What JG does this plane belong to?
 

Hi guys,

My meagre Luftwaffe library cannot answer my question. To which JG did this Me-109 belong? The insignia is enlarged as much as possible. Looks like a caped figure riding some sort of animal/object.

Once I know the JG, I should be able to find out more about this event. I do know that this plane bellylanded near a panzer unit during the fighting in the Don bend, July-August 1942. The pilot reportedly escaped without injury.

Thanks for any help.
Jason

Re: What JG does this plane belong to?
 

This Emil belonged to I./Sch. G 1 (I./Schlachtgeschwader 1) which was based in Kharkov-Rogan (6.-7.42), Tazinskaya (7.-31.7.42), Frolow-West (31.7.-8.42) and Tusov (8.-11.42).

Re: What JG does this plane belong to?
 

Hi Simon,

Thanks for your answer. Well, the fact that this is Schlachtgeschwader 1 explains why I could not find the insignia in Prien's books.

Is anything known about the loss of this plane? My main goal is to find the date it went down.

Thanks again
Jason

Re: What JG does this plane belong to?
 

did you look for gallands mickey mouse insignia?

Re: What JG does this plane belong to?
 

Hello Jason,

the Bf 109E equipped Staffeln of SchG 1 lost some 90 aircraft during July and August 1942 with damages between 10 and 100%.

Without reading the Werknummer you have no chance to identify the aircraft.

Re: What JG does this plane belong to?
 

Hi Merlin,

Thanks for your reply, and apologies for the lateness of mine.

So the triangle and letter on the fuselage cannot help identify the aircraft? I know roughly where the plane went down (west of Kalach), so if each crash is paired with a location, it still might be possible to ID this plane.

Do you know of a list of these 90 planes lost in July-August?

Thanks for your help.
Jason

Re: What JG does this plane belong to?
 

The mickey mouse insignia closely matches the one on "my" plane. Was Galland the only pilot to use this insignia on his plane?

Jason

Re: What JG does this plane belong to?
 

I think the Mickey Mouse emblem on this Emil is 4.(S)/LG2 which remained in use on their aircraft after Galland had commanded the unit in 1938 or 1939.

Re: What JG does this plane belong to?
 

In that case it's really really I./Sch.G 1 ...

Re: What JG does this plane belong to?
 

black triangle was in front of the BK with II./LG2 so ouidjat is right I./SchG1

Re: What JG does this plane belong to?
 

Thanks for the help, guys.

I believe I have nailed down the day on which this Me 109 was shot down: 8 August 1942. Any details on losses from I./Sch.G.1 on this day?

Many thanks!
Jason

Re: What JG does this plane belong to?
 

1./Schl.G. 1 reported two losses on this day. Bf 109E-7 WNr. 3333 overturned during landing at Fl.Pl. Bereska with 60% damage - obviously not the machine in question. The other, Bf 109E-7 WNr. 2030 was reported as a Bruchlandung due to engine trouble at PlQu. 27 93 with 80% damage. That doesn't seem to match the circumstances in the photo. This machine looks to have landed with a dead engine since only the two lower prop blades are 'bent'. Other than that damage looks minimal and, if assessed as less than 10%, it may not have been reported in the losses at all. Out of curiosity, how were you able to determine that this might have occurred on 8-Aug-42?

Re: What JG does this plane belong to?
 

Hi Jim,

Thanks very much for your reply. Much appreciated. You're right, the two cases you mentioned don't seem to be "my" plane, although perhaps the 80% damage occured after the belly landing (artillery/mortar strike). Do you know what map is used for the grid coordinates (PlQu. 27 93)?

As for how I determined the date, I have an account by a panzer officer who witnessed the plane coming down. This is what he wrote:
“We drove back to the front and saw the downing of an Me-109, which had intervened in the engagement as a ground-attack aircraft. The pilot was able to make an emergency landing (belly landing) in the immediate realm of the main battle line, but had to get out quickly because Russian mortars plastered the site. He was uninjured and in cheerful spirits."

The account is not clear on the exact date, but I narrowed it down to 4-10 August. Long story, but the panzer officer in question arrived at the front on 4 August, while the man (the battalion doctor) seen in my Me-109 photo was killed on 10 August. After being on the defensive 5-6 August, the German panzers launched an attack on 7 August, continued on 8 August – with heavy support by ground-attack aircraft – and 9-10 August.

Are any other Bruchlandungen listed for 7-10 August?

Thanks for your help, Jim!

Jason

Re: What JG does this plane belong to?
 

Jason,

Jim wrote in post #: This machine looks to have landed with a dead engine since only the two lower prop blades are 'bent'. Other than that damage looks minimal and, if assessed as less than 10%, it may not have been reported in the losses at all.

Furthermore this aircraft has a "yellow N" for 3./SchG 1.

All the reported losses from 4. to 10.August were from 1., 2. and 8.Staffel, there is no loss report for a 3.Staffel aircraft.

This seems to be one of those accidents with less than 10% damage, which were salvaged and repaired by the own unit in a short time. Therefore no damage report was written.

Re: What JG does this plane belong to?
 

Merlin, thanks for your reply. What you write makes perfect sense.

Thanks to everyone who replied. You guys really know your stuff!
Jason