Anyone familiar with Luftwaffe (WW2) Aircraft ID codes?

[Von Due]

Here's the thing:

There is one particular aircraft that flew during WW2 before being shot down. It was a Heinkel 111 with the ID code 5J + CN. I am attempting to place that aircraft in the squadron it flew, if possible down to its number within the squadron, so to know that plane's individual place in the squadron.

Here's what I got so far:
The bombers were organized in Combat Wings (KG) and Combat Wing 4 (KG4) had the code 5J, so this aircraft was part of KG4, which I already knew but this verified that 5J was indeed referring to KG4.

Then things get a bit cloudier but a couple of things from Wikipedia:
Each KG was organized in groups (Gruppe). At the time this aircraft was shot down in late April 1940, KG4 consisted of 3 groups + HQ (Gruppe I, Gr. II and Gr. III + HQ).
Each Gruppe would consist of 3 squadrons (Staffel) where the Sqdr. 1-3 were in Gr I, Sqdr 4-6 in Gr.2 and so on and so forth.

This aircraft flew in sqdr. 5, in Gr. II. in KG4. This I know for a fact. It adds up to what Wiki says about number of squadrons per group.

From https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geschwaderkennung and http://www.luftfahrt-erfurt.de/seite14.htm it seems obvious that the N in CN refers to Sqrd. 5, therefor also Gr. II. However, those 2 pages appear to disagree in the C.

From the German Wiki (I don't read German really but I think I could make out the few bits I needed above) it appears that the C would refer to Gr. II which would make sense. Then CN would spell out Gr. II/Sqdr. 5 but that other page has another bomber in the same KG named BN and if I would follow the same system as on Wiki, that B would refer to Gr. I and not (as it seems to me) the 2nd individual plane in squadron 5 (N, Gr. II).

Could any of you who do read German tell me if I read that thing totally wrong or if there is a discrepancy between the 2 pages?

Would any of you happen to know how to read the ID codes down to the smallest details it offers?

I am thinking: Would it make sense to ID individual aircrafts down to squadron size only and not down to individual aircrafts? I would think not but that the CN part does indeed tell which individual craft we have here. I am going for

5J = KG4
C = 3rd plane in
N = squadron 5 (therefor Gr.II)

but would appreciate any Germanspeaking person or someone familiar with these codes to verify or tell me I'm wrong. The older system they used as explained in the 2nd link seems to say F was plane 7 but I can't seem to work out how F could mean plane 7 and not 6.

[Dowly]

Yes, I think you are correct.

5J+CN

5J = KG 4
C= Aircraft 3 (C), Staffel 5 (Colour)
N = Staffel 5, II Gruppe

[Eichhörnchen]

I'd concur with your final assessment (presuming that the individual aircraft letter is RED??)... you have an aircraft of 5 Staffel. How much further you can go than this I'm not certain, but there could be (I think) as many as 16 aircraft in a Staffel.

[Von Due]

Thanks for the input guys and yeah, the colour thing: What I think is, the colour code was used on the letter signifying individual planes but the colour itself was determined by whether the plane belonged to the 1st, 2nd or 3rd squadron in a group, bearing in mind the 1st squadron of Gr. 2 was 4. Staffel, 2nd squadron of Gr. 3 was 8. Staffel and so on.
The letter C is red, signifying it belongs to the 2nd squadron in its Gruppe (1st squadron would be white, 3rd squadron would be yellow, ref. the Wiki page.).

This adds up to the plane flying in the 5th (N) squadron and that squadron being the 2nd in its Gruppe.

EDIT: Just realized that if any of this is actually true, that this is how it actually worked back then, then the Fighter Wings (JG) had a completely different system I have absolutely no idea how worked, seeing lots of pics of fighters using only a single coloured number, then _perhaps_ but not always, a symbol, decal or something tailside of the cross. Sometimes there was nothing but a coloured number and the cross, and the colour scheme included more colours than the 3 for bomber squadrons. Then, to make matters worse, sometimes they didn't use any number at all, just a single symbol nose-side of the cross.

