word for motor vehicleKraftrad (abbreviated Krad) German word for motorcycleKraftstoff German word for fuelKriegsberichter or Kriegsberichterstatter (abbreviated KB) German war reporterKriegsoffizier German serviceman promoted to the rank of Leutnant at the front, without the formal training. A temporary rank until officer education could be undertakenKriegstagebuch (abbreviated KTB) German war diaryKurierstaffel German air force courier squadron Küstenfliegergruppe (abbreviated KFGr.) German coastal flying groupLastkraftwagen (abbreviated Lkw.) German word for truckLCA Allied landing craft, assault, approximately 9 tonsLCF Allied landing craft, flak, approximately 500 tonsLCI Allied landing craft, infantry, approximately 250 tonsLCT Allied landing craft, tank, approximately 250-600 tons Lehrgeschwader (abbreviated LG) Luftwaffe proving/demonstration wing, later used operationallyLeitwerk German word for tail unitLiberty Ship Mass-produced American cargo shipLong Range Desert Group (abbreviated LRDG) British special forces unit, primarily an intelligence-gathering organizationLST Allied landing ship, tank, approximately 2.000 tonsLufbery Aerial combat manoeuvre involving tight turning, developed in First World War by Raoul LufberyLuftflotte (abbreviated Lfl.) German air fleetLuftgau German Luftwaffe administrative district (airfield control, supply, air defence and some training)Luftkriegschule (abbreviated LKS) German air force officer schoolLuftnachrichten (abbreviated Ln.) German air force signals and communications (control, reporting and signals service)Luftschraube German word for propellerLuftstreitkräftederNationalenVolksarmee East German post-war air forceLuftwaffenDienstvorschriften(abbreviated L.Dv.) German air force service regulationsLuftwaffenVerordnungsblatt German air force regulations periodicalMacchia Italian shrublandMae West British nickname for life-saving jacket, referring to the American actress Major beim Stab German major in the headquarters flight of a Geschwader, although the position could be held by a HauptmannMarshal Sovyetskogo Soyuza Marshal of the Soviet Union. It was the highest military rank of the Soviet UnionMaschinengewehr (abbreviated MG) German abbreviation for automatic weapon of less than 20 mm calibreMaschinenkanone (abbreviated MK) German abbreviation for automatic weapon of more than 20 mm calibreMeldung German word for reportMG 131 German 13 mm aircraft machine-gun built by Rheinmetall-BorsigMG 151 German 15 mm aircraft machine-gun built by Waffenfabrik Mauser AGMG 151/20 German 20 mm aircraft cannon built by Waffenfabrik Mauser AGMG 151/20E German 20 mm aircraft cannon built by Waffenfabrik Mauser AG, the E indicating it used electrical rather than percussion primingMGB British Motor Gun Boat, approximately 90 tonsMinensuchgruppe (abbreviated MSGr.) German air force mine search groupMk. British abbreviation for mark, used to distinguish aircraft variantsMonitor Shallow-draught warship designed specifically for coastal bombardment, approximately 8.500 tonsMTB British Motor Torpedo Boat, approximately 50 tonsMV Motor Vessel, a designation for a ship powered by an internal combustion engineNachkommando German rear detachmentNachrichtenoffizier (abbreviated NO) German communications officerNachtjagdgeschwader (abbreviated NJG) German night fighter wingNachtjagdgruppe (abbreviated NJGr.) German night fighter groupNachtjagdschule German night fighter training schoolNachtjagdversuchskommando German air force night fighter test detachmentNachtjäger German word for night fighterNachtschlachtgruppe (abbreviated NSGr.) German night ground-attack groupNahaufklärungsgeschwader (abbreviated NAG) German short-range reconnaissance wingNahaufklärungsgruppe(abbreviated NAGr.) German short-range reconnaissance groupNational Guard United States reserve military forceNationaleVolksarmee (abbreviated NVA) East German post-war armed forcesNavy Air Corps American naval flying armNCO Non-Commissioned Officer Near miss Bomb landing close to a ship
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Notlandung German word for emergency landingNotwurf German word for emergency [bomb] releaseOberbefehlshaberderLuftwaffe (abbreviated Ob.d.L.) German commander-in-chief of the air forceOberbefehlshaber Süd (abbreviated OBS) German commander-in-chief southOberkommandoderLuftwaffe (abbreviated OKL) German air force high commandOberkommando der Marine (abbreviated OKM) German navy high commandOberkommando der Wehrmacht (abbreviated OKW) German armed forces high commandOberkommando des Heeres (abbreviated OKH) German army high commandOffizier z.b.V. German officer for special tasksOG Observation Group, American reconnaissance groupOperations Record Book (abbreviated ORB) British Operations Record Book, a Royal Air Force unit recordOS Observation Squadron, American reconnaissance squadronPanzerabwehrkanone (abbreviated Pak.) German word for anti-tank gunPanzerarmee Afrika German-Italian field command in North Africa, succeeded Panzergruppe from 24 January 1942Panzerblitz German anti-tank rocket used by aircraftPanzergruppe Afrika German-Italian field command in North Africa from 17 August 1941 to 23 January 1942Panzerkampfwagen (abbreviated Pz.Kpfw.) German word for tankPanzerschreck German anti-tank rocket used by aircraft and troopsPanzerspähwagen German word for armoured reconnaissance car Personenkraftwagen (abbreviated Pkw.) German word for passenger car PG American Pursuit Group, later Fighter GroupPlanquadrat (abbreviated Pl.Qu.) German map grid square reference (Pl.Qu. 14 Ost 41465, after May 1943: Pl.Qu. 05 Ost S OK65) Propagandakompanie (abbreviated PK) German propaganda companyPS American Pursuit Squadron, later Fighter SquadronRAAF Royal Australian Air ForceRAF British Royal Air ForceRamrod British air force short range bomber operation flown on Channel Front, similar to CircusRCAF Royal Canadian Air ForceReflexvisier (abbreviated Revi) German reflector gunsightRegia Aeronautica Italian air forceReichsarbeitsdienst (abbreviated RAD) German national labour serviceReichsluftfahrtministerium (abbreviated RLM) German air ministry, with the abbreviation RLM serving as the designator for German aircraft camouflage coloursReichsmarschall German marshal of the empire, Hermann GöringReichsverteidigung (abbreviated RV) German word for Reich defence, applied to Luftwaffeoperations in defence of GermanyReichswehr German army before 1935Rhubarb British air force operation flown on Channel Front by fighters and fighter-bombers at low altitude searching for ground targets of opportunityRitterkreuzträger German holder of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron CrossRNZAF Royal New Zealand Air ForceRodeo British air force operation, a fighter sweep intended to draw German fighters into the airRotte German formation consisting of two aircraft led by a Rottenführer, plural RottenR/T Radio TelephonyRumpf German word for fuselageSAAF South African Air ForceSammelmitteilung German order or communicationSanitäts-Flugbereitschaft German air force ambulance unitSC Sprengbombe Cylindrisch, German thin-walled, general purpose high-explosive bomb for use against soft targets, 250 or 500 kg (SC 250 or SC 500)Schlachtflieger German ground-attack pilot or pilotsSchlachtflugzeug German word for ground-attack aircraftSchlachtgeschwader (abbreviated Sch.G., later SG) German ground-attack wingSchlachtstaffel German ground-attack squadronSchlauchboot German word for rubber dinghySchnellkampfgeschwader (abbreviated SKG) German fast bomber wingSchützenpanzerwagen (abbreviated SPW) German half-tracked armoured personnel carrierSchwarm German formation consisting of four aircraft led by a Schwarmführer, plural SchwärmeSD SprengbombeDickwändig. German thick-walled, armour-piercing or semi-armour piercing high-explosive bomb for use against lightly armoured targetsSeeaufklärungsgruppe (abbreviated SAGr.) German maritime reconnaissance groupSeeflugzeug German word for seaplaneSeenotdienst German sea rescue serviceSeenotstaffel (abbreviated SNSt.) German sea rescue squadronSegelflugzeug German word for gliderSeitenruder German word for rudderSoldbuch German pay book issued to every member of the German armed forces. It included unit information and a record of all equipment issued as well as other detailsSonderkommando German special unitSpecial Air Service (abbreviated SAS) British special forces unitSplitterbombe German word for fragmentation bombSquadriglia Italian air force unit, equivalent to a German Geschwader, plural SquadriglieSquadron Royal Air Force unit subordinate to a Wing, with an official strength of 12 to 40 aircraftSS Steam Ship, a designation for a ship powered by steamStab German headquarters, plural Stäbe
