Photos 1-23, part two - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum

edwest · #1 24th January 2010, 03:45

edNorth · #2 24th January 2010, 05:00

Thanks again, nice to see FB 1 and 3.

John Beaman · #3 24th January 2010, 15:51

Thanks, Ed. if the a/c in the 4th 109 picture is 780691, it was lost as follows:

Bf 109G-14/AS, 780691, Berger, Ofhr. Günther, 8./JG 53, rote3 + -, 29-Sep-44 WIA due to Luftkampf. ,FSA. RLV, Prien, JG 53 (1998), III, p.1002; Prien, JG 53, III, p.1471, Neustedt/Gemmersheim.

It does not appear to have a KZ in this photo.

ouidjat · #4 24th January 2010, 16:44

Hi John,
You said "if" it is 780691. I would say "if" the losse is correctly registered since the guy looks more an american GI than a German mechanical. But it's just a thought, I can change my mind in front of other evidences. If my thoughts are good then I don't see how it can be 780691. In LEMB one said the two letters F.T. meant "Flight Tested"?!
Regards, Franck.

JYoung · #5 25th January 2010, 16:10

Thanks Ed!
Please could someone enlight me about the third 109 photo? What is on the fuselage? A pumpkin, a parachute pack or an unkown(at least for me)aerial cover?
The a/c seems to be a recon version of F.
Best regards.
JY

John Beaman · #6 25th January 2010, 16:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by JYoung

Thanks Ed!
Please could someone enlight me about the third 109 photo? What is on the fuselage? A pumpkin, a parachute pack or an unkown(at least for me)aerial cover?
The a/c seems to be a recon version of F.
Best regards.
JY

Probably a camera magazine since you can see the camera fairing under the fuselage.

Harold Lake · #7 25th January 2010, 21:24

Ouidjat,

No, the individual in the photo is NOT an American mechanic. Notice he is wearing soiled pants, a leather belt with a bright buckle. American army mechanics were never issued leather belts. Instead they always wore olive drab fabric belts with adjustable brass buckles. Unless the EM (enlisted man) was stationed in the tropics or was on a strenuous work detail, he would never have worked "topless" without the approval of the OIC (Officer in Charge). Violators would have been called-down for being "out of uniform" and risked loss of their job, rank and other privileges.

It is more likely the photo was taken late summer 1944 and the mechanic was probably a civilian Messerschmitt employee. In addition, the "FT" you mentioned was German-applied and stood for "Funkanlage" or "Funktechnisch" and used to call-out the location of the radio equipment within the fuselage.

Hal

JYoung · #8 29th January 2010, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Beaman

Probably a camera magazine since you can see the camera fairing under the fuselage.

Hi John, thank you for your enlightment. May I ask a question?
Seeing a enlargement of the 3rd 109 photo, there is a bump on the 4th fuselage frame. Its surface is smoothly raised up from rest of the fuselage. It seems to be done some modification. How do you think about this?
Best regards!
JY

ouidjat · #9 29th January 2010, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harold Lake

Ouidjat,

No, the individual in the photo is NOT an American mechanic. Notice he is wearing soiled pants, a leather belt with a bright buckle. American army mechanics were never issued leather belts. Instead they always wore olive drab fabric belts with adjustable brass buckles. Unless the EM (enlisted man) was stationed in the tropics or was on a strenuous work detail, he would never have worked "topless" without the approval of the OIC (Officer in Charge). Violators would have been called-down for being "out of uniform" and risked loss of their job, rank and other privileges.

It is more likely the photo was taken late summer 1944 and the mechanic was probably a civilian Messerschmitt employee. In addition, the "FT" you mentioned was German-applied and stood for "Funkanlage" or "Funktechnisch" and used to call-out the location of the radio equipment within the fuselage.

Hal

Thanks for your help Hal.
Franck.

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