IL2

Ar-68F JG72.10 (W8+N)

Arado Ar-68F-1 JG72.10 (W8+N) crashed in Germany 1940 01-02

Photo’s 01-02: These two views of another Ar-68F of 10.(Nacht)/JG72 which crashed in south-west Germany in 1940 clearly show the splinter pattern on the uppersurfaces, but this time apparently in 71 and 02.

Photo 01: This photograph of Bf-109D-1s of 11.(Nacht)/JG2 was taken shortly after the German invasion of Norway in April 1940, and shows sailors of the Kriegsmarine with one of the Staffd's aircraft at Oslo_Fornebu.

Emblem of 10 (Nacht)/JG72

On May 1939, a single-engined night fighter Staffel was created with the formation of 10.(Nacht)/JG2 and in September, 11.(Nacht)/JG2 was formed by redesignating 10.(Nacht)/LG2. Also in September, a further single-engined night fighter Staffel was formed with the creation of 10.(Nacht)/JG26, but this was redesignated 12.(Nacht)!JG2 in December to form a full Gruppe, the IV(Nacht)/JG2, equipped with theAr 68 F and the Bf-109D-1. These early, single-engined night fighter units existed only for a short time before being disbanded or absorbed by the day fighter force. Note that the Ar-68 Fs (FAR RIGHT) were sometimes fitted with an early type of flame damper, shown more clearly (RIGHT). Although the Pik As, or Ace of Spades emblem, has led to the assumption that this aircraft belonged to JG53, it is believed that it was in fact operated by 10.(Nacht)/JG72, which had been formed in July 1939 from personnel of II./JG53. In February 1940, 10.(N)/JG72 was redesignated 12.(Nacht)/JG2 before finally becoming 6./NJG1 in June 1940. A similar emblem but showing an owl on a branch was sometimes employed by 11.(Nacht)/JG2.