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Stabsarzt German staff doctorStabskompanie German word for headquarters company. Responsible for supplies, administration etc.Stabsschwarm German Luftwaffe headquarters formation of four aircraftStaffel German Luftwaffe squadron subordinate to a Gruppe, with an official strength of 12 to 20 aircraft, plural StaffelnStaffelführer (abbreviated Stafü) Acting leader of a StaffelStaffelkapitän (abbreviated Staka) Leader of a Staffel, plural StaffelkapitäneStalag Luft German abbreviation for Stammlager Luft, a prisoner of war camp for airmenStammkennzeichen (abbreviated Stkz) German four letter factory code applied to newly built aircraft. Also used as a radio call sign, for example on non-operational flightsSteckrübenverfahren Rechlin Rechlin turnip procedure, a German anti-shipping tacticStellvertreter (abbreviated Stellv.) German word for deputySternmotor German word for radial engineSTOL Abbreviation for short take-off and landing aircraftStorch German word for stork, and the nickname for the Fieseler Fi 156 liaison aircraftStormo Italian air force unit, equivalent to a German GeschwaderStuka-Kette Formation of three aircraft, used by Luftwaffe bomber and dive-bomber unitsSturzkampfflugzeug (abbreviated Stuka) German word for dive-bomber, commonly associated with the Junkers Ju 87Sturzkampfgeschwader (abbreviated St.G.) German air force dive-bomber wingTechnischerOffizier (abbreviated TO) German Technical OfficerTF United States Navy Task ForceTiefangriff German word for low-level attackTiefflug German word for low-level flightTransportfliegergeschwader (abbreviated TG) German air force transport wingTransportfliegergruppe (abbreviated TGr.) German air force transport groupTrialen Explosive intended primarily for anti-shipping bombsÜberführung German word for transferÜbung German word for training or practise, so Übungsflug is a training or practise flightULTRA Security classification for German signals from high-grade machine ciphers intercepted and decoded by the BritishUnternehmen German word for undertaking or operationUSAAC United States Army Air Corps, precursor to USAAFUSAAF United States Army Air ForceUSAF United States Air Force, successor to the USAAF, created in 1947USAFIME United States Army Forces in the Middle East, later to become part of the Ninth Air ForceUSN United States NavyUSS United States Ship, a United States Navy vesselVerband German unit or formation, plural VerbändeVerbindungsstaffel German air force liaison squadronVerlegung German word for transferVerletzt(abbreviated verl.) German word for non-operational injuryVerlust German word for loss or casualtyVermisst German word for missingVernichtet German word for annihilatedVersuchskommandofürPanzerbekämpfung Experimental German air force unit for tank combat. Established in February 1943 and converted into 10.(Pz.)/SG 77 and 10.(Pz.)/SG 2 on 18 October 1943 when the Luftwaffe ground-attack branch was reorganizedVerwundet (abbreviated verw.) German word for operational wound or injuryViermot German slang for four-engine bomber, usually referring to American daylight bombersVorkommando German forward detachment, in charge of setting up facilities before the arrival of a unitWehrmacht German armed forcesWehrpass German service and conduct book (units, promotions, awards)Werknummer (abbreviated WNr.) German aircraft serial number (abbreviated various ways during the war, with Werk-Nr. and W.-Nr. seemingly the official abbreviations)Werkstattflug German word for test or workshop flightWirkung German word for effectWNTF American Western Naval Task Force in the invasion of SicilyW/T Wireless Telegraphy (morse code)Wüstennotstaffel German desert rescue squadronY-Service Allied wireless intercept serviceZerstörer German heavy fighter, most notably the Bf 110, Me 210 and Me 410Zerstörergeschwader (abbreviated ZG) German heavy fighter wingZerstörergruppe (abbreviated ZGr.) German heavy fighter groupZerstörerschule (abbreviated ZS) German heavy fighter training schoolZerstört German word for destroyedZiel German word for target, objective or aimZünder German word for bomb fuse
Thanks to Nick Beale, Clint Mitchell, Martin Pegg, Konrad Schmittlein, Norbert Schuchbauer, Dan Zamansky and Ralph Zimmer for additions or corrections to various sections.
© Air War Publications 20176
Soviet AbbreviationsAbbreviation Soviet Term English TermAAE Artillerii Aviatsionnaya Eskadrilya Soviet Artillery Spotting Aviation Squadron of Coastal DefenceBAD Bombardirovochnyy Aviatsionnya Diviziya Bomber Aviation DivisionBAP Bombardirovochnyy Aviatsionnyy Polk Bomber Aviation RegimentG Gvardeyskiy Guards (included before unit designation)IAD Istrebitelnaya Aviatsionnaya Diviziya Soviet Fighter Aviation DivisionIAK Istrebitelniy Aviatsionniy Korpus Soviet Fighter Aviation CorpsIAP Istrebitelnyy Aviatsionnyy Polk Soviet Fighter Aviation RegimentKBF Karsnoznamenniy Baltijski Flot Red Banner Baltic FleetKRAP Korrektirovochniy Razvedyvatelnnyy Aviatsionnyy Polk Soviet Artillery Spotting Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment MTAD Minno-Torpednaya Aviatsionnaya Diviziya Soviet Mine-Torpedo Aviation DivisionMTAP Minno-Torpednaya Aviatsionnyy Polk Soviet Mine-Torpedo Aviation RegimentNBAD NochnoyBombardirovochnyyDiviziya Soviet Night Bomber Aviation DivisionNBAP NochnoyBombardirovochnyyAviatsionnyyPolk Soviet Night Bomber Aviation RegimentOAE PLO Otdelnaya Aviatsionnaya Eskadrilya Protivolodotsnaya Oborona Independent Anti-Submarine Aviation SquadronORAP Otdelnyy Razvedyvatelnnyy Aviatsionnyy Polk Soviet Independent Reconnaissance Aviation RegimentPBAP Pikiruyushchiy Bombardirovochnyy Aviatsionnyy Polk Soviet Dive Bomber Aviation Regiment RAP Razvedyvatelnnyy Aviatsionnyy Polk Soviet Reconnaissance Aviation RegimentShAD Shturmovaya Aviatsionnaya Diviziya Soviet Shturmovik Aviation DivisionShAK Shturmovoy Aviatsionnyy Korpus Soviet Shturmovik Aviation CorpsShAP Shturmovoy Aviatsionnyy Polk Soviet Shturmovik Aviation RegimentVA Vozdushnaya Armiya Soviet Air ArmyVVS Voyenno-Vozdushnyye Sily Military Air Forces
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Tabl
e 1:
Air
Forc
e R
anks
Luftw
affe
RA
FU
SAA
FVV
SR
egia
Aer
onau
tica
Gen
eral
feld
mar
scha
ll (G
FM)
Mar
shal
of t
he R
oyal
Air
Forc
e (M
RAF
)G
ener
al o
f the
Arm
y (5
-sta
r) (G
A)G
lavn
yy M
arsh
al A
viat
siyi
(Sup
rem
e Ai
r Mar
shal
)M
ares
cial
lo d
ell’A
ria
Gen
eral
ober
st (G
en.O
bst.)
Air C
hief
Mar
shal
(AC
M)
Gen
eral
(4-S
tar)
(Gen
.)M
arsh
al A
viat
siyi
(Air
Mar
shal
)G
ener
ale
d’A
rmat
a A
erea
Gen
eral
der
Flie
ger (
GdF
)1Ai
r Mar
shal
(AM
)Li
eute
nant
Gen
eral
(3-S
tar)
(Lt.G
en.)
Gen
eral
-Pol
kovn
ik (C
olon
el-G
ener
al)
Gen
eral
e di
Squ
adra
Aer
ea
Gen
eral
leut
nant
(Gen
.Lt.)
Air V
ice-
Mar
shal
(AVM
)M
ajor
Gen
eral
(2-S
tar)
(Maj
.Gen
.)G
ener
al-L
eyte
nant
(Lie
uten
ant-G
ener
al)
Gen
eral
e di
Div
isio
ne A
erea
Gen
eral
maj
or (G
en.M
aj.)
Air C
omm
odor
e (A
/Cdr
e.)
Brig
adie
r Gen
eral
(1-S
tar)
(Brig
.Gen
.)G
ener
al-M
ajor
(Maj
or-G
ener
al)
Gen
eral
e di
Brig
ata
Aer
ea
Obe
rst
Gro
up C
apta
in (G
/Cap
t.)C
olon
el (C
ol.)
Pol
kovn
ik (C
olon
el)
Col
onne
llo
Obe
rstle
utna
nt (O
bers
tlt.)
Win
g C
omm
ande
r (W
/Cdr
.)Li
eute
nant
Col
onel
(Lt.
Col
.)P
odpo
lkov
nik
(Lie
uten
ant-C
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el)
Tene
nte
Col
onne
llo
Maj
orSq
uadr
on L
eade
r (S/
Ldr.)
Maj
or
Maj
or (M
ajor
)M
aggi
ore
Hau
ptm
ann
(Hpt
m.)
