Question about the markings on the Bf109F-1 of Werner Mölders during the last quarter of 1940

[Leo Etgen]

Hi guys

Lynn Ritger in The Messerschmitt Bf 109 Part 2 writes that the first production Bf 109 F-1 (W.Nr. 5628) was sent to Mölders for service testing at the beginning of October 1940. His first victories with it were claimed on 22 October (49-51) and 25 October (52-53) according to this source. In the JG 51 book by Stipdonk and Meyer there is a photograph of his fighter which was taken on 15 April 1941 and shows the rudder marked with 63 victories including roundels according to the caption. In the JG 51 book by Weal there is a photograph of the rudder of his fighter taken on 16 April 1941 according to the caption and which is marked with 65 victory bars including roundels and victory date information. In summery, the latest photograph of 1940 (possibly November 1940) shows the Stammkennzeichen partially painted over and 54 victories and the earliest of 1941 (12 March 1941) shows the Geschwaderkommodore markings applied and 61 victories. I agree that the photograph that Oberst posted is from 1941, possibly later than mid-April as the Geschwader emblem has been added.

Horrido!

Leo

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Leo

The problem I, at least seems to have, is that I can't count the victories on the tail of the overpainted aircraft you refer to. But from what I at least think I can see the victory bars are painted different than those in the Mölders book I refer to. Both the photo of 51 bars and 54 bars are of the same aircraft and has roundels over each claim. Between each roundel and bar there are something which is not readable, but presumably dates. I can accept that they are from an F-1 and not an E model, but the photo you refer to seems to me to lack these roundels, which was why I assumed the Mölders book showed E-type rudders....
Silly puzzle....

But it changes nothing to the main question Larry had and where it looks like we all agree by now!

Cheers
Stig

[KrisJG3]

See super film:

Location: Germany
Date: 1940

"'...Street sign refers to public transport connection to Germany that runs daily until the end of the war. A dirt airfield. Ground crews load belt ammunition into boxes near Bf-109 (Me-109) aircraft on which mechanics are working. Ground crew refuels an aircraft. Famous German fighter pilot ace, Werner Molders, is assisted as he changes into flight clothes and climbs into the cockpit of his Bf-109 airplane. (Tail of his airplane shows 42 painted marks, representing aerial victories.) Crew chief stands on wing and cranks engine. Molders taxis out and takes off. Formation of Bf-109s in flight and over coastal waters. View from cockpit as German plane dives to attack allied ship in water. ...''

By the way on the view One of Werk Nr.: 3638

Source:

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65...itish-Spitfire