Bf 109G-14 Black "17" of NAGr 14
 

Hi;
I finally found a few minutes to build a model, and I was looking for details on Messerschmitt Bf 109G-14, Black "17" of NAGr 14, which landed at Furth in the closing days of the war. I've found a few photos in books, but it occurs to me that one of Steve Sheflin's Airfoil magazine had pictures of this aircraft, but I can't put my hands on my copies right now.
For any who may be familiar with this aircraft, I'm curious as to whether it had a belly rack for a drop tank, and also whether it was equipped with camera equipment. Also, can you verify the color of the number? I would appreciate any information.
I've found this forum an invaluable resource. I only wish I had more information to share, but I am (and probably always will be) a novice compared to the experts here!
Paul

Re: Bf 109G-14 Black "17" of NAGr 14
 

Dear Paul,

There is a color photo of W.Nr. 463 141 "Schwarze 17" published in Merrick and Green 2007 which verifies the black color of the tactical marking, and a bountiful of b/w photos published among them a few here as a sample:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2809206...-8T1rQx-8T1rT4

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2809206...-8T1rQx-8T1rT4

Through the known to me photos of this machine, none does clearly illustrate the presence of a R3 belly-rack which would be more then expected though. The only hint of its presence is possibly the forward toggles of the belly-rack faintly to be seen on the photo published in Bergström and Pegg 2005, Jagdwaffe, volume 5, section 2, The war in the East 1944 - 1945, Classic Colours, p. 172.

As for the cameras, this would be expected for a recce machine, but I never saw photo showing how they were integrated in the fuselage and if their lense fairing was the same used on G-5's, G-6's or G-8's.

Cheers
Marc

Re: Bf 109G-14 Black "17" of NAGr 14
 

Thank you for your reply. That all verifies the assumptions I had made. Still can't find my Airfoils, I know I've seen more pictures of this bird, but I hate to say it, I have too many books! Again, thank you. Paul