For Bf 109 experts No.2: battery position if MW50 tank installed

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hello,

It is commonly known that the installation of a MW50 tank behind the cockpit made a relocation of the master compass necessary. In order not to make the aircraft too tail heavy, the battery was moved to where the small luggage compartment had been. Since the battery did not fit entirely under the compartment door, the door had to be modified and received a box-like protrusion.

Can anybody lead me to a picture of the open compartment door where the battery and MW50 piping/tank is visible? I have been unable to find one. The only photos I have been able to find showed just the MW50 tank, but no battery.

Regards,

Roger

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Hallo Roger,

I just went through the 717 photos of Bf 109 G-14's available on my Flickr account and here is what I found:

1. Bf 109 G-14/AS W.Nr. 784 993 "Weisse 13" IV./JG 53, Fw. Herbert Maxi, 1 January 1945. Source: timberline1955, Flickr.com. You can see the part of the piping above the MW 50, after both the battery and its socket has been removed.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2809206...57625414158747
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2809206...57625414158747

2. Bf 109 G-14/AS W.Nr. 78. ... "Schwarze 1", 11./JG 3, Lt. Karl-Heinz Willeke, Erndtebrück, 2 December 1944. Source: www.messerschmitt-bf109.de. The battery cover is removed and you see the battery socket with its wiring. Notice also that IMHO there seems to be a Type 041 engine cowling with both positions for the oil hatch. IF it is ascertained, it would extend the use of this cowling also for the Mtt produced G-14/AS, which makes sense, regarding the Bf 109 K-4 series being built side by side in some of the plants.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2809206...57625414158747
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2809206...57625414158747

3. Bf 109 G-14/AS W.Nr. 78. ... "Schwarze 24", 6./JG 27, Bad Lippspringe, Summer 1945. Source: collection Coates via Prien and Rodeike 1996, p. 514. Only the piping above the MW 50 tank can be partially seen, with the battery socket already removed.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2809206...57625414158747

4. Bf 109 G-14 W.Nr. 462 892 "Blaue 2", 16./JG 53, Gefr. Alfred Michel, Waldweistroff, 1 January 1945. Source: Signal Corps via Facebook.com. The battery cover is open, the battery seems already removed (not sure though).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2809206...57625539886908

5. Bf 109 G-14/AS W.Nr. 46. ... "Rote 16", 6./JG ?, Stolberg, Germany, Spring 1945. Source: Collection George Soltis via warbirdinformationexchange.org. Again the battery and its socket are removed, one can see the top of the MW 50 tank and its plumbing.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2809206...57625539886908

6. Bf 109 G-14 W.Nr. 46. ..., "Schwarze 29" 10./EJG 1, Hodkovice, May 1945. Source : Revi 44, via facebook.com. The resolution is too low; on the original document, some details of the MW 50 and its upper plumbing can be seen.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2809206...57625539886908

7. Bf 109 G-14 W.Nr. 51. ... "Gelbe 11", 3./JG 52, Havlickuv Brod - Deutsch Brod, May 1945. Source: asisbiz.com. Unsharp the photo does only vaguely convey the MW 50 tank top.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2809206...57625539907434

This short list tops off a very demanding question picture wise Though many more pics do show the battery cover and some others the gaping empty hole of the rear canopy of a wrecked plane, I couldn't find anything else.

Hope this helps; I'm already in the starting block for Volume 2 !

Cheers
Marc

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hi Marc,

Thank you for your detailed response and the list of aircraft/links. There are some very nice photos showing the battery installation.

Regarding your comments about photo 2.: I fully agree, the Type 041 engine cowling was also employed in Mtt produced G-14/AS. Another good example of a Mtt G-14/AS with two oil filler holes is the aircraft at Falconara (see photo at your Flickr album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/280920...57635159457168).

I am going to publish photos of brand new G-14/AS at a forrest assembly line that also featured the Type 041 cowling. There is not yet any battery installed, but it may well be that the aircraft was not yet fully assembled and the battery was still missing (also the compartment door was not yet in place).

Cheers,

Roger

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Thanks for the follow-up, Roger. Glad to know that Mtt used too the Type 041 cowling. And looking forward of course to see that photo

Cheers
Marc