Rookie Question

[lostcause]

Pardon my ignorance but I don't have a lot of knowledge when it comes to 109's. While viewing pictures of crashed or damaged 109's I've noticed, more often than not, the access panel on the rear port side is removed. Not only that it is nowhere to be seen. Why? I think it is the radio access panel and was sometimes used for passengers but surely not very often.

[ChrisS]

If the airframe was captured, a removed panel usually indicates a plane looted and toothcombed for spoils by the victors.

[Oberst]

Didn't they also store a Karabiner 98 Kurz in there too, 'just in case'? I would image the downed pilot would grab that.

[Don Pearson]

Wasn't first aid kit located there?

Don

[Pilot]

As I know Karabin 98 was stored on tropical versions only, in the fuselage

[Oberst]

I tought it was any aircraft destined for the MTO, but thanks for the correction

First-aid as mentioned earlier would be a sound reason, if the pilots escaped. Did they also destroyed the radio equiptment? I know some aircraft were purposely set aflame, standard procedure?

[Brian Bines]

I have one of these panels and strapped behind it was a First Aid pack, on the front of the panel there is also a small red cross indicating this. Unfortunately I have no luck attaching photos to my posts so I cannot illustrate this. The first aid pack from the panel I have was taken at the time by the Medical Officer of the unit who shot it down. In Walter Schucks book 'Luftwaffe Eagles' he states 109s in the far north carried a shortened pair of skis in the aircraft, one assumes these would have been reached from the same panel,

panel,
Regards

Brian Bines

[ahafan]

Originally Posted by Brian Bines

I have one of these panels and strapped behind it was a First Aid pack, on the front of the panel there is also a small red cross indicating this. Unfortunately I have no luck attaching photos to my posts so I cannot illustrate this. The first aid pack from the panel I have was taken at the time by the Medical Officer of the unit who shot it down. In Walter Schucks book 'Luftwaffe Eagles' he states 109s in the far north carried a shortened pair of skis in the aircraft, one assumes these would have been reached from the same panel,

panel,
Regards

Brian Bines

Brys, correct its a first aid kit -and a can of water +3 tinned meat food''. 'also a gun too was there.if needed.
but most jagfleigers were not worried, by allied shootin them,, POW-ed-
A 'gun was only carried in the desert if forced down shoot lizzards just for food..? let off warning sounds...the Raf were the same.
as to burning, they set fire yes,;shoot petrol tank...then flare gunned it. as its mostly flames.
just shoot bullits not recomended as to a explosion...and too close might get burned ...