A Me 109 G-10 to identify...

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Found at this link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/farinih...7603465075646/

this picture of a Me 109 labelled to be an G-14/ASM said to be flown by Obgfr. Kurt Grüning. A quick check makes me think it is rather a Me 109 G-10. Though of poor quality, a yelllow band around the engine cowling can be recognized, thus identifying an Eastern Front unit. Any idea of which specific unit?

Thanks for your inputs

Marc

[harrison987]

Hi,

Lack of the larger wing fairing suggests G-14/AS, as opposed to G-10, as the G-10 thru K had the larger, more streamlined fairing.

Also, it looks like the oil filler hatch is low (older, smaller tank), pretty much ruling out G-10

Yellow bands were characteristic of II/JG52, though usually much broader.




mike

[veltro]

Not all G-10s had large wing fairings (most of those produced by Erla had not, for instance) so that is not a key for an ID (I've seen even plain G-14s with large wing fairings...).

I do agree instead that the key item identifying the plane as a G-14/AS is the round oil access hatch in low position on the nose (meaning the presence of the standard "horseshoe" 45lt oil tank), mixed with the "chin-bulged" lower cowl, a trade-mark of MTT's G-14/AS production.

HTH

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Mike,

Thanks for the II/JG 52 input. Makes me think of all the machines landed at Neubiberg on 8th May 1945...

Ok, Veltro, now I'm all clear and set for identifying the G-14 subtype. Fortunately there is at least one certain feature (the oil filler hatch) which stands proof against all other "identifying" features...

Cheers

Marc