AIRWAR.TXT
World War II Aircraft Unit Badges
Created by Jeffrey Gottlieb, Compuserve ID# 73036,506

FORWARD - First Update 12/26/93
This file contains all of the information and corrections for the file
AIRWARID.TXT as well as all of the new information for the air unit badges
present in the file AIRWAR_1. This allows you to have a single reference for
all of the air unit badges in both AIRWARID and its update AIRWAR_1. 

BACKGROUND - AIRWARID
This file grew out of an earlier effort by Keith Heitmann known as JGICONS.
Keith's original file contained some 45 Luftwaffe Unit Badges and some general 
icons of various game manufacturers. In addition to those icons I have added
about 90 unit badges from the following airforces:
 
          The Luftwaffe
          The United States Air Force
          The Royal Air Force
          The Regia Aeronautica   (Italy prior to September 1943)
          The Aviazione della RSI (German occupied Italy after September 1943)
          The VVSRKKA             (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

In addition, there are a few badges and insignia pertaining to air units 
belonging to Croatia, Hungary and Finland who were nominally allies of Germany 
and flew german aircraft plus one icon for the Free French. Also, there are a 
few manufacturer's icons and general purpose icons relating specifically to 
SWOTL, BOB1940 (Their Finest Hour), and the Thrustmaster Flight Control 
System/The Pilot's Edge. These icons were specifically chosen for use with 
Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe, Their Finest Hour, and I suppose Aces Over 
Europe. No icons for Japan or the Far Eastern Theater were drawn as I do not 
play Aces of the Pacific (but if somebody really twists my arm for some I'll 
draw them).    
             
Many of the icons Keith originally drew have have been redrawn and/or 
relabeled for ease of identification. These icons were designed to look good
using either the Super VGA (800 x 600) or VGA (640 x 480) modes on a typical 
14" monitor. As stated above the scope of these icons is limited to World War 
II. No other war before or since has seen such a proliferation of unit heraldry
primarily by the Germans and the Italians. There are currently about 155 icons 
in this file.


WHAT IS A UNIT BADGE?
A Unit Badge is a piece of heraldric art used as a morale booster by various
air combat units. These units are at minimum the size of a Staffel or Squadron
and at maximum they can be as in the case of the USA, an entire Air Force.
Obviously, this leaves out personal insignia specific to a single aircraft.
This is an important distinction because in allied air forces nose art rather
than unit badges was used on aircraft and unit information is tough to come by.
Furthermore, most nose art will simply not fit in an icon. The air units of the
USSR had little time for such embellishments and usually went in for the
testimonial inscription (in cyrllic) instead. The RAF had quite specific 
heraldry (as you might expect) but this was rarely used on aircraft. Before 
World War II both the USA and also France used a great number of unit badges 
but with the fall of France only the Vichy used them. When the USA entered the 
war the unit badge was largely abandoned in favor of nose art. Finally, as luck
would have it, almost all of this heraldry will actually fit in a 32 bit x 32
bit icon (with some work) as it was intended to be displayed in a small space
on the aircraft.  

BACKGROUND - AIRWAR_1
As stated above, finding a source describing air unit badges for the USA is
difficult as they were almost never used on aircraft during WWII. However
such a source does exist. In 1963 the Air Force commissioned a book entitled
COMBAT SQUADRONS of the AIRFORCE, WORLD WAR II. Originally published in 1969
and now long out of print it was republished in 1992 by Smithmark Publishers 
as WORLD WAR II COMBAT SQUADRONS of the UNITED STATES AIR FORCE (see
sources at the end of this document). It turns out that while air unit 
badges were not used on aircraft they certainly existed! As it turns out there
is no country that has ever produced a more varied and unusual set of air unit 
badges as the USA has. WORLD WAR II COMBAT SQUADRONS contains a complete 
description of all 1226 tactical (combat) squadrons that were active between 
7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. There is a black and white air unit
badge drawing for every squadron that had a badge (not all squadrons had
badges). But most importantly each badge is completely described as to color!
All one needs to do is draw them and that is what I have done. Enclosed are
approximately 85 air unit badges for the USAAF. In order to be included an
air unit either had to have been in the European Theatre of Operations (ETO),
Mediterranean Theatre of Operations (MTO), or based in the Eastern half of
the USA if it never entered one of the two theatres just cited. Finally, the
badge had to have been approved before or during WWII. Many squadrons that
fought during WWII had badges approved after WWII and these generally reflect
jet, missile, and or atomic age origins.

In addition to air unit badges for the USA, about 25 more Axis badges have 
been included along with about 10 icons for ACES OVER EUROPE and some new
picture icons. This brings the total number of icons and badges in both
AIRWARID and AIRWAR_1 to about 275! There will probably be one more update
to this file called AIRWAR_2 but it will probably not be available until
the spring of 1994.  


