"Recco" Bf 109
 

Hello everybody,

In his book "Le Grand Cirque" Pierre Clostemann describes the shoot down of a "recco" Bf 109 near Scapa Flow. The incident took place on 21 February 1944 and the Bf 109 was carrying two drop tanks. Does anybody have suggestions regarding the Bf 109's unit and operating base - possibly Norway ?

Frithjof

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

Bf 109 G-6, Wk Nr 20357, A6+XH of 1/120. Oblt Helmut Quednau killed. Ac was shot down by Ian Blair of 602 Sqn

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

Thank you Chris !

Frithjof

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

The 1./120 was placed in Stavanger/Sola during February 1944.

Regards, Heuser

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

Date of this loss from NVM and combat report is 20th. Feb. although 'The Big Show' shows it as the 21st,

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

Correct, the loss date in the German Wast report also state the date as February 20, 1944. I would assume that this reco mission over Scapa Flow was flown during daylight. In February this is limited to a few hours during mid day. It is therefore unlikely that the plane left Sola airfield late on the 20th. and to be lost after midnight on the 21st.
By the way, the aircraft was a Bf 109G-6/R-3.

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

Time on Combat report is 12.50 hrs. on the 20th.Feb. 50mls. east of the Orkney Islands. Also reported was that the 109 had the letters A.K or A.H in faint black lettering on fuselage

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

The correct unit code carried by this aircraft was A6+XH. The Bf 109s of 1.(F)/120 always used the last letters in the alphabet, i.e. X, Y and Z.
Obviously, the RAF pilots mistook the X for an A.

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

Are there any photos available depicting these codes applied to the Bf109's of this unit?

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

In his book Pierre Closterman comments that the aircraft did not carry any national markings....

Frithjof

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

Clostermann book is a fantastic reading, and probably the first piece of aviation history that most of the users of this forum read first, but it is not an accurate history book at all.

Dates and chronology are not respected, events are exagerated and so on.

This book is now really old, and much better research is possible now than at the time it was written, so no wonder it is outdated and inaccurate on today standards.

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

This is based on memory and on his log book. In any operational situation, it is easy to gain or lose a day or two. And, as the hero in your own life, you naturally want to apear the part. So, yes, I agree that it is a great book to read, and really makes you feel like you're in the cockput alongside him. But, if you want just the facts, go to Wood's or others claims and casualties listings.

The markings on the a/c may have been white on light blue. I don't think they would dare fly a/c without any markings at all.

Carrying those double drop tanks caused real vibration problems for the a/c according to a report of 15.5.43. So that the a/c could only be safely flown between 250 and 420 km/h. Above that speed the wing would start vibrating, getting worse with increased speed. In the end, the best solution they found was to use a 2-part fairing to streamline the entire area between the wing and the fuel tanks. This removed the vibrations from the wing, and increased the a/c speed by 29 km/h. With the unfaired drop-tank mounting the a/c lost 55 km/h, compared to the clean a/c (in this case a G-4/R3); and with the fairings it lost 26 km/h. Needless to say, and sad to say, the fairing was never produced in quantity.

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

The comment about the vibration is very interesting, but it is worth remembering that the vibration would be affected by the equivalent airspeed (allowing for the reduced density), not the ground speed. At high altitude, i.e. on operations, the aircraft would be flying at comparatively low equivalent airspeed. So it is unlikely to have been operationally limiting for the Scapa mission. At lower levels, yes.

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

You're right, vibrating wings would be the least of his problems, knowing that he was hauling 55 kph worth of extra drag in those wing tanks and their mountings, and that he really didn't stand a chance against the Spitfires on his tail.