Flig
ht L
ieut
enan
t (F/
Lt.)
Cap
tain
(Cap
t.)K
apita
n (C
apta
in)
1a C
apita
no
Obe
rleut
nant
(Obl
t.)Fl
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Offi
cer (
F/O
.)Fi
rst L
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enan
t (1/
Lt.)
Sta
rshi
yi L
eyte
nant
(Sen
ior L
ieut
enan
t)1a
Ten
ente
Leut
nant
(Lt.)
Pilo
t Offi
cer (
P/O
.)Se
cond
Lie
uten
ant (
2/Lt
.)Le
yten
ant (
Lieu
tena
nt)
Tene
nte
Sot
tote
nent
e
Aiu
tant
e di
Bat
tagl
ia
Obe
rfähn
rich
(Obf
hr.)*
Flig
ht O
ffice
r (F/
O.)
Mla
dshi
y Le
yten
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or L
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enan
t)M
ares
cial
lo M
aggi
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Fähn
rich
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Mar
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o
Sta
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arra
nt O
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inai
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Obe
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Flig
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erge
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1/Sg
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Sta
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Seni
or S
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Ser
gent
Mag
gior
e
Feld
web
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w.)
Serg
eant
(Sgt
.)M
aste
r Ser
gean
t (M
/Sgt
.)2S
erzh
ant (
Serg
eant
)
Unt
erfe
ldw
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(Ufw
.)Te
chni
cal S
erge
ant (
T/Sg
t.)S
erge
nt
Unt
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(Uffz
.)C
orpo
ral (
Cpl
.)St
aff S
erge
ant (
S/Sg
t.)M
lads
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Ser
zhan
t (Ju
nior
Ser
gean
t)
Sta
bsge
freite
r (S
tgef
r.)
Hau
ptge
freite
r (H
gefr.
)Se
rgea
nt (S
gt.)
Obe
rgef
reite
r (O
bgef
r.)Le
adin
g Ai
rcra
ftman
(LAC
)C
orpo
ral (
Cpl
.)Ye
freyt
o (C
orpo
ral)
Prim
o Av
iere
Gef
reite
r (G
efr.)
Airc
raftm
an F
irst C
lass
Priv
ate
Firs
t Cla
ss (P
FC)
Flie
ger (
Flg.
)Ai
rcra
ftman
Sec
ond
Cla
ssPr
ivat
e (P
vt.)
Kra
snoa
rmey
ets
(Red
Arm
y M
an)
Avie
re
1 Variants such as General der Jagdflieger and General der Schlachtflieger were not ranks, but titles introduced as the war progressed and the need for more area-specific titles arose.2 Master Sergeant was above First Sergeant until September 1942.
Ranks
NB:
The
se ra
nks w
ere
only
roug
hly
com
para
ble
betw
een
the
air f
orce
s, b
ecau
se th
ere
wer
e di
ffere
nces
in th
e ar
eas o
f res
pons
ibili
ty, n
umbe
r of m
en
unde
r the
ir c
omm
and
etc.
Luftwaffe o
ffice
r can
dida
tes h
ad th
e tit
le F
ahne
njun
ker (
cade
t) in
fron
t of t
heir
exis
ting
rank
whi
le th
ey w
aite
d fo
r the
ir co
mm
issi
on to
com
e th
roug
h:Fa
hnen
junk
er-S
tabs
feldw
ebel
(Fhj
.Stfw
.)* F
ahne
njun
ker-
Obe
rfeld
web
el (F
hj.O
bfw
.) eq
uiva
lent
to a
Oberfähnrich
** F
ahne
njun
ker-
Feld
web
el (F
hj.F
w.)
equi
vale
nt to
a Fähnrich
Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
(Fhj.Uffz.)
Fahn
enju
nker
-Obe
rgefr
eiter
(Fhj
.Obg
efr.)
Fahn
enju
nker
-Gefr
eiter
(Fhj
.Gefr
.)
Hau
ptfel
dweb
el w
as th
e G
erm
an e
quiv
alen
t of a
Com
pany
Ser
gean
t Maj
or, b
ut w
as a
title
and
not
an
offici
al ra
nk d
urin
g th
e Se
cond
Wor
ld W
ar. I
n a LuftwaffeStaffel h
e w
as in
form
ally
kno
wn
as th
e Staffelspieß
. The
Hau
ptfel
dweb
el w
as u
sual
ly a
n O
berfe
ldw
ebel
or S
tabs
feldw
ebel.
Hau
ptfel
dweb
el la
ter
beca
me
an N
CO
-ran
k in
the
post
-war
Ger
man
arm
y.
© Air War Publications 20178
Luftwaffe AwardsGroβkreuzdesEisernenKreuzes (Grand Cross of the Iron Cross)RitterkreuzmitGoldenemEichenlaub (Knight’s Cross with Golden Oak Leaves)RitterkreuzmitBrillanten (Knight’s Cross with Diamonds)RitterkreuzmitSchwertern(Knight’s Cross with Swords)RitterkreuzmitEichenlaub (Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves)RitterkreuzdesEisernenKreuzes (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross)Ehrenpokal (Honour Goblet)Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (German Cross in Gold)Eiserne Kreuz 1. Klasse (Iron Cross First Class)Eiserne Kreuz 2. Klasse (Iron Cross Second Class)FrontflugspangeinGold (mission clasp for 110 missions)FrontflugspangeinSilber (mission clasp for 60 missions)FrontflugspangeinBronze (mission clasp for 20 missions)Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold (Wound badge in Gold)3
Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber (Wound badge in Silver)4
Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (Wound badge in Black)5
VVS Awards7
Geroy Sovyetskogo Soyuza (Hero of the Soviet Union)Orden «Pobeda» (Order of Victory)Orden Krasnogo Znameni (Order of the Red Banner)Orden Otechestvennoj vojny pervoj stepeni (Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class)Orden Otechestvennoj vojny vtoroj stepeni (Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class)Orden Suvorova pervoj stepeni (Order of Suvorov 1st Class)Orden Suvorova vtoroj stepeni (Order of Suvorov 2nd Class)Orden Suvorova tret’ej stepeni (Order of Suvorov 2nd Class)Orden Kutuzova pervoj stepeni (Order of Kutuzov 1st Class)Orden Kutuzova vtoroj stepeni (Order of Kutuzov 2nd Class)OrdenKutuzovatеret’ejstepeni(Order of Kutuzov 3rd Class)Orden «Slava» pervoj stepeni (Order of Glory 1st Class)Orden «Slava» vtoroj stepeni (Order of Glory 2nd Class)Orden «Slava» tret’ej stepeni (Order of Glory 3rd Class)Orden Lenina (Order of Lenin)Medal «Za otvagu» (Medal “For Courage”)Medal «Za boevye zaslugi (Medal “For Battle Merit”)
USAAF Awards Medal of Honor (MOH)Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)Silver Star (SS)Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)Air Medal (AM)Purple Heart (PH)Prisoner of War Medal (POW)
RAF Awards6
Victoria Cross (VC)Distinguished Service Order (DSO)Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)Air Force Cross (AFC)Air Force Medal (AFM)Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) (CGM)Mentioned in Despatches (MID)
Awards
3 1st class, for those wounded five or more times (could be awarded posthumously), total blindness, “loss of manhood”, or severe brain damage via hostile action.4 2nd class, for those wounded three or four times, or suffering loss of a hand, foot or eye from hostile action (also partial loss of hearing), facial disfigurement or brain damage via hostile action.5 3rd class, for those wounded once or twice by hostile action (including air raids), or frostbitten in the line of duty. 6 The British also gave the following campaign, naval and civil medals and awards: 1939-1945 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War
Medal 1939-1945, George Cross, Atlantic Star, Burma Star, Military Medal, Pacific Star and George Medal (civil).7 The Soviets also gave the following medals: Order of Ushakov (navy), Order of Nakhimov (navy), Order of Alexander Nevsky (mainly civil) and Order of the Red Star.
Listed below are the most relevant awards given to airmen and high ranking air force officers during the Second World War. A variety of campaign- and battle-specific awards existed, as did specific army, navy, and civil awards, but please consult other resources for full lists and details of those.
Above: Ofw. Erich Morgenstern (center) and Fw. Johann Trummer (right) of I. Gruppe, Schlachtgeschwader 5 at their Ritterkreuz awards ceremony on 4 May 1944. Erich Morgenstern survived the war and passed away in 2000, and Johann Trummer was still alive in August 2017.
Right: Order of the Red Banner. It was awarded for “recognised heroism in combat or otherwise extraordinary accomplishments of military valour during combat operations”.
Right: The Distinguished Flying Cross. It is awarded for “an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy”. If a British airman already had an award but performed deeds sufficient to earn another, he was awarded a Bar to that award. This applied to all RAF awards listed here (except Mentioned in Despatches).