OK, SO WHAT IF THEY'RE NICE - WHAT DO I DO WITH THEM?
Well, as Keith Heitmann indicated in a previous description of his JGICONS file
you could use them to spruce up your program manager if you are using MS Windows.
I suppose you could also create a really spiffy patchwork quilt of windows
wallpaper as well. I'll tell you how I use them which is a somewhat different
approach and can allow you to use them with DOS also. Both, BOB1940 and SWOTL
create a great many files of similar types. Examples are mission files (.mis,
.flt), pilot files (.raf,.ger,.usa,.bmb), aircraft specification files (.spc),
and aircraft view files (.pac). Now, if you could display these files in iconic
form rather than just textually you could do several nice things which really
get you into the spirit of these simulations:
                      
In the case of pilots you could create an entire order of battle. If you wanted
a german pilot - say Erich Hartmann, you could use the icon for JG52 to describe
his file. Then when you display the appropriate directory not only the name but 
the geschwader icon for JG52 would be displayed. American pilots could be 
described with an 8th Air Force icon or one of the others I have included. 

In the case of mission files general purpose mission icons can be created (as I
have done) and used in the same manner. You could also create mission icons for
each type of objective, their names and/or locations or point scores.

I find one of the most important uses for iconic representation of files is
aircraft specification files and especially for .exp files used to create new
planes for SWOTL. Various icons make the location and management of these files
much easier and more fun.

So how can you do this? Well - you need an iconic file manager if you use MS
Windows. If you use DOS then you need an iconic DOS shell. If you use MS Windows
the one I recommend is LUCID's Third Dimension. As it turns out, LUCID also makes
the same software for DOS. There are also other iconic file managers for Windows
like WinTools but I haven't tried these. The iconic DOS shell I use is Tempest by
Abacus Software. It is very easy to use and consumes very little memory. It has
only two minor drawbacks. First, you must convert windows icons from .ico format
to the PC Paint .lbm or .iff format used by Tempest using a format converter like
Pixfolio, HiJaak or some similar program. Second, Tempest only allows icons of 4
colors or less. I find this to be a problem with only a few unit badge icons as 
most have 4 colors or fewer. 


MANUFACTURER ICONS
The following icons represent software and/or hardware I use with BOB1940 and SWOTL.

LUCID.ICO     - The manufacturer of Third Dimension described above
3D.ICO        - The icon for Third Dimension itself 
ABACUS.ICO    - The manufacturer of Tempest the DOS Shell described above
TEMPEST.ICO   - The icon for Tempest itself
LUCAS.ICO     - A general purpose icon for LUCASFILM Games. Originally drawn by
                Keith Heitmann and modified by myself.
DYNAMIX.ICO   - A general purpose icon for DYNAMIX games. Originally drawn by
                Kieth Heitmann and modified by myself.
THRUSTFCS.ICO - An Icon for those who use a Thrustmaster Flight Control System
                with The Pilot's Edge Software. This allows you program your FCS
                for different types of aircraft. Each program creates a different
                file.


GENERAL PURPOSE ICONS FOR BOB1940, SWOTL and AOE
The following icons are general purpose icons, picture icons, and insignia 
I use with SWOTL, BOB1940 and AOE.

Game & BBS Icons
BOB1940.ICO  - I've never seen a really good icon to describe this game so I 
BOB1940a.ICO   created one.  Here are 3 different versions of it. I noticed that 
BOB1940b.ICO   the boys from Erprobungsgruppe 210 had a good idea. I simply added
               insignia for the RAF and Luftwaffe plus the year. Not too bad!

SWOTL.ICO    - The same applies for SWOTL but I took a different tack here. I
SWOTL1.ICO     used a Luftwaffe Eagle carrying a small yellow placard containing
SWOTL2.ICO     the letters OT superimposed over a large SWL a la Lucasfilm (same
               colors) spelling out SWOTL. There are 3 different types for you to
               use. They really look good!

AOE.ICO      - Here are 4 versions of the game logo for Aces Over Europe. The 
AOE_1.ICO      last two are high visibility versions.
AOE_2.ICO
AOE_3.ICO    

EXP.ICO      - These are icons I designed for use with SWOTL. The EXP icon is
ORDERS.ICO     used when creating new aircraft for use with the SWOTL Manager 
BEFEHLEN.ICO   (for those of you who don't know any German geheim means secret). 
               ORDERS is an icon I use with American mission files. BEFEHLEN
               (Orders in German) is used with Luftwaffe mission files. 

ARJ.ICO      - If you download many files from boards (and you wouldn't be 
ZIP.ICO        reading this if you didn't) you might find these icons useful for
               keeping track of compressed files.

Picture Icons
GO229.ICO    - Several pictures of the GO229 flying wing looking down from above
GO229_1.ICO    looking at the ground. I've included a blank ground icon so you 
GO229_2.ICO    can "roll your own". The 3V icon was an attempt to draw a 3 view 
GO229_3V.ICO   picture of the aircraft on a white background. I use these for
GROUND.ICO     .PAC file identification in SWOTL.

ME163.ICO    - Similar to the above using the Me163 Komet instead. Yes, there  
ME163_1.ICO    really was a red one! It was flown by Major Wolfgang Spate on May
               13,1944.

