Small loss issue possibly solved, Bf 109 F-4/trop in JG 53

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi, guys.

A possibility for a small correction of what seemed to be a duplicate loss record possibly solved by an eBay auction. Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4/trop WNr 10194 was reported damaged in bomb raids by III./JG 53 and Stab/JG 53 within a month at the same airfield in North Africa:

http://www.aviationhistory.no/ref_db...?lossid=150003

http://www.aviationhistory.no/ref_db...?lossid=148144

The following photograph of WNr 10149 is up for auction now:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-abgestue...-/381056398464

and I wonder if this is really the damage reported by Stab/JG 53 on August 8th 1942 - they have simply switched the last two digits in the loss report.

It seems this aircraft captured by the allies, any reports on it?

Thoughts?

Regards,
Andreas B

[robert]

but this is probably stab III./JG27.

Regards

Robert

[G.R.Morrison]

It's Otto "Eins-zwei-drei" Schulz. JG 27.

GRM

[Andreas Brekken]

Thanks, guys.

As I do not focus that much on the North African campaign it is good to have others that can spot details which are not obvious to me.

Moving on then - I have no loss record for 10149 - but it is then apparent that this aircraft most likely was operated by the Stab II./JG 27 - even if I can not see a II. Gruppe bar on it.

Further - as far as I can see both the Stab/JG 53, the III./JG 53, Stab/JG 27 and II./JG 27, as well as the other fighter units present hopped around on more or less the same airfields during this campaign.

Well, no further info seems to be available at this time. I will note that the evidence we have is that WNr 10149 was in North Africa during the first half of 1942, with an unidentified Stab unit, but most likely Stab/JG 27 or Stab II./JG 27.

Regards,
Andreas B

[G.R.Morrison]

There are several other unpublished photos of this II/JG 27 machine, including the rudder which displays 48 black Abschußbalken, dating it as the last few days in May 1942.

If you have Roba & Pegg's Luftwaffe Colours, Vol. 4, Section 2, The Mediterranean 1942-1943, there's a photo of the abandoned fuselage on page 144, top photo. There's also a photo in the Emmert collection, taken at the same time as the photo you linked, which appears in Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Die Jagdfliegerverbände de Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945, Teil 8/I, Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum November 1941 bis Dezember 1942, p.260. In this photo, Otto has removed his sun helmet.

As to the absence of the II Gruppe Balken, the II/JG 27 had inherited some machines from the I/JG 27. Schulz's "weiße 2" with 4./JG 27 was also lacking a II Gruppe Balken.

Hope this clarifies, GRM