Right: Air Medal. The medal was created in 1942 and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. If a United States airman already had the Silver Star, Purple Heart, DFC, DSC or AM, but performed deeds sufficient to earn another, he was awarded Oak Leaf Clusters to that award.
The titles listed below can be consulted for further information about medals:Behr, Volker A. Typenkompass-DeutscheAuszeichungen-Kampf-undTätigkeitsabzeichenderLuftwaffe1935-1945, Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart, 2016, ISBN 978-3-613-03875-2.Risk, James Charles British Orders and Decorations, Numismatic Society, New York, 1945, ASIN B002FYL5K8.Aldebol, Anthony ArmyAirForceandUnitedStatesAirForce:Decorations,Medals,Ribbons,BadgesandInsignia1941to1947, Medals of America, Fountain Inn, 1998, ISBN 1-8844-5221-3
© Air War Publications 20179
Luftwaffe Air Unit Organization
At t
he b
egin
ning
of t
he w
ar Luftflotte 1
to 4
exis
ted,
but
as t
he w
ar d
evel
oped
Luftflotte 5
w
as cr
eate
d to
cove
r Nor
way
, Fin
land
and
the n
orth
ern
part
of t
he S
ovie
t Uni
on. A
fter
the
war
mov
ed e
astw
ard
into
Rus
sia,
Luftflotte 6
was
cre
ated
in M
ay 1
943,
follo
wed
by
Luftflotte R
eich
in F
ebru
ary
1944
for t
he a
ir d
efen
ce o
f Ger
man
y.
A F
liege
rkor
ps w
as u
sual
ly s
ubor
dina
te to
a Luftflotte,
and
com
prise
d of
uni
ts o
f var
ious
fu
nctio
ns (fi
ghte
rs, b
ombe
rs, g
roun
d-att
ack
and
recc
e). T
he F
liege
rkor
ps w
as in
tend
ed to
be
a m
obile
ent
ity th
at co
uld
be d
eplo
yed
rapi
dly
at th
e fr
ont a
s the
situ
atio
n re
quire
d. T
he
first
Flie
gerk
orps
to b
e cre
ated
with
a sp
ecifi
c pur
pose
was
VIII
. Flie
gerk
orps
(gro
und-
attac
k),
afte
r the
Pol
ish c
ampa
ign.
The
stre
ngth
of a
Flie
gerk
orps
was
300
to 7
50 a
ircra
ft an
d th
e co
mm
andi
ng o
ffice
r usu
ally
hel
d th
e ra
nk o
f Gen
eral
leut
nant
or G
ener
al d
er F
liege
r.A
Flie
gerd
ivis
ion
was
sim
ilar t
o a
Flie
gerk
orps
, onl
y sm
alle
r.A
Jagd
divi
sion
was
sm
alle
r tha
n an
d su
bord
inat
e to
a F
liege
rkor
ps o
r Jag
dkor
ps, a
nd
adm
inis
tere
d on
ly fi
ghte
r un
its. T
he c
omm
andi
ng o
ffice
r us
ually
hel
d th
e ra
nk o
f O
bers
t, G
ener
alm
ajor
or G
ener
alle
utna
nt.
A G
erm
an Luftwaffe
Ges
chw
ader
(w
ing)
was
div
ided
into
Gru
ppen
with
an
offici
al
stre
ngth
of 1
12 to
276
air
craf
t and
the
com
man
ding
offi
cer,
the
Ges
chw
ader
kom
mod
ore,
usua
lly h
eld
the
rank
of O
bers
tleut
nant
or O
bers
t.
A G
rupp
e (gr
oup)
was
eith
er o
rgan
ic a
s a co
mpo
nent
of a
Ges
chw
ader
or i
ndep
ende
nt
(aut
onom
ous)
. The
offi
cial
stre
ngth
was
36
to 4
8 ai
rcra
ft an
d th
e co
mm
andi
ng o
ffice
r, th
e G
rupp
enko
mm
ande
ur, u
sual
ly h
eld
the
rank
of H
aupt
man
n or
Maj
or.
A Staffel w
as a
tact
ical
uni
t with
an o
ffici
al st
reng
th o
f 12 t
o 20
airc
raft
and
the c
omm
andi
ng
office
r, th
e Staffelführer
or Staffelkapitän,
usu
ally
hel
d th
e ran
k of
Leu
tnan
t or O
berle
utna
nt.
The
abov
e is
a si
mpl
ified
des
crip
tion
of th
e Luftwaffe o
rgan
izat
ion
and
form
atio
ns. T
he ti
tles l
iste
d be
low
can
be co
nsul
ted
for f
urth
er in
form
atio
n ab
out t
his s
ubje
ct:
Boog
, Hor
st DiedeutscheLuftwaffenführung1935-1945:Führungsprobleme,Spitzengliederung,Generalstabsausbildung,
Deu
tsch
e Ve
rlags
-Ans
talt,
Stu
ttgar
t, 19
82, I
SBN
3-4
21-0
195-
3.H
oote
n, E
.R. PhoenixTriumphant:TheRiseandRiseoftheLuftwaffe,
Arm
s & A
rmou
r Pre
ss, L
ondo
n, 1
994,
ISBN
1-8
5409
-181
-6.
Mur
ray,
Will
iam
son StrategyforDefeat:TheLuftwaffe1933-1945
, Cha
rtw
ell B
ooks
, Sec
aucu
s (N
J), 1
986,
ISBN
1-5
5521
-087
-2.
Pric
e, A
lfred
LuftwaffeHandbook1939-1945
, Ian
Alla
n, L
ondo
n, 1
977,
ISBN
0-7
110-
0632
-6.
Obe
rkom
man
do d
er W
ehrm
acht
(OKW
)
Obe
rkom
man
do d
er L
uftw
affe
(OKL
)O
berk
omm
ando
des
Hee
res
(OKH
)O
berk
omm
ando
der
Mar
ine
(OKM
)
Kam
pfge
schw
ader
(KG
)
Luftfl
otte
4 (L
fl. 4
)
Jagd
gesc
hwad
er (J
G)
Ges
chw
ader
stab
III. G
rupp
e
Stur
zkam
pfge
schw
ader
(St.G
.)
Luftfl
otte
2 (L
fl. 2
)Lu
ftflot
te 1
(Lfl.
1)Lu
ftflot
te 3
(Lfl.
3)
1. S
taffe
l
I. G
rupp
e
2. S
taffe
l
II. G
rupp
e
3. S
taffe
l
Gru
ppen
stab
I./J
G
Sch
war
m
Rot
teR
otte
Jagd
divi
sion
Flie
gerk
orps
Jagd
korp
s
Jagd
divi
sion
Flie
gerk
orps
Flie
gerd
ivis
ion
Sch
war
m
Rot
teR
otte
... ......... ...
Sch
war
m
Rot
teR
otte
...
Fuse
lage
mar
king
Upp
er a
nd lo
wer
w
ing
mar
king
Tail
mar
king
A S
chw
arm
was
a ta
ctic
al fo
rmat
ion
of fo
ur a
ircr
aft,
led
by a
Sch
war
mfü
hrer
, who
coul
d be
led
by a
non
-com
mis
sion
ed o
ffice
r. A
thr
ee-a
ircr
aft
bom
ber
and
dive
-bom
ber
form
atio
n ex
iste
d, c
alle
d a Kette
.A
Rotte w
as a
subd
ivis
ion
of a
Sch
war
m w
ith tw
o ai
rcra
ft, co
nsis
ting
of th
e Rottenführer
and
his
win
gman
.
Abo
ve: Luftwaffea
ircra
ft m
arki
ngs
chan
ged
seve
ral t
imes
thro
ugho
ut th
e w
ar, a
nd th
e ab
ove
are
only
exa
mpl
es o
f mar
king
s.
Flie
gerfü
hrer
*
* A F
liege
rführ
er w
as u
sual
ly a
sp
ecia
l geo
grap
hic
com
man
d an
d of
ten
tem
pora
ry in
nat
ure.
Air
Form
atio
ns O
nly
© Air War Publications 201710
RAF Air Unit Organization
Flyi
ng c
omm
ands
wer
e re
spon
sibl
e fo
r al
l asp
ects
of o
pera
tions
dur
ing
the
Seco
nd
Wor
ld W
ar, w
here
as m
aint
enan
ce, s
uppl
y an
d ad
min
istr
atio
n w
ere
in a
sep
arat
e co
mm
and.
The
flyi
ng c
omm
ands
wer
e sp
lit in
to fi
ghte
r ai
rcra
ft, b
ombe
rs, c
oast
al
dutie
s, a
nd g
roun
d-su
ppor
t, an
d w
ere
com
man
ded
by a
n A
ir M
arsh
al.
