Müncheberg ?

[ouidjat]

Dear all,

I need your facial recognition expertise:
Is it Müncheberg (instead of Oesau, indeed) ?
Providing it's a G-2/Trop - most probably - and considering the clothes of soldiers, hence during desert "winter", I believe it is WNr. 10 725 of Stab JG77 accidented, 35%, on 10 December 1942 at Arco Philaenorum.

Thanks for your comments.
Regards,
Franck.

https://www.ebay.de/itm/Or-Foto-Me-1...QUo1xPRNn4wl6c

[Teresa Maria]

In my opinion, it's Joachim Müncheberg, especially because it was Müncheberg who fought in North Africa and had the opportunity to meet Rommel. Walter Oesau didn't fight in Africa.

[schwarze-man]

Good photo! Certainly appears to be a G-2 in the desert.

SM

[ouidjat]

Originally Posted by Teresa Maria

In my opinion, it's Joachim Müncheberg, especially because it was Müncheberg who fought in North Africa and had the opportunity to meet Rommel. Walter Oesau didn't fight in Africa.

This dear Teresa I know.
Oesau never been an option in my mind, not a second.
The point being this pilot looks like Müncheberg, but is he ?


Regards,
Franck.

PS: If really Münchenberg it's a pity the said "Rommel" hides the code !
PPS: Ah, and as far I know it doesn't exist another picture of this wreck ... I'm not sure it's a Stab machine. Mr. "Rommel" can be big but not enough to hide a Kommodore Kennung.

[Broncazonk]

It's almost certainly Joachim Müncheberg, no?

It's something like a 99.9% chance of being Müncheberg, right?

I mean it's very clearly Joachim Müncheberg.

And from that photo alone--from the very way that he is standing--one can clearly see that he was an astounding man.

Bronc

[ouidjat]

Hmmm
Let's say that basically and without any speculation, this machine looks like a III./JG77 one; the II Gruppe wasn't at Arco and the I. had camouflaged ones (roughly and generally speaking).
It is thence possible this wreck has been pictured during a visit paid by the party ...

[schwarze-man]

And, without speculation, the "pilot" seems to be holding his flying helmet. To me, the shot has an air of being a "just happened" incident. The aircraft has no visible damage apart from the bent prop, no panels have been opened, apart from the cockpit baggage compartment, and the canopy has been jettisoned.
The aircraft manual for the Bf109G-2 advises that forced landings off an airfield should be made with wheels up and the canopy retained to protect in case of a nose-over. However, in the wastes of the desert, I can imagine that the pilots might prefer the chance of being able to escape if ending upside down, rather than trapped, miles from help. The advice about the canopy might be a legacy of the earlier 109 versions with their lightweight canopy framing, whereas, the 109G had a much stronger welded steel windshield frame that provided much more support. Beyond that, the pilot may have been contemplating baling-out, before choosing a forced landing.
Great picture, certainly looks like a General in the Desert with some staff!

SM

[Nick Hector]

Originally Posted by ouidjat

Dear all,

I need your facial recognition expertise:
Is it Müncheberg (instead of Oesau, indeed) ?
Providing it's a G-2/Trop - most probably - and considering the clothes of soldiers, hence during desert "winter", I believe it is WNr. 10 725 of Stab JG77 accidented, 35%, on 10 December 1942 at Arco Philaenorum.

Thanks for your comments.
Regards,
Franck.

https://www.ebay.de/itm/Or-Foto-Me-1...QUo1xPRNn4wl6c

Franck,

The image you have posted reminds me of the footage of Müncheberg that appeared in the old Chronos videos of the Luftwaffe fighters and aces that were released back in the 90s. The hairstyle and his "upright" stance (for want of a better expression) are similar in your picture and in the footage. Here's a link so you can make your own mind up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVDI8IepBQc

So for my money, it's Müncheberg.

Nick

[VtwinVince]

Not a clear image, but it certainly resembles Muencheberg. And the general looking in the cockpit looks like Rommel, with the perspex googles and the Afrikakorps cuff title on the greatcoat.

[Chris Goss]

As much as I would like to say 'definite', I think that the best that can be said for certain is "resembles" as VtwinVince says