Heraldics and markings.  
     
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  The Bf 110D of W. Falck in the summer of 1940.  The crest of NJG 1 can just be discerned above the cowling.  Published with the very kind permission of Herr. Simon Schatz.  Luftwaffe Aviation Art made by Simon Schatz.  
     
   
     
  When NJG 1 was established with Hptm. W. Falck as commander he brought along the crest (Wappen) of his old unit I/ZG 1, which also had some elements from the Falck family-crest.  The crest was designed by Hptm Viktor Mölders during a competition in I/ZG 1.  A lightning striking at the British Isles along with a diving falcon.  This is as close as I can make out the original design.  Over time the same crest was adopted by almost all NJGs, but if one looks carefully it had other applications as well.  Part of the motif seems also to have been adopted by the NJD.  Additionally it has become synonymous with the Nacht Jagd Waffe.  I.a.w. Col W. Falck's recollections as accounted in "The Happy Falcon", NJG 1 had a white, NJG 2 a red and NJG 3 a yellow rim to the shield.  This is, however, contradicted by photographic evidence, but it would make sense if the different Gruppen had the rim in Gruppe colors as stated above. At least in NJG 1 it was normal practice to paint a roman numeral designating the Gruppe behind the crest.  But all the NJG 1 crests I have come across, have a white border regardless of Gruppe affiliation.  This crest exist in a multiple of variations, with differences to the map, the shape of the falcon (some of which are a downright insult to the bird, including one-legged specimens) and the lightning.  Initially I thought, that this was because there was no approved stencil, and the appearance was at the mercy of the abilities of the local draftsman.  But having looked at a number of photos a new pattern seems to emerge.  The variations in the design was NJG related.  The design of the NJG 1, 2 and 3 crests is very consistent from aircraft to aircraft, but the design differ from NJG to NJG.  My theory now is, that each NJG had it's own variant of the design, so the NJG crests were similar, but not identical in design.  The drawings are based on photos on aircraft, vehicles and monuments, bunker art and the few unit-crests, which have surfaced.  The majority of crests seems to have been applied with a black background, but it is now obvious from photos, that in some cases a "transparent" design was used.  It consisted of the shield outline, the lightning/falcon combination and the North Sea map with or without the blue sea.  This resulted in the aircraft camouflage color becoming the background color.  Since the original night fighter camouflage was black, the "transparent" version could actually have been the original method of application.  A third version was a probable dark blue background combined with a silvery North Sea.  I am deeply indebted to Mr. Klaas van Brakel, Mr. Hans Nauta and Mr. Göran Larsson for their contribution to this "discovery". All drawings © M. Svejgaard.  
     
  In "Falkenjahre" the following wording can be found:  
     
  Geringfügig abgewandelt, wurde dieses Gruppenwappen später zum Wappen des Nachtjagdgeschwaders 1 und mit dem rasanten Ausbau der Nachtjagd zum Nachtjagdsymbol überhaupt. Die Geschwader führten es lediglich mit unterschiedlichen Umrandungen: Bei den Flakscheinwerfer-Regimentern wurden symbolisch einige Scheinwerferbündel hinzugefügt. Bei den Luftnachrichtcn-Regimentern ihre Nachrichten-Embleme. Auch die Nachtjagddivision und später das Fliegerkorps führten das Abzeichen mit den Symbolen der jeweiligen Kommandostellen.  
     
 

this seems to support the theory, which I have developed above.

  
     
 

 
 

A real Luftwaffe Falcon.

  
     
 

Nachtjagd Geschwader.

  
     
 
NJG 1.  Also seen on some NJG 3 aircraft. NJG 1 transparent version. NJG 1 variant. NJG 1 variant, transparent, sprayed on with white only. Possibly the personal crest of Oberst W. Streib, NJG 1.
 
 
   
NJG 2. NJG 2 variant.  Blue (RLM 24?) background, silver sea. I/NJG 2.    
 
 
   
NJG 3. I/NJG 3. IV/NJG 3.    
 
 
     
NJG 4. NJG 4 variant.       Most probable NJG 5.
 
     
 
   
NJG 5 transparent version. I/NJG 7.    NJG 100.   NJG 102.
 
