Bf 109 740 xxx and 748 xxx production batch

[ouidjat]

Gentlemen,

While reading updates in Nick Beale Ghost Bomber site I found a Bf 109 G-6 WNr.740723 damaged on ground during the Nancy raid of 25-May-1944.
1/ With such high number I was astonished to find a Bf 109 G-6. Looking in Production batches I have … I found no 740 xxx whatsoever.
2/ In the mean time I have two others: 740001 and 740071 fished in lostaircraft.com site indicated as Bf 109 G-4s, BUT said “most probably Bf 110 G-4”! (sic)

SO! Do we have a Bf 109 740 xxx production batch or not???
Same question for 748 xxx since I have a Bf 109G-14/AS WNr.748 111.

Thanks in advance for any help/comments you will kindly provide.

BR, Franck.

[Matti Salonen]

740723 should obviously be 440723.
740001 and 740071 are definitely Bf 110 G4.
So, no 740xxx production batch for Bf 109.

Also 748111 cannot be Bf 109 Werk.-Nr. Should obviously be 784111.

Matti

[Nordpol54]

@ Franck,

by checking the data base entry at lostaircraft.com You referred to, You may find under "Bemerkungen" a special notice that fits Your and Matti's doubtful remarks:

Bruchlandung.
Anhand der Werknummer müsste es sich aber hier um eine Me Bf 110 G-4 gehandelt haben und nicht wie o.a. um eine Me Bf 109 G-4.

Crash landing.
Based on the Werknummer it should be a Me Bf 110 G-4 instead of a Me Bf 109 G-4.
(free translated)

Best Regards
Norbert

[ouidjat]

@Matti Thank you.
@Norbert Thank you. I translated by "BUT said “most probably Bf 110 G-4" in my post #1.

Thanks pals! will never ask again!

Regards, Franck.

PS: I'm going to correct this bloody mess, right now!

[Nick Beale]

Matti may well be right but it was more common to confuse a "7" with a "1", due to the German style of handwriting where the "1" can have a long serif at the top. Most such mistakes seem to have originated at the German end when the message was written out for the cipher clerk to send.

[ouidjat]

Hello,

You're certainly right due to your long experience in that field Nick.

Note that 140723 doesn't match with any batch; but if that so the error has been done twice; hence 140123, which is a true possibility, but all numbers I have in that batch are in 1943.

In the mean time
440 712/714/725 (the closest I found among a long list) were in III./JG 26 during the same period ...

I'm going to keep the original WNr. as in report, Matti's strong suggestion and yours.

Thanks again Nick.

BR, Franck.

[Nordpol54]

@ all,

if anyone is able to name the correct Werknummer in the data-sheet at lostaircraft.com we were talking about, please feel free to do so. Joining in there as a registered member is as easy as taking candy from a baby. There are also a lot of experts and enthusiasts registered - just like in this forum (with the exception of my person ), and some guys from here are already active over there as well.

Best Regards
Norbert

[Jim P.]

I had WNr. 740723 in my db as well, but I also had a FB entry for WNr. 440723 that should help confirm Matti's conclusion.

Bf 109G-6, 740723, ./., , III., 9., JG 26, weiße, 1 + |, , , 25-May-44, Bombenwurf., , FR, Beale, http://www.ghostbombers.com/miscellany/raid/raid_1.html, , Fl.Pl. Nancy, b, F, , 07.39~,

Bf 109G-6, 440723, KEMETHMÜLLER, Ofhr. Heinz, 89, III., 9., JG 26, weiße, 1 + |, , , 10-Apr-44, Transit flight to Etain on this date.., RK., FR, FB H. Kemethmüller, , Fl.Pl. Vendeville, -, H, , ,

[ouidjat]

Thank you Jim.

Matti wrote "obviously"!..

Regards, Franck.

[Jim P.]

The KEMETHMÜLLER FB entry kinda puts an amen to Matti's statement.