Bf109 G or K?

[Rasmussen]

Hello Ferdinando,

many thanks for your reply (my copy of your newest book is in my second flat -- it's an wonderful book). So my question: Were these a/c's reported as "G - 14" in other documents? IIRC he doesn't mentioned an version in his agenda.

Best wishes to you and your family
Jörg

[Nick Beale]

In case it helps: a list of thirteen Bf 109 G-14s taken over by I./JG 4 from Erla Leipzig on 18 and 19 October 1944. Eleven of them are 464... series aircraft.

(The original document was very faint, so I've had to do a lot of computer adjustment to make it readable)

[veltro]

Fantastic stuff, Nick!

Jörg, thanks for your kind words. Now you can see why with Nick we did an excellent job years ago... still a great team, IMHO...

[Rasmussen]

Originally Posted by veltro

Fantastic stuff, Nick!

I agree Ferdinando. It helped to find out 2 little mistakes in my documents and it seems to confirm my conclusion that Erla sold G - 14's (relating original documents independent from technical equipments) and RLM registered the "special" G - 14's (without MW 50) as G - 6 (relating original documents from Artie Bob).

an small addition: all a/c's were brandnew ... accepted by BAL one or two days before were send to JG 4 (independent from the W.Nr.)

@Nick Beale

My English is very limited so my question: means "equipment sets: lacking" that the MW 50 - System was lacking?

Best wishes and many thanks
Jörg

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Rasmussen

My English is very limited so my question: means "equipment sets: lacking" that the MW 50 - System was lacking?

That would be my guess too, but only a guess. Elsewhere, when III./JG 53 reported some aircraft lacking radios, they specifically said radios - they did not call those just "equipment."

[Rasmussen]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

That would be my guess too, but only a guess. Elsewhere, when III./JG 53 reported some aircraft lacking radios, they specifically said radios - they did not call those just "equipment."

Maybe from interest for you:

from an FS (= Fernschreiben) by technical director of Erla - Leipzig, Waldemar Schellhorn, to Mtt. Regensburg

date: 18.October 1944

"In diesem Monat haben wir die G - 14 als Schulmaschine ohne MW 50 - Anlage zu liefern und diese können Sie nicht gebrauchen."
(my translation: "In this month we have to delivere the G - 14 as trainer without MW 50 - system and this a/c isn't right for you.")

Best wishes
Rasmussen

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Rasmussen

[u]"In diesem Monat haben wir die G - 14 als Schulmaschine ohne MW 50 - Anlage zu liefern und diese können Sie nicht gebrauchen."
Rasmussen

That is interesting but the German grammar doesn't seem right to me. Shouldn't it be "…und diese können Sie nicht brauchen"? = "and this you cannot need."

Even then it's an odd thing to say. I'd have expected either "…und diese brauchen Sie nicht" (= and this you do not need) or perhaps "sollen Sie nicht brauchen" (= you should not need).

[Rasmussen]

... but the German grammar doesn't seem right to me. Shouldn't it be "…und diese können Sie nicht brauchen"? = "and this you cannot need."

No, it's correct ...as German native speaker I can confirm that the formulation " ... und diese können Sie nicht gebrauchen." is in common use. This formulation indicate an guess about an fact. Your second version "... und diese brauchen Sie nicht." indicate an fact (my knowledge about your need). The difference between both versions isn't great and often in indentical use. Your third version "... und sollen Sie nicht gebrauchen." is an direct order.

Best wishes
Rasmussen

[Nick Beale]

Thanks Rasmussen.

I only learned the kind of German that enabled you to pass examinations in the English education system, not the sort Germans actually use. They certainly didn't teach us German words like "Look", "Team" and "Fitness" that one sees now!

I was doubtful because to say in English "you cannot need this" usually implies surprise that someone has asked for the item.

[red-star25]

It´s interesting to see, that even in Jan 1945 64 G-6 were delivered by Erla, together with 103 G-10, 269 G-10/R6 and 78 G-14.
Messerschmitt had only 1 G-6, 3 G-10, 1 G-14, 211 G-14/AS and 338 K-4.
I did not expect to see this amount of aircraft delivered in this stage of war.

Dirk