A Bf-109E “Jabo” of JG53 about to taxi out for takeoff for a mission over England, October 1940. The unit usually had a distinctive “Ace of Spades” or “Pik As” but during the summer of 1940 they were ordered by Goering to erase those markings and paint a red stripe on the cowling. This was to be a mark of shame as it was found out during the summer of 1940 that the commander of JG53 had a Jewish wife, which was unacceptable to the Nazis for reasons we know and I don’t really want to get into. In retaliation, the unit erased the Haukenkreuz (swastika) markings on the tail and after being ordered to put them back on they replied that they’d only do that if they were allowed their “Pik As” marking back. Goering relented, and so JG53 got their distinctive unit marking back. This is one of several times Luftwaffe pilots would defy Goering and other Nazis, and shows that there were good men in the German war machine.