Questions about an Me109 wing that was found at Wright Field

[harrison987]

Okey dokey...

I recently had the opportunity to view a very nice Me109 wing that was not from a crash or dug from somewhere in Russia.

Though most of it's paint has faded or flaked over the years, 100% it was a African/Italian bird, as it still had major traces of RLM79 Sandgelb.

It also still had 60% of the cross on the upper wing surface.

Perfectly straight, no major damage.

There was a werk number painted on the inside, but it appeared to be done by someone post-war, so I did not pay too much attention to it.

I was told it was found in storage at Wright-Patterson in the 1980's.

Sadly, I did not get to take any photos, but for all I know the werk (and story) could have been something made-up.

What I know for a fact is

Type Me109 G5 to G14
RLM79 on upper surface and RLM76 on the under surface
Cross on the upper
Traces of the cross on the lower
Not dug or from a wreck - looks like it is from old storage.


I have gone through all the photos and books I have of captured Me109's...and every one had the cross(es) over-painted with US markings. Also the British did that on thiers as well...

So I am at a bit of a loss into where this wing could have come from.

Does anyone know of any Me109 aircraft, captured by the allies, that would have these features??

TIA


Mike

[DaveM2]

Did you not note the painted Wk.nr? Just because you think it was painted post war doesn't mean it is incorrect

Dave

[SMF144]

Good point Dave.

A lot if not all the major components of Luftwaffe planes when broken down and shipped received the Wrk Number. I would imagine the one on this wing is legit.

Stephen

[Tony Kambic]

There was a post in June 2012 about a Bf-109 in Pittsburgh. I had commented about it because it was displayed in the US Steel mill in March 1944 that I eventually worked at in 1979. It is a G Trop model, and only the fuselage from firewall to the fuselage Balkenkreuz. No wings, engine, or tail. It was apparently touring the country on some bond raising tour. Possibility?

Tony

[edNorth]

Lots of individual parts were shipped "as spares" to Freeman Field, possibly also to Wright Field (and then forgotten in remote storage). Desert camo Bf 109 was at Wright Field, in structural testing, IIRC. Photo in Butlers "Warprizes". -Ed

[harrison987]

Thansk guys!

Will be taking a pic of the werk this week...see if it matches up to anything...



Mike

[Cpt_Farrel]

You mentioned that it was from a G-5 to G-14, couldn't it be a G-4? I can't think of a way to tell G-4 wing from the rest as most had the bulges for the larger main wheels.

/Anders

[Jim P.]

It would seem unlikely that it's from a G-5. Few, if any, of that sub-type went to Africa or the Med. And I've never heard of or seen any photos of G-10/14s in Sandgelb. Has anyone else? There were lots of G-2s, G-4s and G-6s captured on various airfields in the Med area though in 43/44. (See "Air War Italy 1944-45" by Beale, D'Amico & Valentini, "Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77" Volume 3 and/or 4 by J. Prien or "Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945, Vol.11" (2 parts) by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike & Bock)

[harrison987]

Hi!

I was specifically referring to the "type" of wing....obviously with the sandgelb, it narrows it down to G4-G6..."maybe" G8.

Will have photos on Friday.

[RolandF]

What about any cutouts for the main wheels on the upper wing for 660 x 160mm tires? Had been a feature from Nov '43 on. If not this would narrow down any variations.