"Yellow 16" of Unit: 9./JG27 Flown in the MTO, 1943 who was the pilot KIA?

[Jochen Prien]

Further to my above post I can add that the first name of Uffz. Gorrisch was most likely Gerhard according to a note stored at the WASt. His further career after being wounded on the above date is not known.

Hope this helps.

Jochen Prien

[Mysticpuma]

Jochen, many, many thanks for your help and the time you have taken to reply.

It is more than I could have hoped for that I would actually find out who the pilot was, but you have fulfilled the criteria admirably.

Thank you once again for all your help, I am really most grateful, yours, Neil

[kaki3152]

This Bf-109G-6 was the famous black painted Bf109 flown by the 325th FG in North Africa.

[David E. Brown]

Dear Jochen,

From your comments, are you thinking of the Bf 109 G-6 aircraft "ge.16+~", WNr.15144 found in the MTO?

This aircraft is seen in images as being virtually intact and appearing almost new. The canopy has what I would think white paper covering all the plexiglas suggesting that it was a replacement.

Many years ago our mutual friend David Johnston send you a copy of my photo of it, and since then he has collected several more. These latter images appear to show it being dismantled by American troops. Perhaps it might have ended up back in the USA?

Cheers,

David

[Jochen Prien]

Dear David,

yes, I think we are talking about the same aircraft. However, the WerkNr. 15 144 you are giving is not the one of this airplane, as 15 144 belonged to a Bf 109 G-4 trop of 5./JG 51 that was damaged on April 17th, 1943, and apparently left behind at Protville when II./JG 51 left Tunisia for good a couple of days later. The Messerschmitt we're looking at hear is a Bf 109 G-6 trop beyond any doubt.

Looking at the photo you sent me through David Johnston many years ago you will see that the paint scheme of the tailfin does not fit the rest of the aircraft; and in fact, on another photo that was auctioned on ebay in July 2007 one can see " yellow 16 " from the starboard side with a tailfin from another aircraft leaning against the fuselage, so that it seems reasonable to assume that this tailfin was about to be fitted to "yellow 16" in exchange for the original part that may have been damaged. And this talfin apparently was that of WerkNr. 15 144.

So I still stand to my original assumption that the "yellow 16" we are discussing here was the aircraft of Uffz. Gerhard Gorrisch of 9./JG 27, Bf 109 G-6 trop, WerkNr. 16 531, reported lost on May 6th, 1943.

[Mysticpuma]

This is the plane I am referring to, which was then repainted Black by the 325th:





Hope that helps clear any confusion, cheers, MP.

[Jochen Prien]

Dear Neil,

yes, that is the "Gustav" we are talking about.

Regards

Jochen Prien