Me 109 canopy with slot at the top?!

[stephen f. polyak]

Perhaps the answer can be found in period F-series pilot or parts manuals.

[F19Gladiator]

Seems to be a "less well documented" part of the Bf 109. However, when studying photos of F-2 and F-4 versions I get the impression that the horizontal top roof part is divided into two parts, enabling the front part to slide under the aft and fixed perspex part. On some photos it is visible that the front part is located slightly lower that the aft part, enabling it to slide under.....
The "slot" is more likely a piece glued to the moving front perspex part enabling better grip when sliding it.

A photo of Wick in an E-4 cockpit on page 117 in "Major Helmut Wick" by Herbert Ringstetter, Motorbuch Verlag, in my opinion shows such a transparent "handle" pointing downwards, perpendicular to the top horizontal front perspex part - Visible as a "white" part contrasting against the darker metal frame.

Goran

[Kutscha]

How thick was the top glazing of the 109 canopy?

[Falcon]

The "Ersatzteil-Liste Bf 109 F" from April 1941 show on page 32 the follow.

[F19Gladiator]

Originally Posted by Falcon

The "Ersatzteil-Liste Bf 109 F" from April 1941 show on page 32 the follow.

Thanks Falcon! This confirms that the canopy had three sliding plexiglas panels: One on top and one each on the left and right hand side. This is consistent with the pictures I have compared with.
I get the impression that this feature can be found starting with the type of canopy introduced with the E-4 and then running with the F-series.

I have seen one picture where the top panel seems to have been opened, judging from the position of the "handle" piece.

Pressurized canopies do not seem to have this function which is quite understandable.

Later on the G-versions seem to have a fixed top panel instead of the sliding one???

[David Ransome]

Hi,
Hopefully to knock this one on the head, spoke to my contact again highlighting this thread - he stated categorically that it was definitely NOT a slot and that it was a perspex (plexiglas) bar for moving the top panel back and forth. He recalls a thickness of up to 5mm and that it was not bullet proof. I hadn't quite appreciated how emphatic he was intending to be first time I spoke to him on the subject, my hearing will be back to normal soon!

I agree with SP that any form of slot wouldn't be a good idea as regards water getting in!

So, has anyone got any decent pics, maybe even from a restored or relic aircraft?

Regards,

David

[lritger]

Square-topped Emils and Friedrichs had this "handle" on that central forward panel, as mentioned, and it's visible in all of these F model photos:













Lynn

[George Hopp]

Molders' a/c and the last two pictured make it pretty clear that there is a separate clear panel in the front half of the canopy top section. It opens by pulling back the perpex ridge at the front. Now, why would they want it?

[David Ransome]

Hi,

Thanks for the pics Lynn!

George, could the panel just be for cooling /ventilation as with the side windows, firing flares out of etc? The 109 having a side flipover canopy maybe wasn't as easy to ventilate as, say, the Fw190 where it's canopy could be rolled back almost any chosen distance up to it's stops. The operation manual/handbook for the aircraft may possibly indicate it's use.

Regards,

David

[WEISNER]

Hard to say? But would it be possible for the pilot to squeeze out through the top panel if slid back in an emergency? say if the canopy was damaged in combat and would not open?
Kevin