JG 4 Engine Cowling
 

Some time ago I downloaded a couple of photos of the III./JG 4's Bf 109 G* engine cowling from the website here http://www.museum119.cz/menu_an.htm dedicated to the AIR BATTLE OVER THE ORE MOUNTAINS on 11th September 1944 in Kovarska, Czech Republic. The photos show an apparently streamlined (i.e., without the bulge) engine cowling that might have belonged to either Bf 109 G-6/AS, Bf 109 G-14/AS or Bf 109 G-10.

This is all fine except that according to the available literature on 11 September 1944, then still recently formed III./JG 4 was predominantly equipped with the Bf 109 G-6 and also some Bf 109 G-14 aircraft.

Therefore, although the engine cowling was recovered in the Czech Republic, in my opinion it might not have been related to the aforementioned battle. This issue is important for me to try and establish whether III./JG 4 sported the Knight's helmet emblem as early as of 11 September 1944, or perhaps not after all.

Any comments/remarks will be much appreciated.

Re: JG 4 Engine Cowling
 

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Re: JG 4 Engine Cowling
 

Hi there Sinisa,

I think you're correct surmising this cowling stems from a later date then September.

www.flickr.com/photos/28092068@N03/12373461183
The position of the Kaltstart vane access hatch, in-line with Kurvel hole on the starboard side, does indicate a DB 605 D engine, which you do find only in Bf 109 G-10's and K-4's. The camouflage pattern is quite consistent with what we can see on Erla Leipzig produced planes.
After checking known Bf 109 G-10 losses, the first lost in absolute was indeed a JG 4 machine, on 2 November 1944: Bf 109 G-10 W.Nr. 490 396 "Schwarze 5", Uffz. Karl-Heinz Jessen, 10./JG 4. Source: Mombeek 2000, p. 248.
This implies the engine cowling you are looking for was not flown in combat before late October 1944 at the earliest, and November as proven.

Let's hope we'll hear some more about the plane it stems from ;-)

Cheers
Marc

Re: JG 4 Engine Cowling
 

Hallo Marc,

Thank you for your exhaustive assessment and excellent reply. Your expertise on the late models of the Bf 109 aircraft is surely highly valued. It is now you who made my day :).

Best Regards,
Sinisa

Re: JG 4 Engine Cowling
 

You're most welcome, Sinisa :-)

As for expertise on this challenging field, there are many who know much more then I do... Still trying to learn more every day ;-))

Warm regards
Marc

Re: JG 4 Engine Cowling
 

While I concur with Marc that the cowl surely belongs to a DB605D-equipped Bf 109 (the higher position of the circular hatch for the cold weather starting device is a trade-mark..), I'd be more cautious about its manufacturer...

IMHO the plane could not come from Erla, as the Bf 109 G-10s (and a handful of K-4s) they realized had a completely new cowl whose panel lines were different, especially in the area around the gun-throughs.

As a matter of fact (and this is clearly visible in many photographs of Marc's excellent collection) those lines almost "converged" towards the nose, which is clearly not the case in the images showing the survived cowl.

So, I'd rather opt for a G-10 (or K-4) from either MTT or WNF.

P.S. I tried to post the link to a couple of such images directly from Marc's space in Flickr to no avail... Marc, could you check the Bf 109 G-10 W.Nr. 490 655 "Gelbe 24" or the
W.Nr. 150 816 "Schwarze 4"...?