Gro
ups
wer
e su
bdiv
isio
ns o
f ope
ratio
nal c
omm
ands
res
pons
ible
for
cert
ain
type
s of
ope
ratio
ns, o
r fo
r op
erat
ions
in a
lim
ited
geog
raph
ical
are
a. C
omm
ande
d by
a
Gro
up C
apta
in.
Win
gs w
ere a
gro
upin
g of
two
or m
ore fl
ying
squa
dron
s and
wer
e sup
port
ed b
y se
para
te
adm
inist
ratio
n an
d se
rvice
win
gs. D
urin
g th
e Sec
ond
Wor
ld W
ar th
e win
gs w
ere n
umbe
red,
co
mpa
red
to th
e m
oder
n da
y RA
F w
here
they
are
nam
ed. A
win
g w
as co
mm
ande
d by
a
Win
g C
omm
ande
r and
the
offici
al s
tren
gth
was
48
to 9
6 ai
rcra
ft.
A fl
ight
was
a s
ub-d
ivis
ion
of a
squ
adro
n co
mm
ande
d by
a F
light
Lie
uten
ant.
Earl
y in
the
war
eac
h fli
ght c
onsi
sted
of s
ix a
ircr
aft (
two
sect
ions
of t
hree
), an
d la
ter
in th
e w
ar e
ight
air
craf
t whe
n th
e RA
F ad
opte
d th
e Luftwaffe f
our-
finge
r for
mat
ion.
A fl
ying
squ
adro
n w
as th
e sm
alle
st a
uton
omou
s ai
rcra
ft un
it w
ith a
str
engt
h of
24
airc
raft.
A s
quad
ron
was
com
man
ded
by a
Squ
adro
n Le
ader
.
The
abov
e is
a si
mpl
ified
des
crip
tion
of th
e Ro
yal A
ir Fo
rce
orga
niza
tion
and
form
atio
ns. T
he ti
tle b
elow
can
be re
ad fo
r mor
e de
tail:
RAF
War
Man
ual:
Org
aniz
atio
n an
d A
dmin
istra
tion
Part
Tw
o, M
ilita
ry L
ibra
ry R
esea
rch
Serv
ice,
Lon
don,
200
9, IS
BN 1
-847
9-18
47-6
.
Chi
efs
of S
taff
Com
mitt
ee
(CO
S)
Roy
al A
ir Fo
rce
Briti
sh A
rmy
Roy
al N
avy
RAF
in N
orth
ern
Irela
ndFi
ghte
r C
omm
and
Coa
stal
C
omm
and
Bom
ber
Com
man
d
Win
g
Gro
upG
roup
Win
g
Gro
up
Squa
dron
... ......
Ove
rsea
s C
omm
ands
Hom
e C
omm
ands
Arm
y C
o-O
pera
tion
Com
man
d
Ballo
on
Com
man
d
Squa
dron
Squa
dron
Flyi
ng T
rain
ing
Com
man
dM
aint
enan
ce
Com
man
dTe
ch T
rain
ing
Com
man
d
Non
Ope
ratio
nal C
omm
ands
A Fl
ight
No.
1 S
ectio
nN
o. 2
Sec
tion
..
..
..
..
Abo
ve: R
AF
airc
raft
mar
king
s ch
ange
d se
vera
l tim
es th
roug
hout
the
war
, and
the
abov
e ar
e on
ly e
xam
ples
of m
arki
ngs.
Fuse
lage
mar
king
Upp
er a
nd lo
wer
w
ing
mar
king
Tail
mar
king
Air
Form
atio
ns O
nly
B Fl
ight
No.
1 S
ectio
nN
o. 2
Sec
tion
...
© Air War Publications 201711
USAAF Air Unit Organization
The
abov
e is
a si
mpl
ified
des
crip
tion
of th
e U
nite
d St
ates
Air
Arm
y Fo
rce
orga
niza
tion
and
form
atio
ns. T
he ti
tle b
elow
is re
com
men
ded
for f
urth
er re
adin
g:M
aure
r, M
aure
r Air
Forc
e Com
bat U
nits
of W
orld
War
II, O
ffice
of A
ir Fo
rce
His
tory
, Was
hing
ton
D.C
., 19
83.
The
book
list
s all
war
time
USA
AF
Gro
ups,
Win
gs, D
ivis
ions
, Com
man
ds a
nd A
ir Fo
rces
, and
is (l
egal
ly) a
vaila
ble
onlin
e he
re: w
ww
.ibib
lio.o
rg/h
yper
war
/AA
F/A
AFH
S/A
AFH
S-14
0.1.
Fuse
lage
mar
king
, upp
er a
nd lo
wer
win
g m
arki
ng
No
gene
ric
tail
mar
king
exi
sted
, an
d if
pres
ent i
t co
uld
vary
dow
n to
sq
uadr
on le
vel.
Abo
ve: U
SAA
F ai
rcra
ft m
arki
ngs c
hang
ed se
vera
l tim
es d
urin
g th
e w
ar, b
ut th
e ab
ove
wer
e th
e ba
sic
shap
es, f
rom
whi
ch th
ere
wer
e va
riat
ions
.
An
air f
orce
was
num
bere
d an
d di
vide
d in
to co
mm
ands
bas
ed in
a w
ider
geo
grap
hica
l ar
ea, r
espo
nsib
le fo
r all
type
s of
ope
ratio
ns. T
he c
omm
andi
ng o
ffice
r of a
n ai
r for
ce
usua
lly h
eld
the
rank
of L
ieut
enan
t Gen
eral
(3-s
tar)
. The
re w
ere
sixt
een
num
bere
d ai
r for
ces,
Fir
st th
roug
h Fi
fteen
th, a
nd a
lso
the
Twen
tieth
.
A c
omm
and
was
sub
ordi
nate
to th
e nu
mbe
red
air
forc
e, a
nd u
sual
ly c
onsi
sted
of
two
or th
ree
win
gs. D
ue to
the
size
of t
he E
ight
h A
ir F
orce
, a la
yer
of a
ir d
ivis
ions
ex
iste
d be
twee
n th
e com
man
d an
d th
e win
gs. T
he co
mm
andi
ng o
ffice
r of a
com
man
d us
ually
hel
d th
e ran
k of
Bri
gadi
er G
ener
al. C
omm
ands
wer
e num
bere
d w
ith a
Rom
an
num
eral
des
igna
tor.
A g
roup
was
the
basi
c op
erat
iona
l aut
onom
ous
unit
in th
e U
SAA
F, a
nd c
onsi
sted
of
thre
e to
four
squ
adro
ns b
ased
at t
he s
ame
airfi
eld.
The
offi
cial
str
engt
h w
as 3
6 to
48
airc
raft
and
the
com
man
ding
offi
cer,
the
Gro
up C
omm
ande
r, us
ually
hel
d th
e ra
nk o
f Lie
uten
ant C
olon
el o
r Col
onel
.
A s
quad
ron
was
a ta
ctic
al u
nit w
ith a
n offi
cial
str
engt
h of
twel
ve a
ircr
aft a
nd th
e co
mm
andi
ng o
ffice
r, th
e Sq
uadr
on C
omm
ande
r, us
ually
hel
d th
e ra
nk o
f Maj
or.
A fl
ight
was
a ta
ctic
al fo
rmat
ion
of si
x ai
rcra
ft, le
d by
a F
light
Lea
der.
The t
erm
‘sec
tion‘
se
ems
to b
e th
e eq
uiva
lent
of a
flig
ht, a
nd is
som
etim
es u
sed.
An
elem
ent w
as a
subd
ivis
ion
of a
flig
ht w
ith th
ree
airc
raft,
cons
istin
g of
the
Elem
ent
Lead
er a
nd h
is tw
o w
ingm
en.
A w
ing
cons
iste
d of
thre
e or
mor
e gr
oups
and
the
com
man
ding
offi
cer,
the
Win
g C
omm
ande
r, us
ually
hel
d th
e ra
nk o
f Col
onel
.
28 M
ay 1
942
- 29
June
194
314
Aug
ust 1
942
- 14
Janu
ary
1947
Euro
pean
The
ater
of O
pera
tions
, U
nite
d St
ates
Arm
y (E
TOU
SA)
US
Air F
orce
s in
the
Briti
sh Is
les
(USA
FBI)
Arm
y G
roun
d Fo
rces
Arm
y Se
rvic
e Fo
rces
Figh
ter C
omm
and
Bom
ber C
omm
and
Gro
up
Win
gW
ing
Gro
up
Win
g
Squa
dron
...
Gro
und-
Air S
uppo
rt C
omm
and
Squa
dron
Squa
dron Fl
ight
Elem
ent
Elem
ent
..
..
..
Air F
orce
Serv
ice
Com
man
d
Gro
up
Squa
dron...