[Jimbuna]

A mine of information in the links below.

http://www.rlm.at/cont/archiv02_e.htm

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/LRG/markings.html

http://www.ww2.dk/misc/unitid.htm

http://histomil.com/viewtopic.php?t=11524&start=10

[Dowly]

EDIT: Just realized that if any of this is actually true, that this is how it actually worked back then, then the Fighter Wings (JG) had a completely different system I have absolutely no idea how worked, seeing lots of pics of fighters using only a single coloured number, then _perhaps_ but not always, a symbol, decal or something tailside of the cross. Sometimes there was nothing but a coloured number and the cross, and the colour scheme included more colours than the 3 for bomber squadrons. Then, to make matters worse, sometimes they didn't use any number at all, just a single symbol nose-side of the cross.ROFL! Yes, the system JGs used sure was different. :har:

First of all, unit ID was done by placing the unit emblem near the nose or the cockpit.

The fuselage markings consisted of individual plane #, squadron and group.

Plane # and squadron were forward of the Cross, a colored number or colored outline of the number.

Squadron 1: White
Squadron 2: Red or Black
Squadron 3: Yellow

(Squadron 4, if used: Blue)

After the Cross was the group identifier. These could be colored with the squadron color or left black.

Group I: none
Group II: horizontal bar
Group III: wavy line or vertical bar
Group IV: half wavy line, + or a filled circle.

So, a fighter with fuselage markings 3#~
Aircraft #3
Group III (wavy line)
8. Squadron (red color)
i.e. 8./JG X

The symbols replacing the number forward of the Cross were used by staff. Group commander would have a << symbol instead of a number, group adjutant < etc. etc.

Oh and these all might be a little different from JG to JG. :)

EDIT: Forgot to mention that the squadron # was a running number, so Group I would have 1-3, Group II 4-6, Group III 7-9.

Unless, of course, the unit had 4 squadrons per group.

[Von Due]

Top notch posts by both of you there :yeah:

On a slight side note: For personal emblems, I have to give it to A. Galland,he must have had some good connections allowing him to paint Mickey Mouse on his personal plane. Also, he flew what was probably the only fighter in the airforce with a cigar lighter installed in the cockpit :har: Quite the dandy fellow.

Anyway, looks like my original quest has been completed. Thanks again for the inputs, guys.

[Sailor Steve]

Have you read Galland's book, The First And The Last? It's a good one.

[Von Due]

Have you read Galland's book, The First And The Last? It's a good one.

I haven't but thanks for the heads up :up:

[Aktungbby]

Here's the thing:

There is one particular aircraft that flew during WW2 before being shot down. It was a Heinkel 111 with the ID code 5J + CN. I am attempting to place that aircraft in the squadron it flew, if possible down to its number within the squadron, so to know that plane's individual place in the squadron.


U mean this one? Early in the morning of the 26th April 1940, four members of KG 4 took off in their Heinkel He111 P-2 5J+CN from Fernebu, Oslo in Norway. One of three Heinkels tasked with attacking the town of Andalsnes, the bomber was damaged by the guns of HMS Manchester. Unable to keep formation with the other Heinkels the crew were then taken by surprise by two Blackburn Skuas of No. 801 Squadron FAA from HMS Ark Royal.
The pilot of Skua A7-A unleashed a hail of machine gun fire on the bomber - killing flight engineer Willi Stock. With one engine failing and the other on fire, pilot Richard Gumbrecht had no choice but to force-land somewhere among the snow covered mountains below. With Stock dead, the remaining three crew members escaped the wreckage and made their way down the mountain. The largely intact Heinkel sat on the mountain for over 30 years, before being recovered and restored by the Norwegian Armed Forces Aircraft Collection. http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/sooAAOSwGtRXwxTd/s-l1600.jpgI have it in my extensive Corgi collection:O: http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/aNgAAOSw9IpXwwpi/s-l1600.jpghttp://ww2today.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-760-0171-19_Norwegen_Flughafen_Fornebu-595x425.jpg (http://ww2today.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-760-0171-19_Norwegen_Flughafen_Fornebu.jpg)
Fornebu Airfield, Oslo under Luftwaffe control. note photo date vs mission date-the plane is probably in the shot!:up: http://www.nuav.net/ooblw.html (http://www.nuav.net/ooblw.html) Your BBY is currently on display at the Norwegian Armed Forces Aircraft Collection https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/He-111P_Norway.jpg
http://www.asisbiz.com/il2/He-111/KG4/images/Norweigian-Museum-Heinkel-He-111P2-5.KG4-5J+CN-Gunther-Holscher-Norway-April-1940-01.jpg (http://www.asisbiz.com/il2/He-111/KG4/images/Norweigian-Museum-Heinkel-He-111P2-5.KG4-5J+CN-Gunther-Holscher-Norway-April-1940-01.jpg)note the stylish 'c' also in the unit emblem.:hmmm:

[Eichhörnchen]

Fascinating... I'm wondering whether anyone has painted that yet?

