The Geschwader Kommodore of Stab.JG53 during 1940 was Major Hans-Jurgen von Cramon-Taubadel. During the Battle of Britain, as it did throughout the second world war, JG53 flew Bf-109's. In this period of 1940 the Bf 109E-3 was the version that most pilots were given. There were two 7.92mm machine guns (MG17) mounted on the nose above the inverted Daimler Benz engine and two 20mm cannon (MGFF) mounted in the wings. While JG53 was making a reputation for itself during the Battle of Britain, information fell to Reichsmarshall Goering that Major Jurgen von Cramon-Taubadel's wife was Jewish.
Inflamed at this fact, Goering ordered the whole of Stab.JG53 to remove the 'Pik As' from their planes, and replace it with a red stripe around the engine cowling of their Bf-109's, as punishment for this "outrageous insult to the Fuhrer."
All of Stab.JG53's planes immediately were stripped of their 'Pik As' insignia, but soon afterward, the whole of Stab.JG53 stripped the swastikas off the tails of their planes in protest to this "mark of shame." During the entire Battle of Britain, Stab.JG53's planes were easily recognizable because of the red band around their engine cowlings, as well as the absence of a swastika on the tail of their Bf-109's. Soon after the battle, due, no doubt to the protest of the pilots, Stab.JG53 was allowed to paint the 'Pik As' back on their Bf-109's, and remove the red band from their cowlings.
