He 111H of Stab./Kg 53 in August 1940. Kg 53 was based at Lille, France for operations against Britain. This aircraft features blue command staff markings and the unit badge under the canopy.
The large white bars were used for a short period as an attempt to aid a bomber group forming up. These bars are known to have been used on either wing and corresponding side of the tail or in some cases on both sides simultaneously. The idea being that planes with bars on the port side would be on the starboard side of a formation and starboard bars for plans assigned to fly port side. Planes with marking with bars on both sides would be placed in the center. As the only reference photo of this plane shows it from slightly below, only the bars on the port side of the rudder can be seen. I elected to only have the bars on the port side because I like the asymmetry.
