Me109G-10 Dual Production Plates

[harrison987]

I am confused by the reason for the 2 production plates on the fuselage side.

It was already proven that the second plate did not indicate an older airframe updraged to G-10, as all G-10's were made new.

JaPo's G-10/U4 book explains it indicated "changes" at time of production, but the book does not explain the types of changes.

Were these "changes" possibly repairs done to damaged machines which had not yet left the hands of the manufacture - such as a replacement part after a failed test-flight or damaged while in transport?

The G-10 did have some upgrades as the months went on, but I do not think enough to warrant a second plate.

Can anyone clarify this?

[Micke D]

Not an answer to your question, but many (all?) of the Fw 190D-9s produced by Fieseler seems to have had two plates on the fuselage.

[Franek Grabowski]

New may mean new built parts or subassemblies from older variants like G-6.

[harrison987]

HI Franek...

Ah yes...but...no old subassmeblies (G-6) were used on the G-10. All G-10's were made new.

[stephen f. polyak]

Here's what I believe the second plate looked like (note: there was more than one version/style of this type of multi-entry box plate):

http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.p...2a3lmh&thumb=4

I believe the word "änderungsstufe" roughly translates to "changes". Is that correct?

[harrison987]

Hi Stephen,

Yes, that is correct! The spaces were for dates from what I understand...

mike

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by stephen f. polyak

I believe the word "änderungsstufe" roughly translates to "changes". Is that correct?

It means a little more, I think. It means "alteration level/stage" and I have an example of an Fw 190 "Receiving "alteration 137" which I would guess was a modification specified for all aircraft of a given model (or performing a given role).

[harrison987]

HI Tomislav!

Question...

"The Änderungsstufe plate was added to indicate subsequent changes that might appear during the operational use of the aircraft"

Only dates were added into this spot, as shown on the G-10 here in the USA...so if it was intended to indicate changes, why only show a date? Seems reduntant, unless the chnages were indicated as well. Also, why were these plate not found on all G-10's? and why ONLY G-10's?

Seems odd, no?

[ArtieBob]

IMHO, some of the confusion may relate to two items. First, the length of time a major component of an aircraft, i.e., the fuselage may have been in inventory before it reached final assembly. I am not as familiar with the details of Bf 109 manufacturing as with some other Luftwaffe types but generally, fuselage, wings, power “egg”, empennage, etc., might not have been manufactured at the final assembly point. The fuselage generally carried the RLM W.Nr. for the aircraft and, in cases that can be documented, the RLM W.Nr. was assigned at the fuselage subassembly point. There might be weeks or even months between leaving the subassembly site and reaching final assembly, photos show fields full of Bf 109 fuselages awaiting wing, power eggs, etc.
Second, it would appear that whether an aircraft was considered Neubau or Umbau would depend when the BAL acceptance was made, thus a fuselage intended to become a G-6, if it was in production inventory, might be modified before final assembly and BAL acceptance to become another subtype and still be considered Neubau. If one looks at the acceptance sequences they are generally not in W.Nr. sequence. A “new” aircraft might be flown directly to another site following BAL acceptance and modified would be considered Umbau. Of course, when dealing with almost any aspect of Luftwaffe production during the last year of the war, exceptions are the rule and documentation may not exist. The goal was to push completed aircraft out the door (cave, or from under the trees).
Finally, IIRC, von Lutz may have firsthand sighting experience on this subject.
Best Regards,
Artie Bob

[Grzegorz Cisek]

I am still conviced that the second plate indicated an old airframe rebuilt to the new Bf 109 version. Here you have an example o this :

http://www.yumodel.co.yu/batajnica_a...two_me109s.htm

During G-6 and G-14 reparation they were finished as new G-10. The word "changes" in this case means upgrade to a new version.