[Von Due]

That would be the very same and one. I know it's there, I was fortunate to get a close look at it in the late 70's when it was undergoing restoration. Also met 2 of the surviving crewmembers including the skipper, as well as 2 of the Brits from 801st who shot it down. They were gathered for a memorial service for the gunner Willi Stock who was killed in the battle. Also present, IIRC (at least she came up here at some point) was Willi's daughter.

https://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/digervarden-11.jpg

https://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/digervarden-01.jpg

EDIT: Come to think of it. They sure had rotten luck. Taking part in the Polish campaign and was shot down early without casualties. Transfered to Norway where they again were shot down on one of their first sorties, this time for good. The 111 was a sleek plane, in the 30's but by 1940 it was as modern as a T-ford.

[Aktungbby]

Fascinating... I'm wondering whether anyone has painted that yet? Wonder no more:O:: https://s1.scalemates.com/products/img/2/3/3/692233-11185-57-pristine.jpg
:hmmm: Hey! U could do model box tops too!:yeah:! well as 2 of the Brits from 801st who shot it down. Good to hear that from 'first person' source...You! I had tried to track the shooters but Skua pilots did not fare so well often being mis ID'd by RAF and gunners and outclassed by Me 109 from the start. That said; a few firsts:
The Blackburn Skua can claim several significant firsts to its name. It was the Fleet Air Arm's first stressed skin mono-plane aircraft and also the first British aircraft specifically designed for dive-bombing duties. It was also first British built dive bomber and the first aircraft to shoot down an enemy aircraft in WW2 (a Dornier flying boat on 25th Sept 1939)Shooting down the first enemy aircraft of World War II would be a notable achievement for any record, and this too can be claimed by a Blackburn Skua. On 25th September 1939, Lt. Cdr. B.S. McEwan RN (803 Naval Air Squadron) and P.O. Brian Seymour, operating from H.M.S Ark Royal, shot down a German Dornier Do18 flying boat whilst on air patrol off the Norwegian coast.
Blackburn Skuas were at the forefront of the Norwegian campaign, often operating at the extreme limit of their range and under gruelling North Sea conditions. Despite these limiting factors, Skuas of No. 800 and 803 NAS, managed to successfully dive bomb and sink the German cruiser Konigsberg, in Bergen Fjord, Norway, on the 10th April 1940. On 10 April 1940, 16 Skuas of 800 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/800_Naval_Air_Squadron) and 803 NAS . sank the German cruiser Königsberg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_cruiser_K%C3%B6nigsberg) in Bergen harbour (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergen) during Operation Weserübung (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Weser%C3%BCbung), the German invasion of Norway. This was the first major warship ever to be sunk by dive bombing, indeed the first major warship ever sunk in war by air attack

[Von Due]

Found this
26th - At 0700 the destroyers GRENADE, BEAGLE, FORTUNE, VOLUNTEER, ENCOUNTER and ESCORT joined the force from Narvik.
At 0725 the destroyers HYPERION, HEREWARD, HASTY, FEARLESS, FURY and JUNO detached and proceeded to Sullom Voe to refuel.
At 1000 the ARK ROYAL was in position 65-08N, 5-28E. At this time the weather cleared and there were clear blue skies and she launched six Skuas, 7A, 7B, 7C, 7F, 7G & 7H of 801 Sqd for a fighter patrol over Aandalnes

