[Larry Hickey]

VonWaffen,

If you really want to be an expert on the Bf109 during the early war years, you need to get Volumes I to 4/II of the classic series of books on that a/c (in German) "Die Jagdfliegerverband der Duetschen Luftwaffe 1939- bis 1945" by Dr Jochen Prien, et.al. There have been a few relatively minor revisions since the early-war volumes of this project were published, but it will answer all of your questions for which there are answers. There is a lot of information there that is not (yet) on the internet.

There is no plane list for I.(J)/LG2 at the beginning of the war that I know of, however, there is one for @ 21 March 1940 for the whole Gruppe. This lists the a/c type & subtype, W.Nr., plane number and assigned pilot, all as of that date. This is almost a unique document and I know of nothing like it for the rest of the Luftwaffe day fighter units during 1939-40. Tismar is listed with "2," which is six months after the referenced photos, but is still fairly likely to be valid. No certainty however.

I'm aware of a photo that shows an unidentified pilot, possibly Tismar, with this a/c during the winter of 1939-40, probably during December, before the application of the 1940 camouflage scheme. (note: while I was posting this, "ouidjat" posted a copy of this photo; it says Lottin -Poland- Sept., 1939, but I don't think it snows in Poland in September). There are several photos of "Black 2" of 2.(J)/LG2 known from the spring of 1940, which could be the same a/c. This likely was being flown by Tismar at the time.

I think that the info from this list has been published somewhere on one of the discussion boards during the last year or so, but at the moment I don't remember where. My copy was provided on a confidential basis, and I am not free to post this or send it to you.

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator