Nicknames on Bf109F-4's of 9./JG3

[Cpt_Farrel]

Hi!

I'm doing some profiles of 9./JG3's Bf109F-4's, the ones with camoflage schemes based on RLM78/79... I'm trying to find out details about as many as possible of these nice looking aircraft, especially the names written below the canopy and I know the following:

Yellow 2 - Pilot: Ofw. Schentke, "Peterle" under the cockpit
Yellow 4 - Pilot: Ofw. von Boremski, "Maxi" under the cockpit
Yellow 7 - Pilot: Bauer, "Ellen" under the cockpit
Yellow 10 - Pilot: Lt.Diergardt, and here I need help, there's a picture in Prien and Rodeike's book about the 109, that shows the top half of the name but I can't figure out what it reads! Looking at the known names it's obvious that they didn't all use girlfriends names, but maybe petnames or nicknames as well. If anyone has any suggestions I'd be greatful to see them!

Also if anyone knows details of any of the other aircraft of the staffel, I'm all ears!

Cheers! / Anders Hjortsberg

[robert]

Hi,

two nicknames from May 1942:
yellow10 - LiLiLi
yellow 9 - Rio [W.Nr.13233 with 4 white victory bars Gefr.Adalbert Kuhn captured with this plane by Russians, mistakenly landed on russian airfield]

Regards

Robert

[Cpt_Farrel]

Thanks Robert! Now that You mention it, I think I have seen a photo of Yellow 9, I think it's in Merrick's Luftwaffe camoflage vol I.

My wife believed it said LiLiLi as well but I thought it sounded to weird

[Sergio Luis dos Santos]

yellow 9 - Rio

Now I´m curious!

[VtwinVince]

My uncle was CO of this staffel during and after the BoB, and I'd be interested to know the nickname, if any, on Otto Wessling's 109.

[Cpt_Farrel]

Interesting! For how long was he in command of 9./JG3? The painteschemes with the nicknames was from May 1942 and onwards. I don't know if they had something similar earlier...

[robert]

Yes. They did.
For example the 7/JG3 had in spring of 1940 at least following nicknames:
- stIII/JG3 double chewron - Fortuna - Hptm.Walter Kienitz
- stIII/JG3 single chewron - Grace - Lt.Egon Troha
- white 11 - Herzi - Lt.Anton Raich
- white 12 - Grace - Lt.Egon Troha (from Juni 1940)
- white 6 - Elly
- white 7 - Gabi
- white 1 - Peterle - Olt.Erwin Neuerburg
later during BoB:
- yellow 5 - Erika - Lt.Franz Achleitner?
- yellow 3 - Erna?- Fw.Hans Stechmann
during the early stage of Barbarossa:
- yellow 2 - Peterle - Fw.Georg Schentke
- yellow 4 - M...? - Fw.Hans Stechmann (perhpas it was not his personal mount)
And others.

Robert

[Jim P.]

Wasn't Lemke in the 9th at this time as well? His FB is out and about so it should have a code at least. Then there was Kemethmuller in the 8th St. His FB is also around. And then there is 'white 4' 'Katya' of Hans Schleef from 7./JG 3.

[VtwinVince]

Hi Capt Farrel,

He was CO from 1.7.1940 until 30.9.1940, when he was assigned to take over 2.\Erg. Jagdgruppe 3. During his time with 9. Staffel, according to sources, he flew "Yellow 13", which apparently was "inherited" by his successor, Oblt. Egon Troha. I think Troha was actually flying Achleitner's 109 when captured, a machine which I believe my uncle also flew on ops. Robert, thank you for the information on those nicknames.

[Cpt_Farrel]

Just thought I'd bring this old thread up again to add for anyone who'ts interested that a Bf109F-4 "yellow 5" of 9/JG3 wore the name Putzi. Also, about white-4, it's Katja with a "J" not "Y"

/Anders