Bodenwöhr Waldwerk - Mtt Bf 109 K-4 assembly lines 1944 - 1945

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Originally Posted by Charles Bavarois

Gentlemen,

As for the K-4s standing in a row within a wooded area: the camouflage is of the segmented "Flössenbürg" pattern and has no "snake" at the bottom of the fuselage. Just have a look at the attached picture "row". I have to apologize for masking this foto, but I can't remember, where it´s from and perhaps it is copyright protected (any hint on its owner wellcome!).

HTH

Carl

Dear Karl,

I just found your source for this picture: Janowicz, Kr. (2006), Messerschmitt Bf 109 G/K Vol. III, Monography 29, Kagero. It originates, like so many others, from the James V. Crow collection.

Cheers
Marc

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Hello there,

It is strange how since long known pictures of Bf 109 K-4 come under a new light when checked out according to your hypothesis, Roland, for differenciating between airframes produced the Cham-Bodenwöhr Waldwerk and the Flossenbürg-Vilseck KZ Werk.

I stumbled yesterday on this already often published picture of Bf 109 K-4 W.Nr.33X XX4, White 3 of I./JG 27 photographed by RCAF personel sometimes in the autumn 1945. The machine sports the distinctive snake pattern, and the last W.Nr. digit still shows aft of the Green RV band of JG 27. One more documented machine stemming from the Cham-Bodenwöhr assembly line...

Btw, since your post #111, Roland, I keep on stumbling on Bf 109 G-14's showing the same four digit W.Nr. sprayed on their aft fuselage, and full W.Nr. on top of the tail Hakenkreuz. Obviously also Cham-Bodenwöhr machines. Thanks again for this intimate satsifaction to decode more fully the existing pictures!

Source: Hildebrandt, C. (1989), Broken Eagles 3, Messerschmitt Bf 109G/K vol. II, p.19.

Cheers
Marc

[Fliegerhorst]

Hi all

I got new infos.

Near Hasloch (Haseltal) there shall have been a tunnel where motors for Messerschmitts shall have been assembled. Hasloch is close to Wertheim. The Messerschmitt motors from Eichelsteige might have come from there !!!

[masmar]

Hi Fliegerhorst. Do you know what kind of tunnel that would have been? If the DB 605s were really assembled or built up there it would have been a large tunnel complex. Compare the known assembly lines like project "Goldfisch" at Neckarelz and "Doggerwerk" near Hersbruck.
I think it's more probable that it would have been another storage or kind of a repair shop.
By the way, were you able to find any further information where exactly the final assembly of the 109s took place respectivetly where motors and wings where attached to the fuselages. That's still an open question if I remember right.
regards
Matthias

[Fliegerhorst]

some news about Wertheim and Bf-109

Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6Y W-Nr. ?95??2
Mit FuG 16 ZY, Morane-Mast, Erla-Haube, normalem Seitenleitwerk aber hohem Sporn. RLM Abnahme, Wertheim Januar 1945. Die W-Nr. auf dem Seitenruder des Fotos ist schwer identifizierbar, sie könnte 95182 oder 195182 lauten.

[Fliegerhorst]

http://flyingart.twoday.net/


A Pilot named Riediger might have done final Bf-109 tests for Reichluftfahrtministerium in Wertheim. This might mean assembly in Wertheim!

[Fliegerhorst]

the puzzle fits:

Spessart wood (Eiche/Buche), used by Flumann in Kreuzwertheim, close to Stuhlfabrik Hofmann (manuacturer of chairs), cooperation. Electronics repair. 1944 pictures of French workers for ID cards. wings in Schlossbergtunnel. Eichelsteige motors stored. Heavy parts close to the tunnels entrance. Wertheim railway knot. Erla assembly at Eichelsteige.
Formerly: Harbour in the Tauber river. Airport on the hill. One large harbour
"Winterhafen" in the river main 3km downwards.

Pilot Riediger tested aircrafts for Reichsluftfahrtministerium

[ouidjat]

Hello,

A little bit out of subject but to confirm Fliegerhorst last comments, you can find a picture of Anton Riediger's Bf109G-6/y here and to confirm that pilot wasn't unknown another plane he flew here.

Cheers,

Franck.

[Rasmussen]

Originally Posted by Fliegerhorst

Erla assembly at Eichelsteige.

I'm really confused because this "Erla assembly" wasn't and isn't mentioned in any Erla related German or Allied documents. So I'm interested on your unknown (to me) sources for this connection.

Best wishes
Rasmussen

[Marc-André Haldimann]

[/quote]
One last point to take into account when thinking on this "near Wertheim" typical camouflage pattern. I perused all published Bf 109K-4 pictures available to me and found at least three operational machines with this same camouflage pattern:

- Bf 109 K-4, W.Nr. unknown, "Black 1" of 10. /JG 51, Ronne stadium, 4th May 1945 (Poruba and Mol 2000, 70 - 73).
- Bf 109 K-4, W. Nr unknown, JG 52 (?), Ceske Budejovice, May 1945, (Poruba and Mol 2000, 63).
- Bf 109 K-4, W. Nr unknown "White 8", JG 52 (?), May 1945 (Poruba and Mol 2000, 46 - 47). This one is illustrated by stills of a colour fim shot by the US Army; the film can be seen on Youtube.


[/quote]


I at last found again this youtube movie showing extensively "White 8"...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA94O...eature=related


Cheers
Marc