Aircraft markings

In Bill Lambert's book, "Combat Report,"
there are two photos of captured German
aircraft. Both of them have a swastika
painted on the fuselage. Was Hitler also
a fighter pilot? (just joking) can anyone
come up with an explanation for swastikas
appearing on World War I German aircraft?

[Rick]

They were considered to be a good luck sign. Used by American Indians, and I suppose, many other peoples.

[Rod_Filan]

Ed,
Most likely you are refering to aircraft of the Finnish Air Force.
Founded on 6 March 1918, its first aircraft, a Morane Thulin Parasol, was donated by a Swedish count, Erik von Rosen, and bore his own personal insignia, blue swastikas, painted on its wings. This was the origin of the first official Finnish Air Force markings, and have nothing to do with Nazi swastikas.
In 1918/19 the Finnish airforce was comprised of 31 a/c of 14 different types, which included German made Albatros, Friedrichshafen, Rumpler, D.F.W and Hansa-Brandenburg.

VBR

They were found on Austrian, German and American aircraft - they were a good luck symbol with no political meaning. Wierd huh !

John G.

Werner Voss flew a yellow Albatros with swatikas on the sides! I think for good luck.

Enio

That swastika might have been a lucky
sign for those German pilots, but it
didn't bring one German (Austrian) any
luck. That being Adolf Schickelgruber
aka Hitler.)

A symbol is only as powerful and terrifying as people make it out to be...

I am pretty sure existing an US division in WW 1 using the swastika as its official symbole
(99th ??)

I have a copy of a 1927 edition of Rudyard Kipling's verse which sports a Swastika on the dust-cover, and he had no love for Germany after losing his son in WW1. The symbol can also be found in parts of India, where said poet spent a lot of time and maybe where he found it. I think I remember reading that Aryan immigrants to India took the sign there with them way back in history. Thought you might like to know, although it doesn't answer the original question.

Bob