Me 109 blocks 464400- AS?

[ArtieBob]

Dear Rasmussen,
In general, both the GB and USA intelligence teams only identified LW aircraft subtypes using using id plate data (and generally removed the plate and placed them in an envelope attached it to the original copy of the report). If you look at the reports there are many where if there was not a plate, the subtype simply is not specified, but the engine, armarment data, etc. are described. The reason for this appears pretty straightforward, as the Allies were certainly unable to follow production line changes and parallel production of multiple subtypes. It is difficult to do even with primary LW documentation. This is another reason why it is almost certain that G-6 production at Erla continued into 1945. Looking at both the LW loss and Allied intelligence lists, G-6 aircraft are found within blocks of W.Nr. that are primarily G-14s from Erla. It seems certain that G-14 production did not begin at Erla until August, so it would appear that G-6 production did continue in parallel with G-14 and were both "badged" and recognized in production reports as such.

Best regards,

Artie Bob

[Rasmussen]

Originally Posted by ArtieBob

...In general, both the GB and USA intelligence teams only identified LW aircraft subtypes using using id plate data (and generally removed the plate and placed them in an envelope attached it to the original copy of the report). If you look at the reports there are many where if there was not a plate, the subtype simply is not specified, but the engine, armarment data, etc. are described.

Dear Artie Bob,

that's ok but I was interested on this specific a/c .

This is another reason why it is almost certain that G-6 production at Erla continued into 1945. Looking at both the LW loss and Allied intelligence lists, G-6 aircraft are found within blocks of W.Nr. that are primarily G-14s from Erla.

Here I'm interested on examples (especially allied reports) because I don't know such cases.

It seems certain that G-14 production did not begin at Erla until August, so it would appear that G-6 production did continue in parallel with G-14 and were both "badged" and recognized in production reports as such.

I disagree because
1. the first "G - 14" were delivered in July 1944 (under the designation "G - 6 MW50")
2. the Erla production reports (official and internal) doesn't mentioned such an G - 6 production after August 1944 (it's surprising when RLM clerks knew more about Erla production than Erla clerks).

Best wishes
Rasmussen

P.S.: Excuse me my terrible English.

[George Hopp]

The designation "G - 14" was found on the ID plate (registered in the report)

Yes, together with the maker's name of mcu (Erla - Leipzig), and VW+HO. Also a DB 605AM engine (painted on crankcase cover), C3 fuel, and MW-50 tank. Interestingly, the main fuel tank was of light alloy with no self-sealing rubber coating.

As I mentioned above, the complete report is under "articles" in the "109 Lair."

[Rasmussen]

It seems certain that G-14 production did not begin at Erla until August, ...

This means the G - 14 production began before August 1944 ...

Best wishes
Rasmussen

[olefebvre]

a couple of hundreds of conversion kits (350 IIRC) were issued early 1944 (march IIRC) so as to modify the /U2 109s. Those were using the heavy insulated GM-1 tank and the kits included conversion of the later to MW-50 use. At the same time the /U2 already in production were modified to a G-14 status even if the designation did not exists at the time. Indeed some G-6/U2 were produced with the light alluminium tank which could only be used with MW-50.
So yes the MW-50 introduction pre-date the introduction of the G-14 designation.

[George Hopp]

The designation "G - 14" was found on the ID plate (registered in the report)

In case you're interested, there are 2 photos of G-14 413 601 in Jochen Prien's superb "JG 1 und 11. Part 2: 1944" on page 1081. He labels the a/c as a G-6, but from the condition of the a/c there is no doubt that the maker's plate was recovered, which showed it was a G-14. The story about Uffz. Jakob Vogel's loss is a strange one.

[Rasmussen]

Hello George,

I haven't my Copy of the JG 1/ JG 11 - chronicle by my hands but: is there the battery box visible?

He labeled this a/c as G - 6 because it was registered in German loss report as G - 6 IIRC.

Best wishes
Rasmussen

[George Hopp]

is there the battery box visible?

Yes, just barely; but it is visible. And, its location is commented on in the British report. Poor positioning, lousy access.