Bf 109K Data Plate Location

[bavgan]

Getting back to Bf 109K-4 data plate location, do you think this is a manufacturer's main data plate under the canopy?

[S Sheflin]

Hello all,

Does anyone else realize what that photo depicts? This is an ultra rare Erla-built K-4 with a WNr. of 570 37_! This is only the second one I have seen documented. What a great photo, Bavgan. Thanks.

Steve Sheflin

[S Sheflin]

Bavgan,

I got so excited by your new K-4 photo that I forgot to answer your initial question. Yes, I believe that that is a factory ID tag, applied in the typical "Erla" position. Again, what a great photo.

Steve Sheflin

[veltro]

Originally Posted by S Sheflin

This is an ultra rare Erla-built K-4 with a WNr. of 570 37_! This is only the second one I have seen documented.

And it shows that apparently Erla-built K-4s had the same rectangular panel (and eventually no chin bulges and differently machined upper and lower engine cowl) than on their peculiar G-10s...!

Many thanks to Bavgan from me too...

[harrison987]

HI Batur,

Personally, I do not think that is a data plate. It is almost all white. Of course, one could say it was glare form the sun reflecting off a black plate, but the sun glare is on the back of the plane, just near the swastika.

I suspect it is a US ID or tag added at wars end (common to see ID's, notes, etc. on captured aircraft).

Mike

[Micke D]

Very interesting all dark kamouflage.

[stephen f. polyak]

Great photo! I suspect it's a plate. Both position (for a 109) and size are appropriate. As for the standout lighter color, some later-war 109 G series plates (I've two) were simply pieces of rough-cut aluminum sheet with rather crude hand-stamped entries. Those plates were not etched to begin with or painted after stamping/installation. Think of shiny aluminum. Maybe that's what's seen on this K. Hopefully, in time, more photos will surface and the debate will be resolved. Of course, my dream is that one of those GIs pulled the "plate" and that it will surface again.

[RolandF]

This reminds me of a Bf 109K-4 captioned on p.153 of "Captured 109s" as having been found at Grafenwöhr (Vilseck?). Same dark camouflage without distinguishable colour shades, and no recognizable bulges on the left fuselage side. Very sharp swastika with glossy surface - seems to be a "Abziehbild" (decal).

Regards

Roland

[Otterkins2]

The last number in the werk Nr appears to be a 5....570 375. Amazing what you can do with photoshop tools. Here it is again using the shadow/highlight filter....