Stuka - Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 "300 Feindflug" Plaque

[vonStubben]

I recently acquired this hand carved, wooden plaque that belonged to a Stuka group. In researching the insignia, I have learned that it came from

Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 .

This plaque commemorates the 2nd Staffel's "300th Feindflug". I have been able to identify all of the individual insignia except for the one of the profiled head on the bottom left, and the oncoming Stuka directly opposite it on the right hand side. Can anyone tell me to which group these two insignia belonged? Also,...........why were all these different groups named to this one commemoration, was it a combined total from them? Can anyone tell me more about this unit, etc.

Thanks

Chuck

[vonStubben]

dedication

[Larry deZeng]

Since the Geschwaderstab (St.G. 77), all of the Gruppenstäbe (I., II. and III.), and Staffeln 1. through 11. are all represented on web site http://www.wwiidaybyday.com/ , and the two "unknowns" are not among them, nor are they to be found in the book cited below, then I am going to take a wild yet educated guess:

Bottom left: represents the Wartungsmänner (maintenance and servicing personnel) that kept the aircraft belonging to the Staffeln, Gruppen, Geschwader running; and,

Bottom right: represents the Nachrichtentruppe (signals personnel) that were assigned to the Staffeln, Gruppen, Geschwader. The lightening flash was commonly used to denote signals (Ln.) units.

Smith, Peter C. Stuka Squadron: Stukagruppe 77 - The Luftwaffe's 'Fire Brigade'. Wellingborough/Northamptonshire: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1990. ISBN 1-85260-286-4.
Ketley, Barry and Mark Rolfe. Luftwaffe Emblemes 1939-1945. Aldershot/Herts: Hikoki Publications, 1998.

Comment: I hope you have carefully checked the provenance of the plaque. Years ago, 25 or 30 at least, there was discussion in one of the numerous modeling magazines that some plaques of St.G. 77 had been made after the war and were being represented as originals.

Larry

[vonStubben]

Since the Geschwaderstab (St.G. 77), all of the Gruppenstäbe (I., II. and III.), and Staffeln 1. through 11. are all represented on web site http://www.wwiidaybyday.com/ , and the two "unknowns" are not among them, nor are they to be found in the book cited below, then I am going to take a wild yet educated guess:

Bottom left: represents the Wartungsmänner (maintenance and servicing personnel) that kept the aircraft belonging to the Staffeln, Gruppen, Geschwader running; and,

Bottom right: represents the Nachrichtentruppe (signals personnel) that were assigned to the Staffeln, Gruppen, Geschwader. The lightening flash was commonly used to denote signals (Ln.) units.

Smith, Peter C. Stuka Squadron: Stukagruppe 77 - The Luftwaffe's 'Fire Brigade'. Wellingborough/Northamptonshire: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1990. ISBN 1-85260-286-4.
Ketley, Barry and Mark Rolfe. Luftwaffe Emblemes 1939-1945. Aldershot/Herts: Hikoki Publications, 1998.

Comment: I hope you have carefully checked the provenance of the plaque. Years ago, 25 or 30 at least, there was discussion in one of the numerous modeling magazines that some plaques of St.G. 77 had been made after the war and were being represented as originals.

Larry

Larry,

Thank you for the information. What you deduct makes perfect sence and the theory quite sound.

Regarding originality, well, I can't say totally (because of what it is), but what I can say is that everything that I purchased from the old fellow was 100% correct. I sold the LW bullion cape eagle, vehicle pennant, and tropical shoulder boards over the past two weeks on the e-stand. I have kept a couple of EKII's and other small items to include this plaque and another. I plan on posting the other plaque in detail later but will show what images I have of it here. Because of it's convex shape my crappy scanner couldn't get a proper image of it (I'm waiting for the batteries to charge for my camera).

It reads: R.F.B.K. 4/VIII (anyone know what it stands for?)

The information at the bottom is of the artists name and the date of manufacture. It is made of aircraft aluminum that is painted LW bluegray and it expertly made.

Thank you,

Chuck














.

[Larry deZeng]

Chuck wrote in part:

It reads: R.F.B.K. 4/VIII (anyone know what it stands for?)

That's a good one: Reserve-Flughafenbetriebskompanie 4/VIII (Reserve Airfield Servicing Company 4/VIII). In this case, it was the fourth one raised in Luftgau VIII. It dates from the 1938-41 period. After 1941, the R.F.B.K.s were absorbed/incorporated into the active F.B.K.s that were part of the Frontfliegerverbände (regular, active air units). Luftgau VIII covered the Silesia, Bohemia and Moravia area in southeastern Germany.

As for the provenance of the plaque, it appears that the old veteran's ownership statement is well corroborated by the legitimacy of the other items, so it must be good. But there are copies out there. The reason I remember is because I dabbled in modeling WW II aircraft for a few years back in the 'seventies and subscribed to a number of modeling magazines. There were even pictures of a couple of them.

--Larry

[vonStubben]

Chuck wrote in part:


That's a good one: Reserve-Flughafenbetriebskompanie 4/VIII (Reserve Airfield Servicing Company 4/VIII). In this case, it was the fourth one raised in Luftgau VIII. It dates from the 1938-41 period. After 1941, the R.F.B.K.s were absorbed/incorporated into the active F.B.K.s that were part of the Frontfliegerverbände (regular, active air units). Luftgau VIII covered the Silesia, Bohemia and Moravia area in southeastern Germany.

As for the provenance of the plaque, it appears that the old veteran's ownership statement is well corroborated by the legitimacy of the other items, so it must be good. But there are copies out there. The reason I remember is because I dabbled in modeling WW II aircraft for a few years back in the 'seventies and subscribed to a number of modeling magazines. There were even pictures of a couple of them.

--Larry

Larry,

Thanks again for all your help, it's very much appreciated!

Regards,

Chuck