     
 
   
NJ Kdo 190.  Transparent version.   Crest carried on Fw 190 used as Col W. Grabmann's personal aircraft.   A design recently discovered by Mr. Mike Murphy.  It is a transparent version, but the black falcon is of note and rarely seen.  Of note is also that the sea is black and the landmass transparent.  The colors are as they can be made out from a B/W photo, and the detailed design is somewhat speculative.
 
     
 

 
  The NJG crest on the He 219 certainly eluded me for a long time.  But if one look carefully in the right place it can actually be seen on a number of pictures.  
     
     
  The crest of II/NJG 102 on a Ju 88, via Mr. J. Junker (©), with his kind permission.  It is noteworthy that is is from a II Gruppe aircraft and the shield has a red rim.   The crest of I/NJG 7 found on a Ju 88 at FlH Grove just after the war.  
     
  Variants on vehicles.  
     
 
 
On a staff car. On a staff car. On a staff car. On a MC sidecar.  
 
     
 

Geschwader codes (links to organization embedded).

  
 
NJG 1 NJG 2 NJG 3 NJG 4 NJG 5 NJG 6 NJG 7 NJG 11 NJG 100 NJG 101 NJG 102 NJG 200 NJ St.Norw. 2./NJGr 10
G9 P4/R4/4R L1/D5/3J 3C/G9 C9/1B/D5/3C 2Z/8H D9 3W/H8 2B/W7 9W 7J 8V/6V D9/B4 1L
 
     
  The complete aircraft identification consisted of the Geschwader code as given above in front of the Balkenkreuz and two letters behind.  The first letter was an individual aircraft designation, this could be in the Staffel color or black outlined in the Stab/Staffel color.  On Ju 88G-6s this letter was frequently repeated on the nose of the a/c.  These colors were:  Blue for Geschwader Stab, Green for Gruppe Stab, white, red and yellow for the first, second and third Staffel within the Gruppe.  The second letter was the unit letter (Stab or Staffel).  Letters were assigned as follows:  
     
 
 

Stab

            
A Geschwader.            
B I.Gruppe. H 1.Staffel K 2.Staffel L 3.Staffel
C II.Gruppe. M 4.Staffel N 5.Staffel P 6.Staffel
D III.Gruppe. R 7.Staffel S 8.Staffel T 9.Staffel
E IV.Gruppe U 10.Staffel V 11.Staffel W 12.Staffel
 
     
     
  Korps and Divisionen.  
     
 
   
There has been speculations, that this crest was that of the NJD, later 1 NJD.  It has the same themes in the design as the one opposite, but the falcon differ.  The searchlight beams could signify both those of UK defenses, but also those in The Helle Riegel.   Crest found on a bier-mug for sale on e-bay. The mug was produced in Zeist.  It must be the crest of XII Flg.Korps.   Crest found on the back of the service magazine of I JK. This strongly indicates that the crest in fact was that of this HQ.
 
     
 
 
 
 

The crest of 2. Flakscheinwerferdivision. 

2. Flakscheinwerfer-Division

The crest of 2 JD.

 
 
     
 

Ln-Dienst.

  
     
  It has been suggested to me, that the crests below, which can be related to a Kp. was that of the Stellung and not the Kp. manning the Stellung and I very much agree.  So I have changed the affiliation of the crest to the Stellung, where it has been possible.  
     
 
   
 
 
I/Ln-Rgt 201.   TIGER.   8/Ln-Rgt 201.
 
     
 
   
 
 
Raum 4a.   WAL.   Ln-Rgt 203.
 
 
        The crest of Ln-Rgt 203 based on material kindly provided by Mr. Daniel Gilberti.
 
     
 
   
 
 
II/Ln-Rgt 203.   3/Ln-Rgt 211.   4/Ln-Rgt 211.
 
 
The crest of II/Ln-Rgt 203 based on materiel obtained and kindly provided by Lt.Cmdr (R) L. Kuchenbuch of lostplaces fame.   The crest of 3/Ln-Rgt 211 based on materiel obtained and kindly provided by Lt.Cmdr (R) L. Kuchenbuch.    
 
     
 

 

 
 

Raum 5c.

