Galland’s Me-109F Side Panel displayed in Ace's Living Room

[Rob Romero]

Holy S---

I came across an interview with Franz Stigler

(28) at ‘109 Lair.

http://109lair.hobbyvista.com/index1024.htm

In it there are photographs of –check this out- the side panel of Galland’s Me-109F displayed on Stigler’s living room wall. The panel includes Galland’s Mickey Mouse Logo, part of the Command Chevron, and the manufacturer’s plate including Werk No. The camo colors are beautifully preserved. Does anyone know the story of how Galland’s F was thus stripped –after all Richtofen’s WWI was kept in a Berlin Museum –where it was destroyed by bombing –no doubt the Third Reich was interested in preserving the historical legacy of one of it’s foremost aces. Moreover, even though Stigler was a friend of Galland’s, how would he end up such an unbelievable historical memento?

Thanx

Rob Romero

[stephen f. polyak]

Interesting interview! About the Galland panel, I suggest it's a post-war (relatively recent) reproduction. Various ace's markings, including those seen on vertical tail sections/rudders, have been done this way. Nice wall displays, conversation pieces. That's not to say that some actual part of a Galland aircraft doesn't exist somewhere, but I don't think this item is one.

[VtwinVince]

Franz has been a family friend since 1942 (he served with my uncle in Africa), and I have been in his house on several occasions. I haven't seen this piece before, certainly decorative.

[Franek Grabowski]

The 'panel' is a current offering. I cannot recall, who is making them, but they are offered over the internet. They do not resemble actual pieces and are nothing in kind of copies nor replicas.