Me109G with downvard firing Mk108 in tail?

[eknutson]

Hi there, in our reasent search trough our orginal parts from 14055? we found a bottom plate from a

Abfeuer Schütz III FL47305 box for Mk108
Most likly for firing Mk108 in wing or under body gondola.
Is there any dokument showing test of these weapons firing downvards against troops or cars on the ground ?
As we have atacments and a hatch in the compas room in our G1 / G2 at sola, most likly for a camera, but can it be for a Mk108 ?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/108070...posted-public/

Regards
Ernst

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Dear Ernst,

I am astonished by the magnificent project in your workshop!

What could be the military use of a heavy MK108 firing downwards without any way to aim this weapon? If you agree that the answer is 'none', you have the answer for your question

As you have written, such canons can be found in a gondola beneath the fuselage or wings perhaps, that would make sense. For such details you better look into one of the many hundreds books written about the Bf109.

Good luck!

[Snautzer]

Originally Posted by Marcel Hogenhuis

What could be the military use of a heavy MK108 firing downwards without any way to aim this weapon? If you agree that the answer is 'none', you have the answer for your question

Photoelectric cell like in the Fw190 and Hs129 comes to mind. I think even the Me110 with Schräge was experimented with. For the Hs129 SG113 Forstersonde

Pic from:Monografie Lotnicze "Focke-Wulf Fw190 A-F-G" pg 26

[RalphZimmer]

Hello Ernst!
I agree with Marcel.
In addition: if your assumption of a downward firing gun results from the word "Abfeuer" there is another solution: this term simply means "to fire" in the sense of starting the electrically controlled firing. A round goes off after activating this "Schütz"...
As far as I know there is neither a military use for a downward firing MK108 in the Bf109 nor the space for mounting it. The only mounting positions were
- the engine position,
- underwing gondolas or
- the internal mounting in the wings which was developed for the projected Bf109K-6.

Center of gravity considerations will ruel out a position in the rear fuselage too. The MK108 and especially it's ammunition was rather heavy.

Best regards and concratulations to your project!
Ralph

[eknutson]

i dont think the space inside the tail is any problem, as the Mk108 is quite short. This is a Fw 190 for use against B17 with 6 ea Mk108 .

[RolandF]

"Schütz" significates "electric contactor".
Maybe the reason for some misunderstanding. The location where the actual bullet is fired may be elsewhere in the airframe.

Regards

RolandF

[Seaplanes]

If I am correct, the aircraft in question was lost off the Norwegian South coast
in July 1943. I can not understand what a Bf 109G-2 from I./J.G.5 in Norway
should do with a MK 108 installation at this time of the war. The Allied bomber
attacks against targets in Norway were few and far between

[eknutson]

Yes, you are correct. All the equipment ( camera or Mk ) was demodified ( removed ) befor delivery to Jg5. We are only trying to trace its cervice life ( use ) from the first Crash in France ( G1 with Jg11 / Jg26 1942 ) to the service with Jg5. Most likely it was used as a recon macine after rebuild. Is it possible that it has been used as a testbed for Mk108, as this gun enterd service in 1942.

[Seaplanes]

Serving With I./J.G.5 I would believe this aircraft to be a straight forward fighter not recce. The Bf 109 recce aircraft served with 1.(F)/120 at Stavanger-Sola airfield, I know this aircraft suffered a 70% accident while in service With 11./J.G.2 on 30. July 1942, The time of repair I would estimate to 6 - 10 months before delivery to J.G.5. What puzzels me is that it is first reported as a Bf 109G-1 and later as a Bf 109G-2.

[Kutscha]

Originally Posted by Seaplanes

If I am correct, the aircraft in question was lost off the Norwegian South coast
in July 1943. I can not understand what a Bf 109G-2 from I./J.G.5 in Norway
should do with a MK 108 installation at this time of the war. The Allied bomber
attacks against targets in Norway were few and far between

It is my understanding the MK108 was first used operationally in the Bf110G and the Bf109G-6/U4 in the late fall of 1943.