  

BLINDSCHLEICHE.
 
 

 

  

The crest of BLINDSCHLEICHE (27/Ln-Rgt 211) based on materiel kindly provided by Mr. G. Aders.  The version of the falcon is a little speculative, the rest of the motif is correct, albeit there might have been a map at the bottom.  Of note is the shape of the shield, the "h" and the Würzburg Riese silhouette in the small shield.
 
     
 

 

 
 

Lg.-Nachr.Rgt 11 ?

  

Ln-Rgt 212.
 
 

This crest was part of an album on auction on e-bay.  The album depicts the transport and mounting of Freyas subordinate to  VI/Lg.Nachr.Rgt 11 at Blåvand and Søndervig, Denmark.  I find it reasonable to assume that the crest belonged to this Rgt.  Please note small version of the Ln service crest with a yellow rim.

  

The crest of Ln-Rgt 212, thanks to material provided by Leif Kuchenbuch.  The Ln service crest is of a version not normally seen.  Please also note the bar below the upper edge.
 
 
     
 
Most probable 3/Ln-Rgt 212.   Unknown unit, thanks to Mr Rolf Grzywatz.
     
 
 

 

 

 
 

21/Ln-Rgt 212.  Same shield as 2 JD.

  

The crest of an unidentified Ln unit.  Thanks to  Mr. Mike Murphy.

  

AUSTER.
 
     
 
 

 
 
Ln-Rgt 222 ?  

MARDER.
 
 

This shield was part of the crest of RINGELNATTER (10./Ln-Rgt 222).  The shield design is different from many of the others previously seen, and the map covers Denmark and surrounding waters only.  The falcon is the one legged model like in the crest of 2 JD, the formation superior to Ln-Rgt 222.  The unit crests I have seen from Holland and Denmark consist of a version of the Ln-Rgt shield combined with the animal the site was named after.

  

This shield was part of the crest of MARDER.  MARDER was manned by a Kp. subordinate to Ln-Rgt 223.  The shape of the shield is noteworthy with the rounded, and not pointed, lower part and the horizontal bar below the upper edge, I have no suggestion as to the significance of this.  It is also found on some NJG crests.  Also please note the map, it is the Channel Coast and the UK Isles only, not the entire North Sea area.  Shield thanks to the kind contribution of Mr. Jaap Woortman.
 
     
 
 
On a MC sidecar. On a Freya radar. On a staff car. As a bunker "fresco". On a staff car. As a tile.  Ln-Rgt Holland.
 
     
 
 
 
  This then begs the question:  "What does this crest signify".  It has been found in combination with the "NJG-crest". the "NJD-crest", with Ln-Kompanie crests, and as a "stand-alone" on an Abschuss-Beteiligungen issued to SUMATRA I.  It seems to be a crest in it's own right.  I think it was the service crest of the Ln-Dienst.  And if I interpret the above quote correctly, this must also have been the case.  Needless to say this crest is also found in multiple variants.  
         
 

 

 

 
 

I am fairly certain that this is the crest of Ln-Flugm.-Abt. (E) z.b.V. 21.  The two crests are also found on the Abschuss-Beteiligungen mentioned above, but separated.  I have combined them here into what seems to be the correct crest. The falcon now resembles a wild turkey.

  

The crest of 1./Ln-Flugm.-Abt. (E) z.b.V. 21 (SUMATRA I).  Thanks to the interpretation by Larry D.  The map of Sumatra and a Roman I.  The blue and white division of the crest is also found in parts of the old Wappen of Landsberg am Lech, which initially was the garrison town of the unit.  Please note the rim colors, which are similar to those found in the Abt. crest.

  

The crest of Ln-Flum.Messzug (E) z.b.V. 16 (JUNO)I am unsure about the colors, my source is a black and white document.
 
         
       
  The crest of TOGO.  The motif is correct, some colors are somewhat speculative.  The poor falcon has now degenerated to a cross breed between a pigeon and a pheasant.      
         
 

 
 

The crest of NJRF 7, Florennes.  I am grateful to Herr. G. Aders for sharing his latest discovery.  To the best of my knowledge this is the first time ever a crest of a NJRF has been published.

  
     
     
     
   
     
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