[stephen f. polyak]

Many (if not all) Luftwaffe aircraft types - the Bf 109 for sure - were fitted with a triangle-shaped plate that listed the airframe werk. nr. and, sometimes, the aircraft main type (e.g., Bf/Me 109). On the 109 this plate was fitted outside of the fuselage in the vicinity of the tail wheel/horizontal stabilizer; thus, perhaps the source of the traces of tan paint on this example.

The plate's purpose was to to allow aircraft identification after a serious crash assuming worst damage (impact, fire) would be well forward and the tail section would break free, intact. My only “surprise” is that it’s made of aluminum. All that I have seen (and those I have) are made of rather thick steel to further increase the likelihood of survival. Three rivets attached the plate to the aircraft.

Is it possible to see a photo?