looking 4 pics of Nowotny's Bf109F-2(4?) white 8

[PMoz99]

Does anyone have one or more that can share, or tell me where I can find some?
Thanks

[G.R.Morrison]

It was an F-4, and I believe it was "gelbe 8" as Nowi was flying with the 3./JG 54 at the time (rudder displays 30 weiße Abschußbalken).

Photo sources: Held, Werner, Der Jagdflieger Walter Nowotny Motorbuch Verlag, c1984 p.42 photo; Held, Die deutschen Jagdgeschwader im Rußlandfeldzug, Podzun-Pallas, c1986, p90 photo (congratulations on his 56. claim, 2.Aug. 1942)

GRM

[PMoz99]

Thank you GRM.
In my searching on the 'net I have seen the both yellow 8 and white 8, F-2 and F-4, hence my uncertainty. I guess he may well have flown combinations of both numbers and types.
AZ Models are about to release an F-2 kit with markings for Nowotny white 8 I./JG54 1942 - no month mentioned - and I assumed they would know what they were doing.
I don't know how accurate the information at asisbiz/il2 is, but there they say the last F-2's with I./JG54 were disposed of/lost in July 1942, and the last F-4s in October 1942, so AZ are looking at some time in the first half of 1942 with their markings.
Do you think they could be right, or is F-4 yellow 8 the only one there is a record of?
Thanks

[G.R.Morrison]

The JG 51 continued using their Bf 109F-2s well into 1942, but as its engine required the "C3" (100 octane) fuel, virtually everyone else was flying the F-4 by early 1942, their "B4" (87 octane) fuel requirement simplifies the supply problem.

When it comes to choosing marking / decal options for a kit, we should acknowledge that often the companies (and artists) prefer a 'prettier' subject to a plain one. Repeating errors gives a 'sort-of' validity to them, as the casual modeler can think, "I saw it in two (or three) sources, so it must be the case." There are numerous examples of this 'repeated-enough to make it real' when it comes to Luftwaffe subjects. It was not too long ago that a prominent company released a red-cowled Bf 109F-2 of "Assi" Hahn - a mistake that goes back to the mid-1960s.

If I were the one building this, I would go with "gelbe 8" of the 3./JG 54. If you want to depict Nowi in a 1. Staffel machine, maybe choose a FW 190A-4, A-5 or A-6.

Whether there are 'others' of his, even without consulting his Flugbuch, it's highly-likely. The Bf 109G-2 WNr.10360 "schwarze 1" that he flipped over 11.August 1942 was probably 'borrowed,' a not-infrequent occurrence. Examining Flugbücher, sometimes a pilot will use the same airframe for quite a long period, others have many different aircraft in the same time-span. Even without combat damage, engine maintenance, etc., still needs to happen, and a pilot scheduled to fly will take up the machine that's available.

Hope this helps a bit, GRM

[PMoz99]

Thank you for your advice GRM.
I have noticed instances where what I thought were errors have been carried over in various publications, but not having enough resources I just wasn't sure if I was right.
I think I'll go with yellow 8 F-4.
I am also looking at FW190a-4's white 8 and white 10, maybe I'll build both these too! White 10 is depicted with an interesting camo in the profiles I have.
Thanks!

[Teresa Maria]

Originally Posted by PMoz99

Thank you for your advice GRM.
I have noticed instances where what I thought were errors have been carried over in various publications, but not having enough resources I just wasn't sure if I was right.
I think I'll go with yellow 8 F-4.
I am also looking at FW190a-4's white 8 and white 10, maybe I'll build both these too! White 10 is depicted with an interesting camo in the profiles I have.
Thanks!

I've found it in a book, but I have no scanner at home. I'll scan it for you and will send it to you as soon as I can. :-)

[Teresa Maria]

Here you are! I've scanned the photo of Walter's Focke Wulf, which I promised you yesterday. The caption says:
'The plane Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 Werk Nummer 410 004 of Hauptmann Walter Nowotny, commander of a 'Gruppe' in JG 54 'Grunherz'' (my translation, as the book is in Polish, although it retains some original German terms).

[PMoz99]

OK, thank you ...