Bf109T - deck trials
 

Hello all.

Did the Bf109T ever undergo deck testing of any kind? (I mean some kind of deck trial on the water, not just testing on land-based airfields.)

...geoff

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

The Germans never had a deck.

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

For deck trials you need a ship with a deck. Germany did not have an aircraft carrier. The Graf Zeppelin was never completed.

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

Gents,
I wasn't referring to the obvious. I was hoping to learn if the Kriegsmarine ever had a makeshift deck (like the USN training carriers in the Great Lakes) or if they might have done catapult trials from the between-wars Atlantic (I suppose, technically Atlantik) mail ships - catapult equipped to launch Ha-139 floatplanes.

Does the recent book on the Bf109T cover anything along these lines?

...geoff

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

There was a land-based arrester wire system, used for training with Ar.96s (and Avia B.534s, or am I imagining that one?) Also with the Toni, probably the Fieseler and the Stuka too. Nothing afloat.

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

Thanks Graham.
I'll see if I can find a library copy of the various books on the Toni, and see if there's any more details (on anything of that sort).

...geoff

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

Geoff, our book (Chandos Publications) covers land-based arrester-hook trials if I remember correctly.

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

I have his original Sea Eagles, but there was a revised edition published in German, which I didn't see. Is this a translation of the second book, or even a third visit to the subject?

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

The Chandos book is a third visit to the subject. The German edition represented a step forward from the original edition and this represents another step forward particularly for English speaking readers and includes additional material.

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

Deck trial does not mean from a land base. They did catapult test on the Bf 109.
http://village.photos/images/user/79...2b4aac520b.jpg

[IMG]http://village.photos/images/user/79be2e9a-36dc-44d5-b50f-cbe1bfc189bd/59d80cea-7d80-4bdf-ab6d-d72c428cfdec.jpg[IMG]

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

Thanks gents,
Gives me a few areas to investigate, though my question is just of general curiosity. I'll try and track down access of the early chapters of 'Graf Zeppelin's Eagles'. 3rd/English version by Chandos, seems to be regarded by your good selves as the most recent.

@Modeldad: is there any details/caption for that photo?

Thanks & regards,
...geoff

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

https://www.nevingtonwarmuseum.com/me-109-t-1.html
Picture just before start.

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

But these well-known pictures do not show an actual Bf 109 T-1. The machine in the pictures is Bf 109 B-1 W.Nr. 301, which was used as a development aircraft for the Bf 109 T, specifically for catapult trials (note that no arrestor hook is installed). It was the first B-1 built by Erla, in April 1937, and received civil registration D-IKAG. After its conversion to a T development aircraft, it was taken over by BAL in Augsburg on 25 June 1938. For its catapult tests in Travemünde, it received the Stkz. TK + HM.

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

Well your clever reply is a bit late. First picture of these are a bit back. Read the whole thing, then reply.
I never said it was a Tony now did i?

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

There was absolutely no reason for you to respond in the way you did. Let's keep this discussion polite, please.

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

post 13 I have this as D-IKAC

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

well I can sell you a copy, I am the publisher after all...

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

Entries in Beauvais' Flugbuch from 1937 and 1938 seem to show W.Nr. 301 as D-IKAG - they're reproduced in Vogt's second tome on the Bf 109.

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

Thanks @richdlc,
Your book is one I want to add to my library, but it'll have to wait until I've concluded my own writing (book on specific part of South Pacific air war). My fiscals are aimed towards chasing different priorities at present.


My immediate interest is because I'm isolating in one part of the house with covid. Mild symptoms, so no real worries, staying out of most of the house to minimize spread to rest of family. Just thinking random thoughts of an aircraft of interest.


Thank you all for your indulgence.
...geoff

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

Thanks @pvanroy, that was what I was hoping for in terms of a caption/details.
...geoff

Re: Bf109T - deck trials
 

You're most welcome. I can greatly recommend Graf Zeppelin's Eagles - it's a much expanded and updated version of Francis Marshall's earlier works on the subject. Even if you do have Sea Eagles, you still won't regret buying the new book - not just for the new information it contains, but also because of the much higher production quality and reproduction of images.

Returning to the 109 T, interestingly, while at one point or another several aircraft were fitted with full carrier equipment, the only photographs that I am aware of showing a Bf 109 equipped with both arrestor hook and catapult points are of the V17 (a converted C-1, W.Nr. 1776, originally built by Mtt Augsburg in February 1938, D-IYMS / TK + HK).