[Clint Mitchell]

Hi,

On page 265 of Luftwaffe Camouflage & Markings Volume 2, Kenneth Merrick writes:

"Before moving to this topic, a brief digression is necessary since there is one well authenticated account, both in a written Intelligence report, plus ample photographs, of Oblt. Werner Bartels' aircraft, a Bf109E-1 (WNr.6296F) of III./JG26 which crash-landed at Northdown, Kent, on 26 July 1940. The rudder is painted yellow. This is sometimes shown in illustrations as the paler RLM 27 shade, but photographs taken at the crash site, from the nose looking aft, show the rudder to have a darker shade more consistent with RLM 04."

The G-report states the following:

"Dispatched A.M.C.S. 24.7.40.

X.288 24/7.

Second Me.109 brought down outskirts MARGATE 2/7 by fighter action. Pilot wounded and forced landed. Aircraft in fairly good condition. Markings (lazy V) 1+1. Armament four M/Gs. New type armour forming back shield and hood behind and above pilot's seat. Camouflage reported as Air Force blue throughout with blackened streaks leading edges. Apparent damage on fuselage and wings by both 20mm and 303 inch strikes. Second Me109 being carefully dismantled for removal R.A.E. Details of armour being circulated separately. Tie of Origin: - 1925/24 hours."

My issue is that nowhere on the G-report does it mention that the aircraft had a yellow rudder. What with this being one of the first Bf109 brought down over the UK, I would have thought that the application a bright yellow rudder would have been a rather important detail if not more important than the mention of "Air Force blue throughout with blackened streaks leading edges." observation? Not only that but this aircraft came down 17 days before the order was issued to paint yellow tactical markings on the fighters and a whole 31 days before we see any other Bf109 coming down that showed any evidence of yellow tactical markings being present.

Does anyone know what report Kenneth Merrick is talking about that categorically states that aircraft had a yellow rudder when it crashed?

Also thanks to Dave Wadman who offered the following account from the late Michael Payne who apparently had the opportunity to have a close look at the aircraft and noted the following in his original notes:

"That the aircraft showed signs of freshly repainted areas on both wings and fuselage, upper camouflage was 02/71 with the usual 65 undersurfaces. At sometime prior to its being brought down the underside 65 had been extended up the fuselage sides to present a high demarcation between it and the upper colours. He also noted that some of the fuselage stencilling had been masked prior to the application of 65 on the fuselage sides (clearly visible in some photos) thus leaving the stencilling on a background of the original camouflage on the fuselage sides.
He further noted that the gun trough surrounds on the cowling were a pale colour, the spinner was black or black green with one quarter painted white and the rudder painted yellow. It was also fitted with the heavier framed canopy and, like other aircraft of the III.Gruppe, the fuselage cross and markings were of a smaller proportion than usually seen. The letter 'F' after the W.Nr stood for 'Flugklar' which identified it as a rebuilt or repaired aircraft which had been cleared for return into service."

What do we rely on here? Does anyone know what "report" Merrick is writing about that mentions a yellow rudder? Was the late Michael Payne's account first hand or from the known photos? I would have thought that a yellow rudder would have been a very important detail to mention in any kind of intelligence documentation?

Thanks and does anyone have any thoughts on this discrepancy?