[REPORT of 801 Sqd
The squadron took off in perfect visibility and made a good landfall at Bud climbing to 10, 000 feet. The CURACOA was seen at Andalsnes and the squadron proceeded up the valley towards Gladiator Lake at 1120, two Gladiators were seen to take off. The swept runway was most conspicuous and numerous bomb craters were seen all over the lake.
Having circled the lake, the patrol was continued back towards Aandalsnes. Three He 111Ps of Kampfstaffel 5./II./KG 4, from Fornebu, were then seen approaching from the opposite direction and slightly below in line ahead formation.
The whole Squadron in turn attacked the rearmost enemy aircraft which hurriedly dropped its bombs. The starboard engine was put on fire by Lieutenant Commander H. Bramwell in 7A and the port engine by Lieutenant (A) W. Martin in 7C. This aircraft lost height and was seen to crash into a snowdrift; at Digervarden Lesja, two crew were seen to get out.
(This aircraft had taken off from Fornebu at 1000/26/4/40 on a mission to attack shipping at Andalsnes. During its attack on shipping in Romsdalsfjord it hit and damaged by AA fire from the MANCHESTER. The damaged Heinkel was then attacked by Skuas 7A & 7C, and made a forced landing)
The second He 111P was then attacked by Sub Lieutenant Wigginton in 7B, and the starboard engine put on fire. This aircraft was last seen losing height with smoke pouring from it. Meanwhile, the leading He 111P beat a hasty retreat towards the coast.
The Squadron then reformed and returned to ARK ROYAL, landing on at 1330]

from
http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-04CV-HMS_Ark_Royal.htm

The Skua was more a bite than a He111 would be happy to chew, despite the Skua was pretty outdated itself. The 111 was fast but seriously underprotected and Ark Royal's Skuas enjoyed quite a few victories. Lucky for the Brits the mainstay of the German fighter force in Norway was the 110 which was only slightly more of a threat as a fighter than a sitting duck.

[Commander Wallace]

Just learned a lot about aircraft information and codes that I didn't know, I didn't know. :Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

[Aktungbby]

Just learned a lot about aircraft information and codes that I didn't know, I didn't know. :Kaleun_Thumbs_Up: U need to expand on that concept:D Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld: because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unknown_unknown) — the ones we don't know we don't know. And if one looks throughout the history of our country and other free countries, it is the latter category that tend to be the difficult ones.The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, or vice versa. :doh: In fact, the leading cause of death in aerial combat is: not knowing what u don't know: ie "I didn't know that aßhole was on my six....":dead:

[Von Due]

"I didn't know that aßhole was on my six....":dead:

And if you thought bandits at 6 o'clock meant there was time for tea and bisquits before the shooting then you probably wouldn't know how to operate a sling shot let alone a machine gun and bomb sights were right out of the question, and you were probably put inside an aircraft by mistake.


I still have no idea how the F plane could be the number 7 plane unless the Germans had extra letters in between the A and F. Either the page linked above made a typo or something is going on that hasn't been accounted for yet.

Would be something to look into too, the 800th, 801st and 803rd squadrons on Ark Royal. The tiny glimpse I got suggested that the squadrons' markings would differ in format and not only in letters and numbers.

[Aktungbby]

And if you thought bandits at 6 o'clock meant there was time for tea and bisquits before the shooting then you probably wouldn't know how to operate a sling shot let alone a machine gun and bomb sights were right out of the question, and you were probably put inside an aircraft by mistake.


The master himself, actually a handpicked protégé of Boelke and his timeless 'Dicta', #3 ''Open fire only at close range, and then only when the opponent is squarely in your sights''; #5: "In any type of attack, it is essential to assail your opponent from behind" said it best: "The Murder of a man is still murder, even in wartime" (Best done 'Hunning" out of the sun or on the enemy's six) and "The quality of the box (aircraft?) matters little. Success depends on the man who sits in it." "Everything in the air that is beneath me, especially if it is a one seater...is lost, for it cannot shoot to the rear" “I never get into an aircraft for fun,” Manfred von Richthofen once wrote. “I aim first for the head of the pilot, or rather at the head of the observer, if there is one.” It was a maxim that the German aviator followed with ruthless precision. Rather than engaging in airborne acrobatics or risky dogfights, he preferred to patiently stalk his enemies, swoop down from high altitude and then blast them out of the sky with pinpoint bursts of machine gun fire. “There is no art in shooting down an aeroplane,” “The thing is done by the personality or by the fighting determination of the airman.” IMHO heads can only be hit up close from the six o'clock position-his record speaks for itself. His classic victory against ACE Lanoe Hawker (victory#11) a case in point: Hawker chose his target. As luck would have it, it was Richthofen’s Albatros D.II. He dove at the Albatros from behind, getting off a five-round burst that missed when Richthofen cut sharply left. Hawker followed him into the turn. The equally matched pilots began a frantic, spinning chase as each tried to outturn the other and maneuver into position for a clear shot. Their tight circle, less than 300 feet in diameter, slowly descended from an altitude of almost 10,000 feet to nearly treetop level.
Hawker was now at a disadvantage. Dangerously low on the German side of the lines, he knew he would be hit from the ground or forced to land if he did not end the battle quickly. A succession of loops, which Richthofen’s less-creative fly style could not match, placed Hawker in a position to get off another burst that came close, but missed the Baron’s plane. Losing his chance, Hawker turned and bolted for his side of the lines with Richthofen in pursuit.
With both the Baron and the ground closing in on him,Hawker zigzagged at high speed to stay out of the line of fire. He was nearly saved when Richthofen’s first burst jammed his gun. The jam quickly cleared, however, and with his second burst Richthofen shot Hawker through the back of the head. His DH-2 pitched up and then nosed into the ground, just 50 yards short of the German front-line trenches. The 'box' didn't matter; persistence, direct tactics and a close shot to the head from the six did...