Air
Form
atio
ns O
nly
Flig
ht
Elem
ent
Elem
ent
...
© Air War Publications 201712
VVS Air Unit OrganizationA
bove
: Fus
elag
e, w
ing
and
tail
mar
king
s wer
e a re
d st
ar th
roug
hout
the w
ar. I
t var
ied
in
size
and
som
etim
es h
ad a
n ou
tline
of w
hite
or b
lack
. Fro
m 3
Sep
tem
ber 1
943
onw
ards
a
five c
entim
etre
whi
te o
utlin
e for
the r
ed st
ar m
arki
ng, a
nd a
n ad
ditio
nal o
ne ce
ntim
etre
re
d st
rip, w
as in
trod
uced
by
the
NK
O (P
eopl
e’s C
omm
issa
riat f
or D
efen
ce).
The
abov
e is
a si
mpl
ified
des
crip
tion
of th
e So
viet
Air
Forc
e or
gani
zatio
n an
d fo
rmat
ions
. For
furt
her r
eadi
ng th
e tit
le li
sted
bel
ow ca
n be
read
:H
arde
stry
, Von
& G
rinbe
rg, I
lya
Red
Phoe
nix
Risin
g: T
he S
oviet
Air
Forc
e in
Wor
ld W
ar II
(app
endi
x on
air
arm
ies)
, Uni
vers
ity P
ress
of K
ansa
s, K
ansa
s, 20
12, I
SBN
: 0-7
006-
1828
-7.
Air
War
Pub
licat
ions
wou
ld li
ke to
than
k D
an Z
aman
sky
for i
nput
and
revi
ew o
f thi
s dia
gram
and
text
.
Peop
le’s
Com
mis
saria
t for
D
efen
ce o
f the
Sov
iet U
nion
Mai
n D
irect
orat
e of
the
Red
Arm
y Ai
r For
ces
Sovi
et N
avy
Arm
y Ai
r For
ce/
Air C
orps
Figh
ter D
ivis
ion
... Long
-Ran
ge
Rec
onai
ssan
ce
Div
isio
n
Nig
ht B
ombe
r D
ivis
ion
Mix
ed D
ivis
ion
Bom
ber D
ivis
ion
Assa
ult D
ivis
ion
Figh
ter
Reg
imen
tFi
ghte
rR
egim
ent
Assa
ult
Reg
imen
tBo
mbe
r R
egim
ent
Figh
ter
Reg
imen
t
Air F
orce
of a
Fro
nt/
Air A
rmy
Figh
ter
Squa
dron
Figh
ter
Squa
dron
Figh
ter
Squa
dron
Gen
eral
Sta
ffof
the
Red
Arm
y*
Arm
y Ai
r For
ce/
Air C
orps
Ar
my
Air F
orce
/Ai
r Cor
ps
Arm
y Ai
r For
ce/
Air C
orps
An
Air
Forc
e of a
Fro
nt (f
or ex
ampl
e Air
Forc
e of t
he W
este
rn F
ront
) exi
sted
until
appr
oxim
atel
y M
ay 19
42, a
nd w
as th
en su
perc
eded
by an
entit
y ca
lled
an A
ir A
rmy
(VA)
. The
Air
Arm
ies w
ere
num
bere
d 1.V
A th
roug
h 18
.VA
. A
n A
ir A
rmy
cont
rolle
d al
l air
units
in a
giv
en o
pera
tiona
l are
a, an
d w
as
usua
lly co
mm
ande
d by
a Ge
nera
l-Ley
tenan
t, but
occa
siona
lly a
Gene
ral-M
ayor
.
An
Arm
y A
ir F
orce
(for
exam
ple A
ir F
orce
of t
he 5
. Arm
y) ex
iste
d un
til a
ppro
xim
atel
y M
ay 1
942,
and
was
then
supe
rced
ed b
y an
A
ir C
orps
(AK
), co
nsis
ting
of tw
o or
thre
e di
visi
ons a
nd 2
00 to
40
0 ai
rcra
ft, c
omm
ande
d by
a G
ener
al-Le
yten
ant.
An
Air
Div
isio
n (A
D) c
onsi
sted
of t
wo
to fo
ur re
gim
ents
with
60
to
160
airc
raft,
com
man
ded
by a
Pol
kovn
ik (C
olon
el).
Mos
t Div
isio
ns
oper
ated
one
type
of r
egim
ent,
for e
xam
ple fi
ghte
r or b
ombe
r, bu
t M
ixed
Div
isio
ns c
ontr
olle
d a
vari
ety
of re
gim
ent t
ypes
.
An
Air
Reg
imen
t (A
P) co
nsis
ted
of th
ree
to fo
ur sq
uadr
ons w
ith
30 to
60
airc
raft.
The
y w
ere
equi
pped
with
air
craf
t des
igne
d fo
r sp
ecifi
c ro
les:
air
-to-a
ir c
omba
t, gr
ound
sup
port
, bom
bing
etc
. an
d w
ere
com
man
ded
by a
Pod
polk
ovni
k (L
ieut
enan
t-Col
onel
).
An
Air
Squ
adro
n (A
E) c
onsi
sted
of t
en a
ircr
aft i
n bo
mbe
r uni
ts
and
twel
ve a
ircr
aft
in o
ther
typ
es o
f un
its. A
squ
adro
n w
as
com
man
ded
by a
Kap
itan.
A F
light
(Z
veno
) co
nsis
ted
of f
our
airc
raft
and
was
usu
ally
co
mm
ande
d by
a L
eyte
nant
.
The M
ain
Dire
ctor
ate o
f the
Red
Arm
y A
ir Fo
rces
was
the c
omm
and
whi
ch p
rovi
ded
a lin
k be
twee
n th
e G
ener
al S
taff
of th
e Re
d A
rmy
and
the o
pera
tiona
l uni
ts a
t the
fron
t.
Flig
ht
Pair
Pair
Flig
ht
Pair
Pair
Flig
ht
Pair
Pair
A p
air
was
the
smal
lest
tact
ical
form
atio
n us
ed b
y fig
hter
and
gr
ound
-atta
ck u
nits
. Usu
ally
com
man
ded
by a
Mla
dshi
y Le
yten
ant
(Jun
ior L
ieut
enan
t) or
Sta
rshi
y Se
rzha
nt (S
enio
r Ser
gean
t).
...* A
ll or
ders
wer
e is
sued
by
the
Ope
ratio
ns D
irect
orat
e of t
he G
ener
al
Staff
of th
e Red
Arm
y, in
cludi
ng th
ose
to th
e air
forc
e and
the n
avy.
Air
Form
atio
ns O
nly
© Air War Publications 201713
Regia Aeronautica Organization
The R
egia
Aer
onau
tica u
nder
wen
t a lo
t of s
truc
tura
l cha
nges
in th
e hig
her c
omm
ands
bet
wee
n 19
40 a
nd 1
943,
m
akin
g it
diffi
cult
to d
escr
ibe t
he o
rgan
izat
ion
laye
r by
laye
r. Th
eref
ore,
the d
escr
iptio
n be
low
is d
iffer
ent t
o th
ose
of o
ther
air
forc
es in
this
glo
ssar
y. H
igh
Com
man
dsIn
Jun
e 19
40 m
ost o
f th
e op
erat
iona
l uni
ts in
Ita
ly (
mai
nlan
d, S
icily
and
Sar
dini
a) w
ere
attac
hed
to
Div
ision
i Aer
ee o
r Brig
ate A
eree
, sub
ordi
nate
d to
a S
quad
ra A
erea
.O
n 10
June
194
0, o
pera
tiona
l uni
ts in
Sic
ily w
ere
attac
hed
to 2
a Squ
adra
Aer
ea, a
nd w
hen
it ca
me
back
to
Pad
ova,
to th
e Co
man
do A
eron
autic
a Si
cilia
. Oth
er s
uch
maj
or R
egia
Aer
onau
tica
entit
ies
at th
at ti
me
wer
e Co
man
do A
eron
autic
a Sa
rdeg
na, C
oman
do A
eron
autic
a de
ll’A
lban
ia, C
oman
do A
eron
autic
a de
ll’Eg
eo (A
egea
n),
Com
ando
Aer
onau
tica d
ella L
ibia
and
Com
ando
Aer
onau
tica A
frica
Orie
ntal
e Ita
liana
(Ita
lian
East
Afr
ica)
.O
pera
tiona
l uni
ts in
Lib
ya w
ere
attac
hed
to C
oman
do A
eron
autic
a del
la L
ibia
, but
on
25 Ju
ly 1
940,
the
5a Squ
adra
Aer
ea w
as fo
rmed
and
uni
ts w
ere a
ttach
ed to
it. 5
a Squ
adra
Aer
ea w
as d
isba
nded
on
15 A
pril
1943
. A
fter t
he fi
rst m
onth
s of t
he w
ar al
mos
t all
Div
ision
i Aer
ee an
d Br
igat
e Aer
ee w
ere d
isban
ded
and
oper
atio
nal
units
wer
e att
ache
d di
rect
ly to
the
Squa
dre A
eree
, or t
o th
e Co
man
di A
eron
autic
a or t
o op
erat
iona
l com
man
ds
subo
rdin
ated
to th
em. F
or ex
ampl
e, C
oman
do A
eron
autic
a Sici
lia h
ad, w
hen
oper
atio
nally
nee
ded,
a C
oman
do
Bom
bard
amen
to w
ith b
ombe
r uni
ts a
nd a
Com
ando
Cac
cia w
ith fi
ghte
r uni
ts. O
n 28
Feb
ruar
y 19
42, 1
a Squ
adra
A
erea
had
attac
hed
Com
ando
Cac
cia B
orea
(with
one
Fig
hter
Sto
rmo a
nd o
ne fi
ghte
r Gru
ppo a
uton
omou
s atta
ched
to
it), ComandoTuffatori (
dive
-bom
ber u
nit w
ith o
ne G
rupp
o, on
e Squ
adrig
lia an
d a d
ive-
bom
ber t
rain
ing
unit)
, pl
us tw
o bo
mbe
r Sto
rmi.
