INFO NEEDED on Me109 G4 W.Nr. 15137 & 15121

[harrison987]

Does anyone have any info?

Thanks!

Mike

[G.R.Morrison]

Bf 109G-4 WNr.15137 “schwarze 2” of 2./JG 53 (Stammkennzeichen may have been DJ+BT) was pranged (35% damage) 3.April 1943 in a take-off accident at Tunis, found by the Britsh at Bizerta-Sidi Ahmed a month later.

Bf 109G-4/trop WNr.15121 of 6./JG 27 overturned during landing, 11.April 1943 at Trapani (Sicily), damaged 40%

GRM

[Matti Salonen]

1943-04-03, 2./JG 53, Bf 109 G-4, 15137, Fl.Pl. Tunis, Beim Start ausgebrochen. Bruch 35 %.

1943-04-11, 6./JG 27, Bf 109 G-4 Trop, 15121, Fl.Pl. Trapani, Überschlag bei Landung. Bruch 40 %.

Matti

[harrison987]

VERY GOOD!!

I ask because this wing was found at Wright-Patterson Field (storage)...see photos.




The numbers written above are written on the outside rib of the cooler flap (wing root area).

Are there any records of this aircraft being brought back to the US?

Looks like after the inital crash of 15137, the wing was salvaged and transferred to 15121...

Curious if there is any more history...



Mike

[Snautzer]

Fl15137 is a part number not a wrknr

[harrison987]

Originally Posted by Snautzer

Fl15137 is a part number not a wrknr

In this case, it is not.

As I mentioned previously, Fl. 15137 does not exist, and never existed as a part number (on any aircraft).

The RLM Flugzeug-Ausrustungsgerate part numbers started in the Fl. 18000 range, and nothing was made or existed before that.

In this case, the Fl. probably refers only to "Flugzeug".



Mike

[edNorth]

Or relating to Flügel (I read this as "wing of 15137 transferred to W.Nr. 15121"). Here joining two (wrecked) to make up one flyable. Just a guess of course.

Furthermore, lots of the original and possible re-paint is simply gone. This is weathered away. So wing likely was stored outside for considerable length of time. I think if there was US star there, is likely weathered away.

See this image 2nd link below (I belive is from Wright Field) the Left Wing has been replaced. As complete Bf 109 novice, this strikes me somehow as related.

Note US Star still on the Right Wing. There also be one on left wing, per prewar standards, as these were often seen on captured examples - it was common to paint US stars on both wings, just to be shure it is noted?!

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...SAC/Bf109a.jpg

[harrison987]

Hey Ed!

Yes...that is how I took it as well...

Any US paint would have been over top of the cross...and there are no traces whatsoever of anything "but" German Sandgelb. This also includes the bottom of the wing, that has RLM76.

There are also no records of either aircraft having been flown or captured by the US...so my feeling is going more towards it being brought back as a spare wing...

[G.R.Morrison]

Ed,

The photos you linked are of a different machine, Bf-109G-2/R4/Trop WNr.10605, ‘schwarze 14’ of 2.(H)/Aufklärungsgruppe 14.

Flown by Lt. Wernicke, it was shot down 20.February 1943 on the salt flats near Zarsis, Tunisia by Bren gun fire from some of the Gordon Highlanders. Although injured, Wernicke escaped to the German lines. “Irmgard” was the name of first mechanic Uffz. Bopp’s girlfriend. This aircraft was restored to flying status by the U.S. 79th FG.

GRM

[harrison987]

Hi GRM!

I think Ed was just showing examples of a replacement wing with German cross being used on US bird...