ME163_2.ICO  - Into a clear blue sky Messerschmitt Me163 Komets rise to meet 
ME163_3.ICO    enemy bomber formations over the Reich. Two versions, the _3 icon
               is more heavily camouflaged. Based on a commercially available
               print by Mike Machat.

A4.ICO       - The A4 (alias V2) rocket on the launch pad in a forest.
FI103.ICO    - The FI103 (alias V1) missile coming over the English coast. This
               was based on a similar icon drawn by Keith Heitmann.

PATCH.ICO    - From the air, the ground looks like a patchwork quilt. 
PATCH_1.ICO  - Now add a cloud deck and you have a nice background to draw on.
A20.ICO      - Now add an A20 attack bomber and you have a finished picture icon.

Insignia Icons
These can be used to identify pilot files when you don't want to use unit badges.
You could also use them to identify whole directories of pilots if you wanted to.

GERMANIC.ICO - The Luftwaffe Eagle carrying an iron cross a la Lucasfilm. 
GERMANS.ICO  - The same eagle carrying a swastika like the Luftwaffe actually
               used. The black crosses used on German a/c are sort of boring to
               look at so I use these instead of the normal Luftwaffe insignia. 

FINNISH.ICO  - The insignia used by Finnish air units on their a/c until
               September 1944. Late in the war the Finns flew Bf109G's on the
               Russian Front.

REGIAERO.ICO - The a/c insignia used by the Regia Aeronautica (Italy) until
               September 1943.
RSI.ICO      - The a/c insignia used by the Aviazione della RSI (German
               controlled Italy after September 1943).
FASCES.ICO   - This was a rare National Badge carried by Regia Aeronautica a/c
               usually just below the cockpit in addition to any unit badges.

FREEFR.ICO   - This Cross of Lorraine badge was carried on many Free French a/c.
               Use it if you want any French pilots for either BOB or SWOTL.
FFRINS.ICO   - Likewise this Cross of Lorraine insignia can be used th same way.

RAF1.ICO     - Two versions of RAF roundels used on both fighter and bomber a/c.
RAF2.ICO       There were at least 4 or 5 other types also used all similar.

USSR.ICO     - As I mentioned earlier, air units of the USSR went in for slogans
               and testimonials instead of unit badges. The slogan on this
               insignia reads "Za Stalina" (For Stalin). This particular phrase
               was quite common on Russian a/c.


UNIT BADGES
The Unit Badges are presented by air service.

Luftwaffe
A brief description of the Luftwaffe's organization is in order. The basic air
unit of the Luftwaffe was the Staffel which consisted of 9-12 aircraft. Thus it
was slightly smaller than an Allied Squadron. Three Staffeln formed a Gruppe,
and 3 to 4 (and sometimes 5) Gruppen formed a Geschwader. There were basically
6 types of Geschwader: Jagdgeschwader abbreviated JG were day fighters.
Nachtjagdgeschwader abbreviated NJG were night fighters. Zerstorergeschwader
abbreviated ZG were heavy fighters the Luftwaffe called destroyers (the concept
was not very successful). Stukageschwader abbreviated StG were dive bombers.
Kampfgeschwader abbreviated KG were bombers and Schlachtgeschwader abbreviated
SG were armored ground attack aircraft used primarily for tank busting. The
Luftwaffe identification system was such that arabic numbers were given to
Staffeln and roman numerals were used to describe Gruppen. Thus 5/KG30 was
the fifth Staffel of Kampfgeschwader 30 and II/JG54 was the 2nd Gruppe of
Jagdgeschwader 54. The Luftwaffe took this one step further. Staffeln 1,2 and
3 always belonged to I Gruppe; 4,5, and 6 belonged to II Gruppe; 7,8,and 9 to
III Gruppe, 10,11, and 12 to IV Gruppe, and finally 13,14, and 15 to V Gruppe.
Thus 5/KG30 is not only the 5th Staffel but also II Gruppe of KG 30. 

There were other smaller less formal units within the Luftwaffe as well such as:
Erprobungsgruppe  - experimental group abbreviated EGR (sometimes Erpro)
                    an example would be Erprobungsgruppe 210, EGR210, or Erpro
                    210
Kommando          - command or detachment (usually a very small unit) abbreviated 
                    Kdo an example would be Kdo Nowotny (named after its
                    commander)
Verband           - unit (usually of indeterminate size) abbreviated V
                    an example would be JV44, Jagdverband 44 (fighter unit 44)
                    (this one was commanded by Adolf Galland)

Jagdgeschwader Unit Badges
JG1EARLY.ICO - JG1               - "Oesau" used early in the war to October 1943
JG1LATE.ICO  - JG1               - used after October 1943 
1JG1.ICO     - I Gruppe JG1      - flew He162's late in the war.
1JG1EX77.ICO - I Gruppe JG1      - Late in the war some pilots of IJG77 came over
                                   to JG1 and brought their unit badge with them.
                                   They also flew He162's and reportedly shot
                                   down several Hawker Typhoon fighters but this
                                   was never reported officially!
3JG1.ICO     - III Gruppe JG1
 
Note: not only did I/JG1 fly with the above two unit badges but also with the
unit badge of III/JG77 as some of their pilots also joined I/JG1 late in the war.
So He162's appeared in the same Gruppe with three different Gruppe badges at the
same time - interesting! 

