Bf 109 pictures

[F19Gladiator]

Hi I found these at ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Me109-Me-109-K-4...QQcmdZViewItem

I found the same pictures published on P. 55 in Messerschmitt Bf 109 K, JaPo, Janda / Poruba. Also a colour profile on P.93.
Captioned as 'White' 16 from 9./JG 53. Found in Lechfeld?

[Peter D Evans]

..a similar (if not same) image appears on page 177 of "Messerschmitt Bf109 F, G & K Series" by Prien & Rodeike along with a caption that claims it is:

"The remains of "White 16", a Bf109K-4 of 9./JG 53 as it looked at a forward airfield in Southern Germany after the wars end. Note the broad band with the Gruppe bar behind it. Clearly visible are the large mainwheels and broad propeller blades (copyright: Petrick)"

I did have a copy of this photo in my collection but cannot lay my hands on it at this time...

Cheers

Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

[lamokette]

Hi,

the same photo found on http://www.messerschmitt-bf109.de/index-1024.php

section Me109 version K4

page 1/4
white 16 staffel 9, gruppe III JG53 in Reichenbach in april 1945
and page 4/4
black 2 staffel 14, gruppe IV JG53 in Reichenbach in june 1947


but the same picture "published on P. 21 in Messerschmitt Bf 109 luftwaffe fighter text by air vice- Marshal Ron dick" found in Lechfeld.

anybody are more information of the last locations of GIII or GIV JG53 in 1945?

[F19Gladiator]

Thanks for the aditional info and references guys!

Being "the Advocate of the Devil" tonight, I argue that the alleged" Third Gruppe" marking behind the tail band looks more like a scratch damage to the fuselage. There are several smaller marks as if the fuselage has been damaged by rubbing against a vertical object like a tree or a pole.
If it was a third Gruppe marking I would expect it to be wider, distinct and more prominent in appearance.

The photo in Prien and Rodeike's book on page 177 is in my opinion coming from the same negative as the one on sale at ebay. The position and angle of the aircraft versus the individual trees in the forest is very much the same. It is slightly differently cropped however,

If you check out the other photos for sale on the seller's site you will find that most, if not all, of the Luftwaffe photos have already been published, including the Fw 190 A colour photos.

Cheers!

[von Lutz]

The fotos are from the James Crow collection, I have 8x10 copies of both. The white "Group 3 bar" is at the fuselage tail break point (tape on the break?) too far aft of the cross for a Group marking. I believe Jim got these from a GI Photographer on 4x5 negs. Captioned as from Bf 109K-4 white 16, I./ JG 53 at Lechfeld, Jun 45.