By m
id-M
arch
194
1 th
ere
wer
e on
ly tw
o Br
igat
e Aer
ee a
nd o
ne D
ivisi
one A
erea
left,
and
the
last
of t
hem
w
as d
isba
nded
on
15 F
ebru
ary
1942
.O
ther
regi
onal
com
man
ds w
ere f
orm
ed in
194
1-19
42. T
he m
ost i
mpo
rtan
t wer
e: C
oman
do A
eron
autic
a G
reci
a (G
reec
e); C
oman
do A
viaz
ione
Slo
veni
a e D
alm
azia
(Dal
mat
ia);
Com
ando
Aer
onau
tica F
ront
e Ori
enta
le
in R
ussi
a (f
orm
erly
Com
ando
Avi
azio
ne p
er il
C.S
.I.R
. (C
orpo
Spe
dizi
one
Ital
iano
in R
ussi
a));
Com
ando
Av
iazi
one C
orsi
ca; C
oman
do A
eron
autic
a Tu
nisi
a.
Ope
ratio
nal U
nits
Figh
ter S
torm
i (Ca
ccia
Ter
rest
re -
land
-bas
ed) w
ere f
orm
ed b
y tw
o G
rupp
i with
thre
e Squ
adrig
lie ea
ch. B
ombe
r St
orm
i (Bo
mba
rdam
ento
Ter
rest
re an
d BombardamentoMarittimo,
whi
ch b
ecam
e Bom
bard
amen
to T
erre
stre
in M
ay
1941
) and
torp
edo
bom
ber S
torm
i (A
eros
ilura
nti)
wer
e for
med
by
two
Gru
ppi w
ith tw
o Sq
uadr
iglie
each
. Gru
ppi
and
Squa
drig
lie co
uld
be au
tono
mou
s uni
ts. A
Sto
rmo w
as u
sual
ly co
mm
ande
d by
a Co
lonn
ello.
A G
rupp
o was
us
ually
com
man
ded
by a
Ten
ente
Col
onne
llo o
r Mag
gior
e, an
d a
Squa
drig
lia b
y a
Capi
tano
.Re
ccon
naiss
ance
Gru
ppi (
Oss
erva
zione
Aer
ea o
ver l
and;
RicognizioneM
arittima o
ver s
ea) h
ad tw
o Sq
uadr
iglie
ea
ch (t
here
wer
e no
RM
Sto
rmi).
The
num
ber
of G
rupp
i in
the
Oss
erva
zion
e Aer
ea S
torm
i dep
ende
d on
the
oper
atio
nal s
ituat
ion.
Oss
erva
zion
e Aer
ea u
nits
wer
e no
t atta
ched
to S
tato
Mag
gior
e Re
gia
Aer
onau
tica,
but
to th
e Co
man
do
Supe
riore
Avi
azio
ne p
er il
Reg
io E
serc
ito, a
n ar
my
com
man
d he
aded
by
a Re
gia A
eron
autic
a hi
gh o
ffice
r, an
d to
maj
or a
rmy
units
. In
the
sam
e w
ay, RicognizioneMarittima
units
was
atta
ched
to C
oman
do S
uper
iore
Av
iazi
one p
er la
Reg
ia M
arin
a, a
nav
y co
mm
and
head
ed b
y a
Regi
a Aer
onau
tica
high
offi
cer,
and
loca
l nav
y co
mm
ands
. The
se u
nits
had
cre
ws f
orm
ed b
y Re
gia A
eron
autic
a pe
rson
nel p
lus a
n ar
my
or n
avy
obse
rver
offi
cer;
the
air f
orce
supp
lied
airc
raft,
per
sonn
el, e
quip
men
t etc
. O
n 1
June
194
3 tw
o m
ajor
uni
ts w
ere
form
ed, b
oth
subo
rdin
ated
to 3
a Squ
adra
Aer
ea: R
aggr
uppa
men
to
Bom
bard
ieri,
incl
udin
g th
e las
t ope
ratio
nal b
ombe
r uni
ts, a
nd R
aggr
uppa
men
to A
eros
ilura
nti,
incl
udin
g th
e las
t op
erat
iona
l tor
pedo
bom
ber u
nits
.Th
eore
tical
airc
raft
stre
ngth
for e
ach
Squa
drig
lia in
1940
was
: tw
elve
figh
ter a
ircra
ft; n
ine b
ombe
r airc
raft;
se
ven
airc
raft
for O
sser
vazi
one A
erea
; and
elev
en fo
r RicognizioneMarittima.
The n
umbe
r of a
ircra
ft co
uld
vary
de
pend
ing
on ci
rcum
stan
ces.
The t
actic
al fo
rmat
ions
wer
e eith
er a
copp
ia, co
nsist
ing
of tw
o ai
rcra
ft, o
r pattuglia
w
hich
cons
iste
d of
thre
e ai
rcra
ft.
In O
ctob
er 19
43 th
e Reg
ia A
eron
autic
a was
figh
ting
with
the A
llies
and
its st
ruct
ure c
hang
ed. A
ll op
erat
iona
l un
its w
ere
subo
rdin
ated
to C
oman
do U
nità
Aer
ea th
at w
as su
bord
inat
ed to
Sta
to M
aggi
ore R
egia
Aer
onau
tica.
Co
man
do U
nità
Aer
ea h
ad th
ree
Stor
mi C
accia
incl
uded
in th
e Ra
ggru
ppam
ento
Cac
cia, e
ach
with
thre
e G
rupp
i co
mpr
ised
of t
wo
Squa
drig
lie; R
aggr
uppa
men
to B
omba
rdam
ento
e Tr
aspo
rto i
nclu
ded
one S
torm
o Bom
bard
amen
to
and
two
Stor
mi T
rasp
orto
, eac
h w
ith tw
o G
rupp
i with
two
Squa
drig
lie ea
ch; R
aggr
uppa
men
to Id
ro h
ad se
apla
ne
Gru
ppi,
each
of t
hem
mad
e up
of t
wo
Squa
drig
lie. T
here
wer
e al
so so
me
min
or u
nits
. Thi
s was
the
stru
ctur
e in
pla
ce to
the
end
of th
e w
ar.
The a
bove
is a
sim
plifi
ed d
escr
iptio
n of
the R
egia
Aer
onau
tica o
rgan
izat
ion
and
form
atio
ns in
194
2/19
43. F
or fu
rthe
r re
adin
g th
e fo
llow
ing
Italia
n-la
ngua
ge ti
tle c
an b
e re
ad fo
r mor
e de
tail:
Giu
sepp
e, S
anto
ro L
’Aer
onau
tica
Italia
na n
ella
Seco
nda
Gue
rra
Mon
dial
e, Ed
izio
ni E
sse,
Rom
e, 1
966.
Sant
oro
was
Gen
eral
of t
he R
egia
Aer
onau
tica
and Sottocapo
of S
tato
Mag
gior
e (th
e vi
ce o
f the
Chi
ef o
f Sta
ff) fr
om
Dec
embe
r 193
9 to
Sep
tem
ber 1
943.
Air
War
Pub
licat
ions
wou
ld li
ke to
than
k G
iana
ndre
a Bus
si fo
r mat
eria
l, mak
ing
this
diag
ram
and
desc
riptio
n po
ssib
le.
