Bf109G6 reccon birds

[andy120]

Can anyone share a photo of a G6 with the single camera fitted?
Also Prein says they're R2 and R3 but the AJ Press book call it U2.
Clarification please.
TIA
Andy

[George Hopp]

As a quickie reply, I thought R3 was the recce version with the twin underwing drop tanks, but "The Bf 109 Recognition Manual" by Marco Fernandez-Sommerau says the R3 was simply the normal fighter with a centre-line 300l drop tank. He then says the U2 is the version with GM-1 equipment, and that the R2 is the army-support recce a/c with one RB 50/30 camera and MW-50 power boost. The manual for the 109 G-6/R2 says it is a recce with MW-50 power boost.

I haven't yet checked other references.

All the best,
George

[andy120]

Hi George
I was under the impression the twin DT was a non-event. Wouldnt the MW50 fit be more or less were the camera would be?
Andy

[Kurfürst]

George described it perfectly, this is basically as how January 1944 Messerschmitt AG papers describe the present 109G variants in detail.

G-6 : Jäger
G-6/R1 : JaboRei (the funny three legged version)
G-6/R2 : Jagdaufklärer (Rb 50/30)*
G-6/R3 : Gawähltaufklärer (Rb 75/30 + 2x300 lit droptanks)
G-6/R4 : Gawähltaufklärer (Rb 50/30 + 2x300 lit droptanks)
G-6/U1 : Jäger (Messerschmitt P 6 propeller)

* GLC datasheets also note MW 50 boost for the /R2

This is so far as the Jan 1944 Mtt AG list covers them. Others, from various sources

G-6/R5 : Jagdaufklärer (2 RB 12,5/7x9 or 32/7x9)
G-6/U2 : Jäger (GM-1)
G-6/U3 : ?? Forgot what this baby did.. I believe intitial designation for Jäger with MW 50 boost..?
G-6/U4 : Jäger (MK108)

G-6/U5 and
G-6/U6 were IIRC the ones equipped with MK 108 gondolas, and one of them also replaced the hub cannon with an MK 108.
Jäger (MK108)

The twin droptank versions were very much real, just lesser known.. IIRC something like a hundred were delivered to the units.

[Melvin Brownless]

Hi, On this recovered camera panel it clearly states; Mustermachine G5/R2 for the Rb 50/30 camera housing, hope this helps!

Melvin

[George Hopp]

Hi George
I was under the impression the twin DT was a non-event. Wouldnt the MW50 fit be more or less were the camera would be?
Andy

In the normal fighter, the MW-50 unit was mounted at fuselage segment 2 and would have a capacity of 85 Ltr.; and in the recce aircraft, the camera was mounted in fuselage segment 2 and the MW-50 unit was mounted at fuselage segment 3 and had a capacity of 75 Ltr.

Perhaps you know more about this than I do, Andy, but it seems to me that the 109 would have needed the two drop tanks for missions to distant places like Scapa Flow.

And thanks for the photo and drawing, Melvin.

[ChrisMAg2]

Originally Posted by Kurfürst

...
G-6/R3 : Gawähltaufklärer (Rb 75/30 + 2x300 lit droptanks)
G-6/R4 : Gawähltaufklärer (Rb 50/30 + 2x300 lit droptanks)
...

A little typo, I'm sure:
Instead of "Gawähltaufklärer" it should read "Gewaltaufklärer".

[Harold Lake]

[quote=George Hopp;59495]In the normal fighter, the MW-50 unit was mounted at fuselage segment 2 and would have a capacity of 85 Ltr.; and in the recce aircraft, the camera was mounted in fuselage segment 2 and the MW-50 unit was mounted at fuselage segment 3 and had a capacity of 75 Ltr.

Mr. Hopp,

In reading your post from Feb. 9, regarding the location of the MW tanks, I wonder if something is wrong. It seems to me the location of the MW tank in the Me 109G was always constant regardless of other equipment. I just find it hard to believe the MW went in aft of the camera. Considering mounting complexity, you would think the heavy filled MW tank would always be positioned close to the c of g. Are you sure of your info?

Hal

[George Hopp]

Hi Hal,
This info was taken from the "Bf 109 G-6/R2, Part 7D MW 50 - Anlage." distributed December 1944. Yes, they tried to keep the MW 50 tank as close to the CofG as possible, but the only access to the larger camera and its film packs was through the rear of the cockpit, so with the camera installed they had no choice but to put the MW-50 tank to the rear of the camera. You will notice that they reduced the capacity of the tank to compersate for its rearward location.

As you continue to gather knowledge about the 109, Hal, you will realize that very little about that aircraft was permanent.

[andy120]

Where do you guys get this stuff? We're quite material poor here in NZ.
It would be very nice to have a 'bible' like Shaklady's Spitfire book. Hardly ever go wanting there.

Andy