Puzzling Bf 109 of JG 53

[CJE]

Attached herewith is a photograph that was sent by a friend of mine having no clue of who, where and when.
It seems to depict the Bf 109 E-3 or E-4 (no ETC under the fuselage) of the Kommandeur of III./JG 53 at the time when both the "Pik As" badge was reintroduced and the swastika still obliterated, ie around November 1940.
But the aircraft shows only two victory bars on the fin and this definitely cannot be Hptm Wilcke's tally.
I thought this machine could have been transfered to Erg.Gr./JG 53 and used by its Kommandeur, but it seems that Hptm Kroeck had no victory at all at that time.

Any hint?

Chris

[Primoz]

The cround crew members seem to be too lightly dressed for November. Are you sure the photo wasn't taken before the red band replaced the Pik-As badge?

[G.R.Morrison]

I would assume that this was the machine of Hptm. Harro Harder, who led the III/JG 53 for a month, from 13.July - 12.August 1940 when he was KIA in combat with Spitfires, E of the Isle of Wight.

His successor was Wilcke.

GRM

[CJE]

Could be, indeed.
However, I thought it was Wilcke who gave the order to remove the swastikas.
And Harder is credited with 22 "kils".

@Primoz: you're right, it cannot be in November.

[G.R.Morrison]

Harder claimed 11 in Spain, but had only a single confirmed victory in WW-II [PZL-24 on 9.9.1939 with 1.(J)/LG2] before 11.August 1940. Twenty-two claims may be a generous number.

Has the swastika been removed from this print? The fin/rudder area seems 'touched.'

GRM

[Cpt_Farrel]

That's indeed Harro Harders aircraft and the swastika must have been removed from the photo, not the aircraft. I believe the swastikas were removed when the Ace of Spades emblem was reapplied but by then the emblem was larger and the noses were painted yellow.

Evidently Harder didn't fly this aircraft when shot down because it was later used by Erich Schmidt with the small triangle in the chevron painted out.

Cheers / Anders

[CJE]

You sure are right.
I have no idea where this photo comes from. Might have been dowloaded from some auction site.
I was mislead by the fact that III./JG 53 did erase the swastika on the fin at some time.
Thanks to all.

Chris

[Miguel]

Hi all,

This topic was discussed in the thread opened by Edwest on May, 15th 2008.
I suggested then Harder or (possibly) Wilcke, but Robert suggested Wittenberg and, at the end, Rolf Pingel, as acting gk between 20.06.40 and 13.07.40.
You can see the original thread in the archive.

Regards

Miguel

[CJE]

Thanks Miguel.
Most interesting.

Chris

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

At the EoE Working Group we believe this to be Harder's a/c. The original source is an eBay auction #310050622131 on 19.05.08, but it was withdrawn before it sold. The swastica was censored off the print, not the aircraft.

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator