Confusing late-war "Gustav"

[S Sheflin]

Greetings all,

Like the mythical Phoenix, this Bf109G recognition mystery rises anew.

In my opinion, Kuba nailed the correct identification of this mystery craft early on in his postings #3 and #12 as being an Erla-built Bf109G-10. There, he accurately pointed out that it has the revised oil piping routing, raised oil filler hatch/larger oil tank, and raised “Cold Weather Starting Device” positioning only found on the DB605D.

Further, careful examination of the photograph shows that it has the four lightly colored electrical wiring loom connectors exclusive to the DB605D. The connectors have been disconnected, but are visible at the end of the dangling wire loom near the firewall. Examples of these connectors can be seen in photos of surviving DB605D-powered Bf109s.

I think it’s a G-10 from the 150XXX, 151XXX or 152XXX series, not a G-14/AS.

Steve Sheflin