Galland's Bf 109E-4/N, late 1940

[CJE]

Not convincing.
Earlier photographs of Galland's 109E-4/N show the MG 17 troughs faired over.
Why were they opened later on?

What about Müncheberg's 109?
The fairing over the edges of the gun trough is painted in red (?) - and even bolted!
What can you say about this?

[CJE]

Have a closer look.

[olefebvre]

Originally Posted by CJE

Not convincing.
Earlier photographs of Galland's 109E-4/N show the MG 17 troughs faired over.
Why were they opened later on?

What about Müncheberg's 109?
The fairing over the edges of the gun trough is painted in red (?) - and even bolted!
What can you say about this?

Taking a closer look at the various pictures i have, it seems the fairings were of a different kind. Looks like they were shallow. As i said earlier i believe they are associated with a specific WNF batch.
If you wish i can send you the whole diagrams covering the armament of the E-1/E-3. It was impossible to fit both at the same time and it would have been a mess to attempt to change the type of weapons between missions.

[Kuba Plewka]

Dear CJE, as Olefebvre wrote before, it's imposible to fit a MG-FF with it's equipment with a MG 17 next to it with it's ammo feed system in this location. Both holes for MG 17 and MG-FF were cut in the main spar. How anybody could fit those weapons together without serious redesign of a wing?

[CJE]

OK guys, thanks to you all.

[bulldog]

It seems many pilots felt the firepower of the 'F' model was lacking. The proceeding 'E' models were noted as having firepower that 'shattered' enemy aircraft. Despite this problem some pilots claimed the 'F' model was the best version of the 109 to fly.
Regards Bulldog.

[Kurfürst]

IMHO the (valid) criticism was probably only for the early F-1 and F-2 with the single MG FF and 15mm MG151. The accounts I've seen on the 151/20 variant suggest they were satisfied.

[bulldog]

Galland was extremely critical of the Bf 109F-4's lack of firepower. Of course the next step was the introduction of the Field Conversion Sets with the pair of MG 151 cannon in the underwing gondolas and this affected the handling performance of the aircraft, bringing more grumbling from pilots. And yes, there were pilots quite satisfied with the F-4's lighter firepower as they felt the tradeoff for superior speed and manouvreability versus heavy firepower was adequate compensation when in action against enemy fighters.
Nevertheless this was a vicious cycle that would plague the 109 for the rest of the war.
Regards Bulldog.