[Rabe Anton]

Grüß Gott Chris!

It appears that there is a "wrinkle" in the case of your Bf 109E WNr. 1268.

This kite was manufactured at Erla/Leipzig as a Bf 109E-3, probably in 1939.

I've nothing on its early operational history, but there is a nice photo of the port side empennage clearly showing the Werknummer with Oblt.Helmut Benneman, 2./JG 52, standing behind in Prien/Rodeike/Stemmer/Bock, Jagdflieger Verbände, 4/II, p. 135. There are other photos of the machine on p. 134 and 138. These images date to 1940 and confirm that the Tr.KZ was sw. 5 + .

WNr. 1268 became a 100 per. loss on 27.10.40 at East Grimstead, U.K., following LK. Gefr. Karl Bott FF 2./JG 52 became a KG. As with many, if not most, Bf 109E-3s, by fall 1940 this aircraft had become a Bf 109E-4 and was carried thusly in loss reports.

Hope this helps a little, Chris.

RA