I seem to remember reading spinners , especially Bf-109, were painted to indicate section seniority. Solid= Lead. Half= section #2. Quarter/Third = section #3. Someone refresh my memory.
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Sometimes they had a spiral stripe - what did that indicate, if anything?
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I read that was to confuse/befuddle/hypnotize the gunners on the bombers they were attacking. But I think that was bovine scatology.
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Primarily for ground crew safety according to most sources. Some say they also differentiated between flight groups but how would that work while in use?
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I’m not saying that spinner paint did not indicate seniority, but fuselage markings certainly did. In front of the Bakenkreuz there were chevrons, double chevrons, and a long dash sometimes with pointed tip; sometimes with vertical bars near them. These indicated Commanders, Tech officers even Chief of Staff and adjutants. With some variety depending on squadron, theater and year.
Behind the Baklerkreuz there were other designators; ~ designated the III.Gruppe, which also used an l symbol. The II.Gruppe used an - symbol and the IV.Gruppe used an + symbol. The I.Gruppe used none.
The colored vertical bands indicated squadron:
JG 093 : Single white band
JG 094 : Black, white and black band
JG 095 : Black and yellow band
JG 11 : Yellow band
JG 27 : Green band
JG 51 : Green, white and green band
JG 52 : Red and white band
JG 53 : Black band
JG 77 : White and Green band
JG 300 : Blue, white and blue band.
I’m sure for every rule there’s an exception, and the spinner could well be involved too.
Colored bands were “Defense of the Reich” markings . Only for interceptor Geschwaderen , began use in early 1944.