Is this a 109F?

[theogeorge1967]

Originally Posted by Kutscha

The caption says the a/c is a 109F but it has an Erla haube.

is there more information on the tests

george

[net_sailor]

There is more photos of this a/c in the "Erlawerk VII: Antwerpen-Mortsel 1940-1944" book (p. 139-140). On the first photo (already linked by Falcon) I can see three first digits of the Werknummer: "14" and probably "8". It's indicates retrofitted Bf 109 G-4 from 14851-15000 series build by WNF.

As You see, there was a new Erlahaube (occurred on mid 1943) fitted on the older airframe (antenna mast mounted on the fuselage not the hood) and tall fin introduced on early 1944. So the date of "11 March 1943" looks wrong and spring 1944 is more likely for me.

BTW the caption under photos in the book describes this a/c as G-14 AS but in my opinion its not that case.

[Rasmussen]

Originally Posted by net_sailor

On the first photo (already linked by Falcon) I can see three first digits of the Werknummer: "14" and probably "8". It's indicates retrofitted Bf 109 G-4 from 14851-15000 series build by WNF.

If you see there on the picture anything, you have eyes like a flight of eagles.

Best wishes
Rasmussen

[net_sailor]

I have good magnifying glass
Unfortunately photos in the book are not sourced and I can't tell where the originals are stored. It would be nice to be sure.

[Harold Lake]

Years ago I recall reading about this particular aircraft in Armand van Ishoven's "Messerschmitt Bf 109 at War" (Ian Allen) and although I can't remember the author's comments in their entirety, I believe the large white letter painted on the aft most portion of the aircraft's fuselage ("H") was the first or second name of the aircraft's designated test pilot.

BTW, this aircraft was a modified G-4 within the 14851 batch...a batch that included over a dozen other G-4s modified as two-seaters (G-12).

[Falcon]

Yes, Harold. You are right. The letters are the first letter of the family name, so the source.
But, Hans Fay got an "F". Like this:
http://www.me109.info/display.php?a=e&fid=1632

Possible an other pilot was flying this plane and Fay fly it too.

On this machine we can see "HI", so its possible there was two man with a "H" as first letter in the family name.