Me109G-10 Dual Production Plates

[Rasmussen]

Originally Posted by harrison987

Hi Rasmussen,

Rita was actually an Erla-built G-10 built on an older G-14/AS airframe.

She had the 605D and taller tail wheel wheel which only specific to the G-10 and K. She also, had the larger oil tank and different cowling than the regular G-14/AS...but also retained the smaller mail wheel tires...

It was a very unique airframe, probably as she was one of the earliest G-10's built.

There is some speculation and disagreement over "Rita" being a G-14/AS or G-10...however once you have the 605D and tall tail, you pretty much conclude she was a G-10, as those were features that were only slated for the G-10/K.

G-14/AS and G-10 production were almost simultaneous during the transition period, so being an early G-10, she had a lot of G-14/AS features from the older airframe she was built from...

So...

As she was a built as a G-10, she has the two data tags



Mike

Hello Mike,

many thanks for your explanations but ... I have to disagree - careful.

If we believe the words from Richard Goyat the picture was taken in October 1944. At this time the produced G-10 were in Leipzig and not by fighting units (maybe with exeption of 1 or 2 machines).

Interesting would be your source of the DB 605D and the taller tail wheel because if I look on the picture my impression is an normal tail wheel. And what are the differences between the cowlings you found (maybe this was an specific of different producers and had nothing to do with the version?) ?

The larger oil tank (because of the hatch) isn't an mark of DB 605D because some (or many?) G-14's built by Erla used this hatch too (with an DB 605A).

And ... the camouflage is the typical camouflage used on G-6/G-14's which I didn't found on G-10's to this time.

But independent from the discussion to "Rita" have a look on Prien/Stemmer "Messerschmitt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei der II./Jagdgeschwader 3", p. 383. There is an picture of Erla-built G-14 (with the MG 131 bulges) with the "Änderungsstufe" plate under the bulge. the same you can find on Prien/Rodeike/Stemmern "Messerschmitt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei der III. und IV./ Jagdgeschwader 27", p.441 ... again an Erla-built G-14 with the double plate under the MG 131 bulge. So the double plate wasn't used alone by G-10's. Excuse me .

Best wishes
Rasmussen