Galland's Bf 109E-4/N, late 1940

[CJE]

On some photographs, it seems to have the MG 17s reinstalled inboard of the MG FFs. Same for Müncheberg in Sicily.
Can someone confirm this fact?
Were some great JG 26 aces disappointed by the fire power of the 109?

[Kuba Plewka]

No no, it's a blinded MG 17 blast tube you see. MG 17 and MG-FF wasn't installed in the same place. While the wing was standarized for both kind of weapon, two fitting points in main wing spar were prepared. If MG-FF was installed, the hole where normally the blast tube for MG 17 was blinded. It seems, that sometimes it was patched with a soft material (fabric?).

[CJE]

Sure?

Can you see the attached file? It's the first time I try to attach one and I don't know if I did it right.

[SMF144]

I can see the attachment.

Stephen

[olefebvre]

The Emil wing could not accomodate both weapons at the same time.
Usualy E-1 later converted to E-3/E-4/E-7 standards had their MG-17 holes covered by a metal sheet, it's visible on several pictures.
Wknr 5819 is odd since it was produced as an E-4/B but with the MG-17 holes still opened, they are just taped over. It might be specific to this small WNF batch.

[Kuba Plewka]

I'd rather say, that in every wing this hole for MG 17 was cut and the "Verschlussdeckel" is listed in Ersatzteil-Liste from Januar 1941. Possibly, even when MG 17 were not installed in new built machines, the wing leading edge covering didn't change.
Maybe this soft patch is a remainder of coversion?