JG2.ICO      - JG2               - "Richtofen"
3JG2.ICO     - III Gruppe JG2    
9JG2.ICO     - 9th Staffel JG2
9JG2L.ICO    - 9th Staffel JG2   - used late in the war, they flew FW-190's

1JG3.ICO     - I Gruppe JG3
2JG3.ICO     - II Gruppe JG3
3JG3.ICO     - III Gruppe JG3
5JG3.ICO     - V Gruppe JG3
Note: JG3 was known as "Udet" named after Ernst Udet

JG4.ICO      - JG4

JG5.ICO      - JG5               - "Eismeer" (you can almost read it in 800 x 600
                                    SVGA)
3JG5.ICO     - III Gruppe JG5
8JG5.ICO     - 8th Staffel JG5   - "Edelweiss" compare with ERPRO Schenk and KG51
                                    all were unit badges depicting this flower
                                    and KG51 even had the same name.

3JG7.ICO     - III Gruppe JG7    - there are several similar variants to this
                                   badge, the Gruppe flew Me262's.
Note: JG7 was known as "Nowotny" named after Walter Nowotny

JG26.ICO     - JG26              - "Schlageter"
7JG26.ICO    - 7th Staffel JG26  - compare this with JG54 and II/JG77, all hearts
9JG26.ICO    - 9th Staffel JG26

1JG27.ICO    - I Gruppe JG27     
2JG27.ICO    - II Gruppe JG27
3JG27.ICO    - III Gruppe JG27
4JG27.ICO    - IV Gruppe JG27
STABJG27.ICO - STAB JG27         - a Staff flight of JG27
Note: JG27 was known as "Afrika"

JG51.ICO     - JG51              - "Molders" named after Werner Molders 
3JG51.ICO    - 3rd Staffel JG51  - interesting comparison with JG52 "Legion
                                   Kondor"

JG52.ICO     - JG52
1JG52.ICO    - I Gruppe JG52
3JG52E.ICO   - III Gruppe JG52  - this was used early in the war circa 1940-1942
3JG52l.ICO   - III Gruppe JG52  - this was used late in the war
JG52KL.ICO   - JG52             - "Legion Kondor" this one came from Keith
                                  Heitmann and I assume it's a pre-WWII badge
                                  from the Spanish Civil War. Am I right Keith?
                                  It was just too nice to leave out!
9JG52.ICO    - 9th Staffel JG52 - this was Erich Hartmann's first command
15JG52.ICO   - 15th Staffel JG52- this was a Croation unit flying with JG52.

JG53.ICO     - JG53             - "Pik As"

JG54.ICO     - JG54             - "Grunherz"
1JG54.ICO    - I Gruppe JG54
2JG54.ICO    - II Gruppe JG54
3JG54E.ICO   - III Gruppe JG54  - an early (1940 - 1941) badge
3JG54.ICO    - III Gruppe JG54
4JG54.ICO    - IV Gruppe JG54
8JG54.ICO    - 8th Staffel JG54
9JG54.ICO    - 9th Staffel JG54

1LG2.ICO     - 1 Gruppe LG2     - LG2 was Lehrgeschwader 2 a training unit.
                                  During the African campaign this unit was
                                  mustered into I/JG77 but kept its original 
                                  unit badge.
2JG77E.ICO   - 2 Gruppe JG77    - this was used early in the war 1940-1942
2JG77L.ICO   - 2 Gruppe JG77    - this was used late in the war
3JG77.ICO    - 3 Gruppe JG77    - see note under JG1 above
5JG77.ICO    - 5th Staffel JG77
note: JG77 was known as "Herzas" also see JG1 above for I/JG77

1JG400.ICO   - 1st Staffel JG400- it's Baron Munchhausen riding his cannonball,
                                  they flew the Me163 Komet
2JG400.ICO   - 2nd Staffel JG400- this is one of the few not labelled, the text
                                  reads: "Wie Ein Floh - Aber Oho!" (Just a Flea,
                                  But Oh Oh!), they also flew the Me163 Komet
                                  hence the rocket propelled flea.

ERPROSCH.ICO - ERPRO SCHENK     - Experimental Group Schenk flew Me262's. This
                                  group got most of its pilots from KG51
                                  "Edelweiss" a bomber group! They took a similar
                                  version of their old unit badge with them.

HE100D.ICO   - HE100D Staffel   - This is not really a formal unit badge at all.
                                  The He100D was a competitor to the Bf109. It
                                  was actually superior but the German
                                  Government refused to sanction production.
                                  However, a small production run produced by
                                  Heinkel was used as a propaganda staffel to
                                  make the allies think the Luftwaffe was using
                                  this aircraft. It was adorned with this abeit
                                  fake unit badge. Late in the war these same
                                  aircraft were issued to Heinkel test pilots for
                                  the defense of the Heinkel factory.
 