Com
ando
Sup
rem
o
Sta
to M
aggi
ore
Reg
ia
Aer
onau
tica
(Air
Forc
e)S
tato
Mag
gior
e R
egio
E
serc
ito (A
rmy)
Sta
to M
aggi
ore
Reg
ia
Mar
ina
(Nav
y)
Sto
rmo
Gru
ppo
Gru
ppo*
Gru
ppo
Cop
pia
or
Pat
tugl
ia
Squ
adrig
liaS
quad
riglia
**S
quad
riglia
Sto
rmo
1a Squ
adra
A
erea
(Mila
no)
Liai
son
Flig
ht
3a Squ
adra
A
erea
(Rom
a)2a S
quad
ra
Aer
ea (P
adov
a)
* Fro
m Ja
nuar
y 194
4 onw
ards
a S
torm
o had
thre
e Gru
ppi.
** F
ight
er G
rupp
i usu
ally
ha
d th
ree
Squa
drig
lie,
com
pare
d w
ith t
wo
for
othe
r typ
es o
f Gru
ppi.
4a Squ
adra
A
erea
(Bar
i)5a S
quad
ra
Aer
ea (T
ripol
i)
Cop
pia
or
Pat
tugl
iaC
oppi
a or
P
attu
glia
Cop
pia
or
Pat
tugl
ia
1942-1943
Liai
son
Flig
htLi
aiso
n Fl
ight
Liai
son
Flig
ht
Fuse
lage
mar
king
Upp
er a
nd lo
wer
w
ing
mar
king
Tail
mar
king
Abo
ve: R
egia
Aer
onau
tica a
ircra
ft m
arki
ngs h
ad so
me v
aria
tions
, and
the a
bove
are
onl
y ex
ampl
es.
Liai
son
Flig
ht
Air
Form
atio
ns O
nly
Sez
ione
***
***
Sezi
oni w
ere
smal
ler
units
than
Sq
uadr
iglie
, and
they
coul
d be
ad
hoc
stan
d-al
one
units
or b
e cr
eate
d w
ith
pers
onne
l fro
m a
Squa
drig
lia or
Gru
ppo,
rem
aini
ng u
nder
thei
r com
man
d.
Som
e airp
orts
had
a Se
zion
e Cac
cia
Notturna
and
/or SezioneIntercettori.
Sezio
ni u
sual
ly o
nly
had
a few
airc
raft,
bu
t the
y co
uld
vary
in si
ze.
© Air War Publications 201714
Table 2: Luftwaffe ColoursName Description8 RAL Code Application Note
RLM 00 Wasserhell (clear lacquer) 9000 Protective external finishes and paint
RLM 01 Silber (Silver) 9006 Overall aircraft colour Pre- and early war exterior and interior colour
RLM 02 RLM-Grau (Grey) 7003 Interiors, primer and camouflage
RLM 04 Gelb (Yellow) 1004 Markings, fuselage band, lower cowling Tactical Markings
RLM 05 Elfenbein (Ivory) Overall aircraft colour Pre-war. Exterior finish on gliders
RLM 11 Grau (Grey) Primer, specific purpose unknown
RLM 21 Weiss (White) 9001 Markings and winter camouflage Tactical Markings
RLM 22 Schwarz (Black) 9004 Markings and night camouflage Introduced during Battle of Britain
RLM 23 Rot (Red) 3001 Maintenance and safety markings, fuselage band Lines for walkways, trim tabs
RLM 24 Dunkelblau (Dark Blue) 5000 Fuselage markings (numerals, letters) and spinners
RLM 25 Hellgrün (Light Green) 6000 Fuselage markings (numerals, letters) and spinners
RLM 26 Braun (Brown) 8004 Fuselage markings (numerals, letters) and spinners
RLM 27 Gelb (Yellow) 1003 Fuselage markings (numerals, letters) and spinners Tactical markings and fuel octane triangles.
RLM 28 Weinrot (Wine Red) 3008 Maintenance and safety markings Lines for walkways, trim tabs
RLM 41 Grau (Grey) 7011/7036 Interior There were two versions of RLM 41
RLM 42 Grau (Grey) 7012 Interior
RLM 61 Dunkelbraun (Dark Brown) 8019 Upper and side surfaces Pre- and early war, Spanish Civil War
RLM 62 Grün (Green) 6003 Upper and side surfaces Pre- and early war, Spanish Civil War
L40/52 Hellgrau (Light Grey) Overall aircraft colour Pre-war
RLM 63 Grau (Grey) 7004 Upper and side surfaces Pre- and early war
RLM 63 Hellgrau (Light Grey) 7040 Upper and side surfaces Pre- and early war
RLM 64 Dunkelgrau (Dark Grey) Export colour (Light blue) originally but discontinued
RLM 65 Hellblau 1938 (Light Blue) Lower and side surfaces A few examples of overall colour
RLM 65 Hellblau 1941 (Light Blue) Lower and side surfaces More greyish blue colour than 1938 variant
RLM 66 Schwarzgrau (Black Grey) 7019 Upper and side surfaces and interiors
RLM 67 Weiss (White) Markings
RLM 68 Schwarzgrün (Black Green) Upper and side surfaces, desert camouflage
RLM 69 Dunkelgrün (Dark Green) Upper and side surfaces
RLM 70 Schwarzgrün (Black Green) Upper and side surfaces, all types
RLM 71 Dunkelgrün (Dark Green) Upper and side surfaces, all types
RLM 72 Grün (Green) Upper and side surfaces, sea aircraft
RLM 72 Mittelgrün (Middle Green) Upper and side surfaces, Dornier sea aircraft? Dornier
RLM 73 - Grün (Green) - Upper and side surfaces, sea aircraft
RLM 73 - Dunkelgrün (Dark Green) - Upper and side surfaces, Dornier sea aircraft? Dornier
RLM 74 - Graugrün (Grey Green) - Upper and side surfaces
RLM 75 - Grauviolett (Grey Violet) - Upper and side surfaces
RLM 76 - Lichtblau (Light blue) - Lower and side surfaces
RLM 76 - Graugrün (Grey Green) - Upper and side surfaces
RLM 76 - Graublau (Grey Blue) - Lower and side surfaces
RLM 77 - Hellgrau (Light Grey) - 7035 Upper and side surfaces
RLM 78 - Blau/Himmelblau (Blue/Sky Blue) - Lower and side surfaces, desert camouflage
RLM 79 - Sandgelb (Sand Yellow) - Upper and side surfaces, desert camouflage
RLM 80 - Olivgrün (Olive Green) - Upper and side surfaces, desert camouflage
RLM 81 - Dunkelgrün (Dark Green) - Upper and side surfaces, most frontline types Late-war colour, mid-1944, Dornier
RLM 81 - Braunviolett (Brown Violet) - Upper and side surfaces, most frontline types Late-war colour, mid-1944, Messerschmitt
RLM 81 - Olivbraun (Olive Brown) - Upper and side surfaces, most frontline types Late-war colour, mid-1944, Blohm & Voss
RLM 82 - Hellgrün (Light Green) - 6003 Upper and side surfaces, most frontline types Late-war colour, mid-1944, Dornier
RLM 82 - Dunkelgrün (Dark Green) - Upper and side surfaces, most frontline types Late-war colour, mid-1944, Messerschmitt
RLM 82 - Hellgrün (Light Green) - Upper and side surfaces, most frontline types Late-war colour, mid-1944, Blohm & Voss
RLM 839 - Dunkelblau (Dark Blue) - Upper and side surfaces, sea aircraft Late-war colour, introduced in mid-1944
8 The descriptive colour terminology used for the paint colours listed are offered here for the purposes of reference only, as these terms differed between aircraft manufacturers. A few examples of this are shown in the above.
9 This colour has been debated for a long time, but the mystery was finally resolved by Michael Ullmann: http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=33931&highlight=rlm%2083
Luftwaffe Colours
© Air War Publications 201715
Aircraft Anatomy
PropellerPropeller or Schraube
Propeller bladeLuftschraubenblatt
CanopyHaube/Kabinenhaube, Kabinendach or Kanzel
AileronQuerruder
SpinnerPropellerhaube
TailplaneSeitenflosse
Tail sectionHeck
Rudder Seitenruder, Steuerruder or Ruder
CockpitCockpit or Führerraum
Engine CowlingMotorhaube
WingTragfläche
Wing leading edgeTragflächenvorderkante Flaps (on under side of wing)
Landeklappen
FuselageRumpf
English words in regular German words in italics
Tail wheelSpornrad
CodeKennzeichen
Radio AntennaRadioantenne
Unit EmblemAbzeichen or Emblem
Tail planeHöhenruder
Fuselage bandRumpfband
Factory NumberWerknummer
Fuselage CrossBalkenkreuz
SwastikaHakenkreuz
Victory MarkingsAbschussbalken & Abschussmarkerung
Group MarkingGruppenbar
Aircraft Markings
Coat of ArmsWappen
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