Is a Stammkennzeichen permanent to an individual aircraft, even when it is upgraded?

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Mark Sheppard
Stammkennzeitung + upgrades
Wed Feb 18 12:57:42 2004
62.241.190.23

Hi all

Can anyone answer these questions?

Have seen a number of photos of B109E-7's on transfer flights with the 'Stammkennzeitung' painted on the side.

These Bf109E's were manufactured as as E-1's two years previously.

If the aircraft has been upgraded, are these SKz as per there original manufacture or are they new? Early war, these Skz/aircraft records would have existed and no doubt be referred to during any aircraft upgrade.

I can understand a remanufactured aircraft with a new number having a different Skz code. Fw190A-7 to Fw190F-8 of NASM for example.

Another example is the Fw189 recovered from Russia in 1992. This had three sets of Skz letters applied (two sets were also the same codes and applied twice). This Fw189 had started as an A-1 but had been upgraded as an A-2. The code applied twice seems to correspond with the ones applied when manufactured in July 1941 and again after upgrade when recorded on route before being lost in May 1942. But what of the third? Still unknown.

Am assuming a four letter Skz was unique to that aircraft (or at least that aircraft in that sub-type - E model, F model etc.) so would remain as part of that aircraft's ID.

Never really found a definative answer in any sources for these questions.

Any Skz experts out there?

regards

MS

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Kari Lumppio
Re-use of original Stkz - case: Ar 95
Wed Feb 18 13:19:31 2004
130.233.83.21

Hi Mark!

For what it is worth. Ar 95 seaplanes served originally in SAGr 125 (unit code (7R+) in year 1941. After that they were apparently put into storage.

During Summer 1943 (all?) available Ar 95 were sent to the Estonian AGr 127. They were all recorded in the first months with their (original) Stammkennzeichen. The AGr 127 unit codes (6R+) weren't painted until in Fall 1943.

So at least in the case of Ar 95 they retained their original Stkz despite serving with unit codes on for awhile. On the other hand the planes were not remanufactured.


Good luck,
Kari

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

RabeAnton
Permanency of Stammkennzeichen
Thu Feb 19 17:53:39 2004
132.60.7.2

After 10 or 12 years of data collection and research in the Stammkennzeichen, I believe I understand something of their nature. To go directly to your wonderment, Mark, I am virtually certain that an aircraft's SKZ, like its Werknummer, was permanent and remained unchanged throughout the airframe's career. Of course, it's conceivable that there were exceptions to the rule, but if there were, none have turned up in the tens of thousands of examples that I have available.

RA