HE100DN.ICO  - HE100D Staffel   - Not only did they have a fake day unit badge 
                                  but one for night fighters as well.
 
Zerstorergeschwader, Schlachtgeschwader, and Nachtjagdgeschwader Unit Badges
ZG1.ICO      - ZG1              - "Wespen"
1ZG1.ICO     - 1 Staffel ZG1   

2ZG2.ICO     - II Gruppe ZG2

ZG26.ICO     - ZG26             - "Horst Wessel"
1ZG26.ICO    - I Gruppe ZG26
3ZG26.ICO    - III Gruppe ZG26
7ZG26.ICO    - 7th Staffel ZG26
9ZG26.ICO    - 9th Staffel ZG26
11ZG26.ICO   - 11th Staffel ZG26

1ZG52.ICO    - I Gruppe ZG52    - "Drache" an early WWII Badge 1939-1940

1ZG76.ICO    - I Gruppe ZG76
2ZG76.ICO    - II Gruppe ZG76
1SZG76.ICO   - 1st Staffel ZG76 - "Locomotiv" sort of looks like a "Monopoly"
                                  game piece doesn't it!                                  

1SG4.ICO     - I Gruppe SG4     - A "Mickey Mouse" look alike wielding an axe and
                                  riding a bomb.

1NJG1.ICO    - 1st Staffel NJG1 
8NJG3.ICO    - 8th Staffel NJG3 - "Der Englandblitz" this badge was used
                                  generally for NJG 1,2,3,4, and 6
1NJG10.ICO   - 1st Staffel NJG10- Badge of the "Wilde Sau" Wild Boar units

Kampfgeschwader and Stukageschwader Unit Badges
1KG2.ICO     - I Gruppe KG2

KG3.ICO      - KG3              - "Blitz"
2KG3.ICO     - II Gruppe KG3
10KG3.ICO    - 10th Staffel KG3 - a Croatian unit; note the Ustachi emblem above
                                  the crest

KG4.ICO      - KG4              - "General Wever"

KG26.ICO     - KG26             - "Lowen"

KG27.ICO     - KG27             - "Boelcke" Named after WWI ace Oswald Boelcke.

5KG30.ICO    - 5th Staffel KG30
note: KG30 was known as the "Adler" Geschwader

1KG40.ICO    - 1st Staffel KG40 - Flew FW-200 Kondors

KG51.ICO     - KG51             - "Edelweiss"

2KG53.ICO    - II Gruppe KG53   - "Legion Kondor"

KG54.ICO     - KG54             - "Totenkopf"

KG55.ICO     - KG55             - "Griefen"

KG76.ICO     - KG76

KG100.ICO    - KG100            - "Wiking"

KG506.ICO    - KG506   

HE111U#1.ICO - He111 #1         - Two beautiful badges belonging to He111 units
HE111U#2.ICO - He111 #2           whose identity I do not know. Can anyone
                                  identify them?

STG1.ICO     - StG1             
2STG1.ICO    - II Gruppe StG1
3STG1.ICO    - 3rd Staffel StG1 

STG2.ICO     - StG2             - "Immelmann" Named after WWI ace Max Immelmann.
3STG2.ICO    - III Gruppe StG2
2STG2.ICO    - 2nd Staffel StG2

3STG3.ICO    - 3rd Staffel StG3

7STG51.ICO   - 7th Staffel StG51

STG77.ICO    - StG77
4STG77.ICO   - 4th Staffel StG77
7STG77.ICO   - 7th Staffel StG77

ERPRO210.ICO - ERPRO210         - Erprobungsgruppe 210 was renamed soon after 
                                  the Battle of Britain and became
                                  Schnellkampfgeschwader 210 or SKG210.

VKDOPB.ICO   -                  - Versuchskommando fur Panzerbekampfung
                                  Yes, it's a mouthful! means: 
                                  experimental unit for tank attack
                                  flew Ju-87's w/37mm cannons for tank
                                  busting.

Other Units
1F122.ICO    - 1st Staffel F122 - Recon unit flew Bf-109's
2F123.ICO    - 2nd Staffel F123 - Recon unit flew Ju-88's 

Regia Aeronautica and Aviazione della RSI
The air forces of Fascist Italy were similar in composition to the Luftwaffe.
The smallest element was the Squadriglia. It was almost identical to the
Luftwaffe Staffel and was the same size. Like the Luftwaffe 3 Squadriglia
comprised a Gruppo. However, the next level the Stormo contained only 2 Gruppo.
Thus it was only about half the size of a Luftwaffe Geschwader. From this you can
get the idea that Italian Air Forces were smaller than their German
counterparts and very small by comparison to Allied Formations. Finally,
unlike their German counterparts, Italy did not use a formal numbering system
as did Germany. The badges presented here are those of units who flew first
for the Regia Aeronautica and then flew on after the Italian Armistice for the
Aviazione della RSI until the end of the war. Some of these units not only flew 
on the Russian Front before the armistice but even flew in defense of Berlin
at wars end. By wars end the Aviazione della RSI was flying Bf109G's, Macchi
MC202's and MC205's. Modern Italian aircraft (those which went into production
after 1941) were generally highly manoeuverable, reasonably fast, rugged, and
wholly underarmed. All badges presented are fighter aircraft.

