Photos 3-24

[F19Gladiator]

Hello Rick,
I find your photo question interesting why I post a few more lines on the subject.

15.12.1941 – 7.11.1942 was the period II/JG53 was based at Comiso, Sicily, according to Michael Holms website. http://www.ww2.dk/air/jagd/jg53.htm

I have however found no info that II/JG53 was involved in the action in Libya/Cyrenaica towards the end of 1941, the unit being instead active in the operations over Malta.

Does the photo you have show the JG53 “Pik As” emblem?
If not, it might be a 109 F-4 from 6./JG 27 of II/JG27 which was involved in the fighting in this area (Cyrenaica). If the aircraft was found at El Adem south of Tobruk by Christmas 1941, it was soon after Tobruk was retaken (Dec 1941) by the 8:th Army, following Operation Crusader.
It might be of interest to consider the information in “Jagdgeschwader 27” by Ring and Girbig, P.247. that in what must have been mid to end of November 1941, the II/JG27 had 30 F-4 and G-2, whereof six were received fresh from Germany. It is not unlikely that such fresh aircraft maintained the European camouflage scheme and colours while completely repainting aircraft hardly was the first priority, if even possible.

It is of course theoretically possible that aircraft had been transferred from JG 53 in Sicily to replace losses during the intensive fighting around Tobruk and this/these aircraft being flown in the livery they arrived in. I have so far not found any information pointing in that direction though.

Another photo of a JG 53 Bf109 F-4/Z “Yellow 12” of 6./JG 53 is published in “Messerschmitt Bf 109 F, G & K Series” by Prien and Rodeike, Schiffer, P.29. Here captioned as being taken at “Comiso airfield in early 1942” and indicating it had a green/gray scheme.
Also a F-4/Z “Yellow 9” on p.30 of 6./JG 53 from Comiso “early 1942”.

Again, are you sure the photo shows a JG 53 aircraft?????????

II/JG 53 did participate in N. Africa but that was almost one year later, from November 1942, and in Tunisia. By then they were operating Bf 109 G.

I do unfortunately not have my most detailed JG 53 references at where I am now, why I find it difficult to dig deeper here and now.

I hope some JG 53 "Experten" can help you further. If not solved I will check out more when I get hold of the rest of my ref. mtrl.