The distinctive chequerboard markings, synonymous with 1/JG 1’s Defence of the Reich FW190As, first appeared in the early summer of 1943. 1/JG 1 chose this scheme, with the chequers in black/white, while 2/JG 1 had them applied in red/black and 3/JG 1 in yellow/black.
FW 190 A-4 W.Nr. 0601 from 1/JG1, ‘White 4’, was based in Amsterdam-Schipol airport, Holland between 1st June 1943 and 7th July 1943. The aircraft suffered minor damage following a taxing accident at Schipol on 25th June 1943, but returned to service soon after.
The ‘Schachbrettmuster’ pattern would only last a matter of months, however, as the markings resulted in confusion in the air when other Jagdwaffe fighters intercepted the Gruppe after misidentifying its aircraft for similarly marked P-47 Thunderbolts of the USAAF’s 8th Air Force.