Caccia Terreste (Land Based Fighters)
54ST.ICO     - 54th Stormo

3GR.ICO      - 3rd Gruppo       - "Diavolo Rossi"
6GR.ICO      - 6th Gruppo       - "Sagittario"

9GR.ICO      - 9th Gruppo       - "Cavallino Rampante" 
10GR.ICO     - 10th Gruppo      - "Cavallino Rampante" 
note: 9GR and 10GR were simply color inverted

18GR.ICO     - 18th Gruppo      - "Freccia"
21GR.ICO     - 21st Gruppo

150GR.ICO    - 150th Gruppo     - "Gigi Tre Osei"
152GR.ICO    - 152nd Gruppo     - "Asso di Spade"
153GR.ICO    - 153rd Gruppo     - "Asso di Bastoni"
155GR.ICO    - 155th Gruppo

74SQ.ICO     - 74th Squadriglia
97SQ.ICO     - 97th Squadriglia

Royal Air Force
As your might expect, the British had very elaborate unit badges for every
RAF Squadron that ever existed. Unfortunately, they almost never used these
badges on their aircraft. While I have been able to get pictures of these 
badges they are in shaded black and white. Little color information exists
so I have had to make some educated guesses about some of the colors used
on these badges. I would welcome any information available on this subject.
Every Squadron in the RAF had a badge of the same size and shape. The Badge 
was a round shield with a white center on which was depicted the squadron's
emblem. The shield was topped with a crown and below the shield was a banner
displaying the squadron motto. Because of the complexity of such a badge they
are difficult to draw in a 32 bit x 32 bit icon. Many of the squadrons presented
took part in the Battle of Britain. Those that did so show the a/c type. There
are literally 450 - 500 different squadron/unit badges in the RAF. 

Squadrons
7SQRAF.ICO   - 7   Squadron     - Emblem: Big Dipper
                                  Motto: Per Diem Per Noctem

41SQRAF.ICO  - 41  Squadron     - Emblem: Vertical bar with two cross bars
               Hurricanes         Motto: Seek And Destroy

46SQRAF.ICO  - 46  Squadron     - Emblem: Three Spear Points
               Spitfires          Motto: We Rise To Conquer

64SQRAF.ICO  - 64  Squadron     - Emblem: Beetle
               Spitfires          Motto: Tenax Propositi

72SQRAF.ICO  - 72  Squadron     - Emblem: Swift
               Spitfires          Motto: Swift

80SQRAF.ICO  - 80  Squadron     - Emblem: Bell
                                  Motto: Strike True

85SQRAF.ICO  - 85  Squadron     - Emblem: White Hexagon in a Black Circle
               Hurricanes         Motto: Noctu Diuque Venamur

127SQRAF.ICO - 127 Squadron     - Emblem: Spider
                                  Motto: Eothen

145SQRAF.ICO - 145 Squadron     - Emblem: Cross and Sword
               Hurricanes         Motto: Diu Noctuque Pugnamus

175SQRAF.ICO - 175 Squadron     - Emblem: Bull
                                  Motto: Stop At Nothing

232SQRAF.ICO - 232 Squadron     - Emblem: Viking Longship
               Hurricanes         Motto: Strike

264SQRAF.ICO - 264 Squadron     - Emblem: Knight's Helmet
               Defiants           Motto: We Defy

514SQRAF.ICO - 514 Squadron     - Emblem: Sword Through Cloud
                                  Motto: Nil Obstare Potest

601SQRAF.ICO - 601 Squadron     - Emblem: Winged Sword
               Hurricanes         Motto: None 
note: only 2 RAF Squadrons had no banner and hence no motto; this one 
      County of London and 607 Squadron - County of Durham

United States Army Air Force
The USA had plenty of unit badges but during the war few were used as nose
art proliferated. As stated above the USAAF had some of the most unusual
and even bizarre badges that ever graced a squadron's mess. Let alone an
aircraft. The basic unit in the USAAF was the Squadron which consisted of
12 - 16 aircraft. A Group was comprised of 3 - 4 squadrons and a Wing 
consisted of 3 to 4 groups. Aside from the Air Force and Group icons
presented below squadron air badges will be presented as follows:
Fighter Squadrons, Bombardment Squadrons (Light), Bombardment Squadrons
(Medium), Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), and Other Squadrons (Tactical
Recon, Photo Recon, Composite, and Antisubmarine). Also the aircraft
flown will be presented.

Most USAAF badges were done on or in a round shield although some were
different shapes. There are several themes which are common to US air
unit badges these are:

1) The bomb drop      - Virtually all US bombardment squadron badges
                        show one or more bombs and so do some fighter
                        squadron badges.

