Bf 109 G, with wooden tail unit?

[Joe Potter]

From RAF Crashed Enemy Aircraft reports dated, 24.08.44 and 20.11.44, list a few Bf 109's with wooden tail units,
Werk Nr 165614, 10+(white) near Escoville, and Werk Nr 109163860, 9+1 (black) Call-sign VT+FI, found near St Pierre sur Dives.
Other 109's are mentioned but with no Werk Nr's, how common were these tail units?
These reports also give details, by Werk Nr only, of many other aircraft found at other locations including, Valframbert, Brussels Melsbroek, Brussels Evere, Antwerp Duern, Eindhoven and many Bf109's and Fw190's at Reims Champagne.
Thanks
Joe

[Oberst]

Fairly common with the 'tall' fin/rudder. Plywood was used for pilot seat & instrument panel in some instances too.

[Joe Potter]

Hi Oberst,
At the time these reports were made it seems that wooden tail units were a new innovation, is it known when, and what percentage of Bf 109's were produced with this unit?
Joe

[Charles Bavarois]

Hello Joe,

wood was used for the horizontal stabilizer and rudders and for the new tall vertical fin and rudder. Production started in early 1944 and was quite common in summer of that year, but never replaced all the metal components. At least four different manufacturers were involved, delivering the parts to the main assemly-lines and to repair industries.

Due to the change to wood, the aluminum-contingent was to be curtailed from September 1944 onwards, reaching its peak in January 1945. So one can assume wooden components were in full production some time before September 1944 and were to fully replace all the metal ones in January 1945.

Due to problems with the wooden parts there was a serious technical investigation in late 1944. A December 1944 report from E-Stelle Rechlin lists 154 Bf 109s with wooden empennage at JG 26 and JG 27 next to others with metal components. The ratio of wooden empennages to metal ones is given as 5:2. Looking at the many photos from late war and after VE with almost wooden parts only, one can imagine the ratio of wooden parts was still increasing in 1945.

Grettings
Carl

[Joe Potter]

Hi Carl,
Thanks very much for the info, I have a fairly detailed technical report on this unit that I could forward to you if interested.
Regards
Joe