[Von Due]

Indeed the 6 o'clock was the preferred position for the reason mentioned there. Notable exception was against allied WW2 bomber formations where the German fighter pilots were forced to continuously re-evaluate their tactics and much heated disagreement was had over how to tackle the formations. Forward fireing fighters was one thing but 150-300 rear turrets, ball turrets and top turrets, 300-600 waist gunners, that was something different and something that scared even the most hardened veteran witless.If a fighter pilot returned to base without the need to change his underwear, then he had avoided the fight.

Fortunately for the allied, the Germans never jumped on the self-relying, heavily defended bomber formation bandwagon, instead they relied on tieing up their own fighters in escort missions to escort sub par Ju-87s and hopelessly outmatched 111's (against modern fighters that was), with strict orders to the pilots not to break off to engage enemies at a distance, before giving counter orders, before counter the counter orders then.... *sigh* they made a mess of it and the allied rejoyced. Göring in particular was the best thing that happened to the alllied in that respect. One has to wonder if he was secretly on their payroll :haha:

Anyway, to take on a German bomber formation was less harrowing due to their lack of protection, relatively speaking (even a Stuka had a rearwards pea shooter but the He-111's bathtub meant the gunner had to get up, turn around, lay down again, find aim only to find the target gone by then and that was only after they installed more than a single down/rearward pea shooter). To take on a 3 ship flight of 111's, even in a Skua, meant you had the odds on your side and it was pretty much a rock around the clock fight. A 109 against 3 B-17s not so much.

[Dowly]

I still have no idea how the F plane could be the number 7 plane unless the Germans had extra letters in between the A and F. Either the page linked above made a typo or something is going on that hasn't been accounted for yet.
Phew.. that needed some digging, but I think I have an answer for you.

I think the example given in your second link on the first post is slightly flawed, and as such I think it is a simple typo.

The book Kampfflieger- Bombers of the Luftwaffe 1933-1940, Volume 1 explains the early marking system as such (using the example from your link):

33 + F26
3 = Luftkreiskommando III (Regional Air Command, KG253 did indeed belong to Luftkreiskommando III)
3 = Third Geschwader formed under LK III. The book lists only 2 KGs under LK III, but the one above KG 253 uses the number 32, so this makes sense.

The rest, with the exception of the probable typo with F, is correct on the site.


Also, another thing I learned from the book is how the KG numbering worked (at least in the early days). For example, KG 253:
2 = Second (bomber unit?) formed under Luftkreiskommando III.
5 = Class of aircraft; Heavy bomber
3 = Luftkreiskommando III

The other KG listed is 153, so the above makes sense.

The things you learn... :)

[Von Due]

Wow! Massive thanks to you, Dowly, for that fantastic post!

[Dowly]

Wow! Massive thanks to you, Dowly, for that fantastic post!No problemo. It is certainly a fascinating subject. :yep:

[Von Due]

Finally another thing here makes sense. The first sources I came across said K.G.4 borrowed aircrafts (squadrons?) from 253 which isn't unheard of but then I came across a source that stated that K.G. 253's name was "General Wever" which also was the name given to K.G.4. That was peculiar, that 2 different wings got the same name. A bit of google "translate" (good grief that thing can be funny at times) later, it turns out that there was no borrowing.

K.G. 253 was renamed entirely to K.G. 4. The name General Wever simply carried over since it was the same unit + extensions with a new designation.

[Dowly]

Yep, after the Luftflotte-system replaced the Luftkreis-system, KG 253 was renamed to KG 4 and placed in Luftflotte 1.