2) The death's head   - Compared to to the USA, German badges were 
                        downright tame! Many US badges contained 
                        a death's head, a grim reaper, a skeleton,
                        or a devil (and bombs too!).

3) Cartoon characters - Many famous cartoon characters were used such
                        as: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Dumbo, Alley Oop,
                        Donald Duck and others. It's interesting to
                        note that Mickey Mouse was NOT used. He was
                        used by the Germans! Go figure.

4) Retreads           - Many famous air unit badges were simply
                        updates or copies of those used in WWI.
    
5) Lightning strikes  - Many unit badges contain one or more
                        lightening bolts.

6) Fierce animals     - Three animals seem to be used more than
                        others time and again. The snake - usually
                        a rattler, the eagle (or falcon), and the
                        panther (also cougar). Also used are dogs,
                        vultures and sometimes bees or wasps.

Finally, US air unit badges are nothing if not COMPLEX! It is common
for badges to contain 3 or 4 of the above themes in ONE badge! This
makes them extremely difficult to draw. By way of example, a fierce
animal, carrying or dropping bombs with one or more lightning 
strikes is quite common.

8THAF.ICO    - The 8th Air Force
9THAF.ICO    - The 9th Air Force
15THAF.ICO   - The 15th Air Force
56THFG.ICO   - 56th Fighter Group
373RDFG.ICO  - 373rd Fighter Group
17THBG.ICO   - 17th Bomb Group

Fighter Squadrons
27THFS.ICO   - 27th     flew P-38   
33RDFS.ICO   - 33rd     flew P-47
48THFS.ICO   - 48th     flew P-38
55THFS.ICO   - 55th     flew P-51
61STFS.ICO   - 61st     flew P-47
78THFS.ICO   - 78th     flew P-47
84THFS.ICO   - 84th     flew P-51
92NDFS.ICO   - 92nd     flew P-38, P-47
94THFS.ICO   - 94th     flew P-38
97THFS.ICO   - 97th     flew P-38
99THFS.ICO   - 99th     flew P-51
307THFS.ICO  - 307th    flew P-51, Spitfire
313THFS.ICO  - 313th    flew P-47
316THFS.ICO  - 316th    flew P-47
338THFS.ICO  - 338th    flew P-38, P-51
348THFS.ICO  - 348th    flew A-20, P-61
357THFS.ICO  - 357th    flew P-47, P-51
370THFS.ICO  - 370th    flew P-47, P-51
389THFS.ICO  - 389th    flew P-47
427THFS.ICO  - 427th    flew P-61
493RDFS.ICO  - 493rd    flew P-47
 
Bombardment Squadrons (Light)
15THBSL.ICO  - 15th     flew A-20
53RDBSL.ICO  - 53rd     flew A-20, B-25
87THBSL.ICO  - 87th     flew A-20, B-25
311THBSL.ICO - 311th    flew A-36
644THBSL.ICO - 644th    flew A-20, A-26
670THBSL.ICO - 670th    flew A-20, A-26
671STBSL.ICO - 671st    flew A-20, A-26

Bombardment Squadrons (Medium)
34THBSM.ICO  - 34th     flew B-25, B-26
81STBSM.ICO  - 81st     flew B-25, A-26
95THBSM.ICO  - 95th     flew B-25, B-26
434THBSM.ICO - 434th    flew B-25
486THBSM.ICO - 486th    flew B-25
552NDBSM.ICO - 552nd    flew B-26
554THBSM.ICO - 554th    flew B-26, A-26
586THBSM.ICO - 586th    flew B-26, A-26
598THBSM.ICO - 598th    flew B-26
617THBSM.ICO - 617th    flew B-26, B-25
619THBSM.ICO - 619th    flew B-26, B-25

Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy)
4THBSH.ICO   - 4th      flew B-17, B-24
9THBSH.ICO   - 9th      flew B-17, B-24
32NDBSH.ICO  - 32nd     flew B-17
96THBSH.ICO  - 96th     flew B-17
316THBSH.ICO - 316th    flew B-17
317THBSH.ICO - 317th    flew B-17
331STBSH.ICO - 331st    flew B-17
334THBSH.ICO - 334th    flew B-17
338THBSH.ICO - 338th    flew B-17
339THBSH.ICO - 339th    flew B-17
346THBSH.ICO - 346th    flew B-17
364THBSH.ICO - 364th    flew B-17
366THBSH.ICO - 366th    flew B-17
391STBSH.ICO - 391st    flew B-17, B-24
399THBSH.ICO - 399th    flew B-17
409THBSH.ICO - 409th    flew B-24
413THBSH.ICO - 413th    flew B-17
416THBSH.ICO - 416th    flew B-17
429THBSH.ICO - 429th    flew B-17
430THBSH.ICO - 430th    flew B-17, B-24
509THBSH.ICO - 509th    flew B-17
512THBSH.ICO - 512th    flew B-17, B-24
513THBSH.ICO - 513th    flew B-17, B-24
526THBSH.ICO - 526th    flew B-17
527THBSH.ICO - 527th    flew B-17
600THBSH.ICO - 600th    flew B-17
700THBSH.ICO - 700th    flew B-24
708THBSH.ICO - 708th    flew B-17
709THBSH.ICO - 709th    flew B-17
710THBSH.ICO - 710th    flew B-17
752NDBSH.ICO - 752nd    flew B-24
753RDBSH.ICO - 753rd    flew B-24
759THBSH.ICO - 759th    flew B-24
766THBSH.ICO - 766th    flew B-24
767THBSH.ICO - 767th    flew B-24
775THBSH.ICO - 775th    flew B-17
814THBSH.ICO - 814th    flew B-17, B-24
827THBSH.ICO - 827th    flew B-24

