KITS 11/2021

WNr. 1480, Oblt. Franz von Werra, Gruppenadjutant II./JG 3, Wierre-au-Bois, France, September 5, 1940

The illustrated Emil became the subject of a fascinating event that delivered the first German ace, Oblt. Franz von Werra, into

British hands. On the morning of September 5, 1940, Franz von Werra was shot down over Kent. He managed a successful belly

landing, was taken prisoner, and his plane was scrutinized by RAF experts. Von Werra attempted to escape on several occasions, and finally succeeded in Canada during transfer to a POW camp. He managed to go through the United States to South

America, and then back to Germany, where he rejoined the Luftwaffe. He served on both the eastern and western fronts, but had

strict orders to avoid the shores of England. The Channel, nevertheless, proved fateful for him when, on October 25, 1941 as CO of

I./JG 53, he disappeared over it. W.Nr. 1480 carried the standard camouflage of RLM 02/71/65 with white identification markings.

These included the rudder and wingtips. The RAF report suggests that the engine cowl was in RLM 65, was cleaner than the

rest of the airframe, and may have been a replacement off another machine. The tail surfaces carried victory marks (eight in

the air and five on the ground). Positioning of them was different on each side of the fin. The RLM 65 color extended to the upper

surfaces of the leading edge wing.

WNr. 5819, Obstlt. Adolf Galland, CO of JG 26, Audembert, France, December 1940

Adolf Galland, ace and future General, flew the illustrated Emil in the fall of 1940 to the beginning of 1941 as CO of III. Gruppe, and

later of the entire JG 26. The tactical markings on the aircraft kept pace with those changes. The standard camouflage of RLM

02/71/65 was darkened on the fuselage sides with RLM 02/71. The yellow cowling was complemented by the yellow rudder that

also bore the kill marks. The surface area of the original RLM 65 was not enough for them, and the yellow was

oversprayed with fresh RLM 65 for the next row of kill marks. The most typical changes for 5819 at this time came with the personal emblem of Mickey Mouse and most of all the installation of the ZFR-4 telescope (installed together with the regular Revi).

It didn’t serve as an actual sight as it did for the identification of far off aircraft. Galland replaced Werner Mölders who commanded the German fighter force as General der Jagdflieger. Later on he became famous for locking horns with Hermann Göring.

He established JV 44 at the end of the war, the famous unit well known for its Me 262 jet fighters and colorful Fw 190D piston

fighters. Galland managed to shot down 104 enemy airplanes and was awarded with Knight Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and

Diamonds.

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INFO Eduard - November 2021