No 1 Squadron SAAF captured Me 109F Dec 1941

[AndreasB]

The pictures on this site show a Me 109F of JG27 captured by the South Africans at Derna in December 41 and restored to flying condition. It was flown out just before the Axis recaptured the airfield in January 42.

http://vivianpenberthy.yolasite.com/

Does anyone know whose plane this was, why it was left behind, and what ultimately happened to it?

Also note the picture of the Breda 88. Presumably a left-over from COMPASS?

Many thanks!

All the best

Andreas

[G.R.Morrison]

It's a (typical) Bf 109F-4/Trop, from the 9./JG 27, coded "yellow 2." The undulating bar aft of the cross if the III Gruppe indicator. The broken nature of the white fuselage band is typical for this unit. Without a visible Werknummer (applied at base of fin, port side), we're unlikely to be able to determine exactly which machine this one is.

There's a photo of this machine, before repainting with cockades, shot from 4 o'clock, on p.177 of Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer, _Messerschmitt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei der III. und IV./Jagdgeschwader 27_.

Records of "no-name" losses for the III/JG 27 during this period do not indicate Staffel, only Gruppe. Locations aren't always precise, either. Abandoned aircraft are usually listed as "blown up" -- but often were not. This one may be WNr.8503, abandoned at Magrum, or 8543 or 8546 abandoned at Agedabia. All are listed as "gesprengt" (blown up).

Good luck with your researches, GRM

[AndreasB]

Many thanks for this. Magrum is quite a way from Derna, so could it be a different machine?

All the best

Andreas