Tactical Recon, Photo Recon, Composite, and Antisubmarine Squadrons    
3RDTRS.ICO   - 3rd      flew P-39, A-20
12THTRS.ICO  - 12th     flew A-20, P-51, Spitfire
22NDTRS.ICO  - 22nd     flew A-20, P-40, P-51
109THTRS.ICO - 109th    flew A-20, P-51, Spitfire
111THTRS.ICO - 111th    flew P-51, P-38, Spitfire

33RDPRS.ICO  - 33rd     flew A-20, B-25, P-38, P-51
41STPRS.ICO  - 41st     flew A-20

3RDBSC.ICO   - 3rd      flew P-39, A-20, P-40, P-51, A-36, A-26
6THAS.ICO    - 6th      flew B-25, B-24


OTHER AIR FORCES

Finland
Nominally, an axis ally until September 1944. By that time all 
fighter squadrons were flying Bf109G's. 

HLELV34.ICO  - 34th Squadron    - HLeLv34 was an elite squadron in the
                                  Finnish Air Force. It included most
                                  of Finland's top scoring aces.

LLV24.ICO    - 24th Squadron

1LELV44.ICO  - 44th Squadron    - Appears to be the first flight of 44th
                                  bomber squadron. They flew Ju-88's.

Hungary
Nominally, an axis ally Hungarian air units flew BF109G's late in the war.

5_1PUMA.ICO  - 5/1 Fighter Group- "PUMA"

USSR
The only badge I was able to locate for the USSR was for the VVSChF - the 
Black Sea Air Fleet. It's a pretty one though.

VVSCHF.ICO   - Black Sea Air Fleet



Sources:

      Martin C. Windrow, ed., AIRCRAFT IN PROFILE, Nos. 3,15,16,22,23,24,28,29,
76,113,130,184,188,225 (Berkshire,England: Profile Publications Ltd. 1965-1971)

      R.S. Hirsch and U. Feist, HEINKEL 100, 112 (Fallbrook,California: Aero
Publishers, Inc. 1967)

      Bruce Robertson, AIRCRAFT CAMOUFLAGE AND MARKINGS 1907 - 1954 (Letchworth,
Herts., England: Harleyford Publications, Ltd. 1966)

      W. Green and G. Swanborough, FLYING COLORS (Carrollton,Texas: Squadron/
Signal Publications, Inc. 1981)

      J. Beamon, Jr., Bf109 IN ACTION part 1 (Carrollton,Texas: Squadron/Signal
Publications, Inc. 1980)

      J. Beamon, Jr., Bf109 IN ACTION part 2 (Carrollton,Texas: Squadron/Signal
Publications, Inc. 1983)

      J. Campbell, FW190 IN ACTION (Carrollton,Texas: Squadron/Signal
Publications, Inc. 1975)

      B. Filley, JU88 IN ACTION part 1 (Carrollton,Texas: Squadron/Signal
Publications, Inc. 1988)

      L. Davis, P47 THUNDERBOLT IN ACTION (Carrollton,Texas: Squadron/Signal
Publications, Inc. 1984)

      C. Shores, REGIA AERONAUTICA Vol. 1 (Carrollton,Texas: Squadron/Signal
Publications, Inc. 1976)

      F. Kober, He111 OVER ALL FRONTS (West Chester, PA: Schiffer Publications,
Ltd. 1991)

      H. J. Nowarra, He162 "VOLKSJAGER" (Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publications, Ltd.
1993)

      James Jones, WW II (New York: Ballantine Books 1975)

      Lawrence Holland, Victor Cross et. al., THEIR FINEST HOUR manual (San 
Rafael, CA: Lucasfilm Ltd. 1989)

      Karl Toll, "Storm Bird", AIRPOWER, Vol. 23 No. 2, March 1993

      Maurer, Maurer ed., World War II Combat Squadrons of the United States
Air Force (New York: Smithmark Publishers Inc. 1992)
 

I hope you have as much fun using these icons as I did drawing them. I'm
going to rest on my laurels for a bit. As I mentioned above one more update
will be prepared for release during the spring of 1994. If you have any
specific wants for inclusion into this final update or any comments send
them to me via Compuserve or JGOTTLIEB via the National Videotex Network.
                                     
                                  

                                       



 



 










   



 

 




               




 

     