[RolandF]

So in case we assume "8" as being the first tactical number applied to our 109, I´d like to point out the two odd rectangular areas positioned on both fuseage sides just aft of the shadow of "8". On the port side this area begins just at the end of the fuel triangle and is just in the correct position where the narrow early ´39 Balkenkreuze had been positioned before being moved further aft ( one frame exactly) later that year. Oddly the shape of both paint areas remotely resemble two crossed arms of a Balkenkreuz.

If we take this grey area the real position of a Balkenkreuz, then the red disc fits into a scheme of an early 1939 Bf 109E marked as "Red 8 + o" similar to Trautloft´s 109 with a standard RLM 70/71 splinter camo down to the fuselage´s bottom.

The grey colour might have been a primer to cover the obsolete cross before the camo scheme was altered and the fuselage sides were completely sprayed over with RLM 65 with hellblau going far up the fuselage and the new Balkenkreuz moved 1 frame aft.

This would have left enough space to move the new tactical numbers ( be it 5 or 6) further aft, and thus partially cover the (maybe already oversprayed) fuel triangle.

It seems to me also the 2nd Balkenkreuz first was applied as the smaller, narrow variant until this one was replaced by the standard size. Watching the paint traces and paint cracks it would appear to me that according to Wick´s last Bf 109 there had also been the attempt to reduce the white areas by painting the outer parts partially black.

This would go with an intense mottling down the fuselage sides. This would mean this plane, as bad the condition is, in which it is preserved, carries the complete set of early 1939 to late 1940 markings and colours.

I hope the investigation and restoration work will be very carefully to reveal he history of this unicate.

Can somebody unveil the secret of the two letterblocks on both sides of the fuselage´s end? Seems to me one in red letters, the other in white?

Regards

Roland