To know which Luftflotte a KG belonged to:
KG 1-25 = Luftflotte 1
KG 26-50 = Luftflotte 2
KG 51-75 = Luftflotte 3
KG 76-99 = Luftflotte 4

[Von Due]

I'm wondering. I was reading a bit on LF 5 and LF 6 and it appeared that at least 1 group or a squadron from K.G. 4 appeared under command of one of these. I am therefor speculating that above K.G. level, the "luftflotte"s would move the KGs around from one LF to another per operational demand, and even individual groups and squadrons. I have no evidence of this, only indications.

EDIT. AktungBBY's post (#18) links to a page that states the German airforce was under LF 5 from mid August 1940, and that under LF 5 was K.G. 26 which to my recollection was based further north around Trondheim (could be wrong as they could very well have used airfields acattered around elsewhere). The same page mentions K.G.4 but not under LF 5 specifically.

[Dowly]

Yup, squadrons, groups and KGs were moved around as needed.

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Kampfgeschwader/KG4.htm

The third table shows a good example with II./KG 4 being based in Romania, but its 4. Squadron was in Sicily and 5. Squadron in Baghdad. (If I read that correctly)

[Von Due]

Managed to find some more info, this time on the crew of the 2 Skuas.

A-7A: Pilot: Hugh Peter Bramwell (801 Sqd. leader), radio/gunner: James W. Collett.
A-7C: Pilot: William Martin (Martyn in other source, RCAF), radio/gunner: Reginald Davies.

Also flying along was A-7B: Pilot: F.B. Wigginton, radio/gunner: E. Adlam.

It's been many years and I was very young then, but from what I now have gathered, it must have been Davies and Collett who came here to meet the German crew, and the ones I met.

A curious detail: The 3 survivors, Hölcher, Gumbrecht and Stoltz were captured by Norwegian forces, and handed over to the British. The ship that took them to England, before they were sent to Canada, was the very same ship that had damaged CN: HMS Manchester. A bit of irony there.

[Eichhörnchen]

It's a huge, complex subject, Luftwaffe markings, as is/was their camouflage

[Von Due]

It's a huge, complex subject, Luftwaffe markings, as is/was their camouflage

I wish I could find it now, this article in a war time German newspaper describing how low the Russians were, how low they would go tossing all chivalery out the window for dirty tricks: The untrustworthy bastards would paint their tanks WHITE in the winter! Just imagine! :har: As opposed, I suppose, to the bright orange tanks of the Germans.

Looking into the Skua ID, again a different system (not surprisingly) but what it seems to me right now is:
The ID would follow the carrier, so the carrier would in this respect have the same role as the German K.G. where the letter would denote which carrier the squadron would operate from. The 801st operated from Ark Royal and the letter code for that carrier was A. For fighters, the numbers 6 or 7 was used (either, I assume, depending on type of aircraft so Skuas would be 7, or its role attached to the carrier or, more likely, if there were more than 1 fighter squadron attached). Last came the individual plane in the squadron, each squadron consisting of 3 aircrafts unlike land based squadrons.

A7-A would then spell out
A: Ark Royal
7: Fighter (2nd fighter squadron??)
A Squadron leader, B and C wingmen.

Sometimes though, the carrier designation was omitted when there was only 1 carrier in question which was often the case.

Looks like I guessed partially right on the 7. At the time, 800th squadron was A6, 801st was A7, and 803rd was at some point A8 before being redesignated S6. There is a lot of conflicting info though so nothing here is absolutely certain other than 801st at the time was designated A7. Even the number of planes in a squadron seems uncertain, some sources state 3, others point out the 803rd had at least 7 aircrafts, more likely more and a multiple of 3.

[Von Due]

Just as a prelude to the events and copy paste from an email I sent:

About Holcher, Stock and Stolz: They took part in the Polish campaign flying with a different pilot, Gotthold Klenk. They flew the 5J+EN from Oels near Breslau to attack the airfield at Lemberg (Lwow) on Sept 1. 1939, at 10.00 hours. The plane was damaged by anti aircraft fire and forced to an emergency landing at 13.30 hours. There were no casualties. 5J+EN was completely destroyed afterwards by the crew before they had to flee. They were all taken prisoners but did return to K.G.4 on, or shortly after, October 3. 1939

Here too were they in II/KG4. Shot down within the first hours of the war. Shot down about 3 weeks after being sent to Norway. Someone forgot his lucky charm or someone on the ground had a containerload of lucky charms.