Bf 109 E-3a

[ArtieBob]

While looking at the Beschaffungsmeldung for August, I noticed the Neubau production of Bf 109, E-3, E-3a and E-4 fighters. I am not very 'up' on fighters so am not certain if the E-3a designation was well known. Would appreciate if someone could tell me the difference between the E-3 and the E-3a and a reference for this information.
Another question for this time period, what was the earliest confirmed date for Bf 109s with centerline racks during the BOB and a reference?
Thanks in advance.

ArtieBob

[Graham Boak]

The subscript a was usually for ausland or export aircraft. It is often seen on references to Swiss aircraft but presumably will also apply to Yugoslav and Romanian examples.

[Harold Lake]

The correct position of the lower case "a" for export aircraft was immediately after the series letter, i.e. Da-1, Ea-3, Ga-2, NOT "E-1a". Source: Mtt-A, Overview of Allowable Equipment Fulfillment Bf 109 A,B,C,D,E,T,F,G for 14 October 1942.

Please note this designation applied only to export aircraft manufactured to meet a foreign customer's approved order. It does not apply to those Bf 109s flown by the Luftwaffe but later handed over to a foreign air arm. The former was often fulfilled in sequential batches whereas the latter were usually composed of isolated aircraft within a series.

[ju55dk]

From: Zusammenstellung der eingeführten Flugzeugmuster 19 april 1941.
Source: BAMA RM7-2378.

Junker

[ouidjat]

Originally Posted by Harold Lake

The correct position of the lower case "a" for export aircraft was immediately after the series letter, i.e. Da-1, Ea-3, Ga-2, NOT "E-1a". Source: Mtt-A, Overview of Allowable Equipment Fulfillment Bf 109 A,B,C,D,E,T,F,G for 14 October 1942.

Please note this designation applied only to export aircraft manufactured to meet a foreign customer's approved order. It does not apply to those Bf 109s flown by the Luftwaffe but later handed over to a foreign air arm. The former was often fulfilled in sequential batches whereas the latter were usually composed of isolated aircraft within a series.

Hmmm ??? "a" for Ausland, that is for export.
How do you quote Bf 109 G assembled in Györ and in IAR-Brasov ?

[newcomer]

Ok,

does anybody list of WNr for Bf-109E-3a?

kind regards

Newcomer

[Harold Lake]

ouidjat - To the best of my knowledge, none of the Bf 109s produced outside Germany, including both MWG and IAR, bore any official German designation other than the standard type, i.e., Bf 109 G-6. However, as stated earlier, foreign purchase orders for Bf 109s always included the lower case "a" after the Bf 109 series letter.

It is interesting to note that even official Mtt documents sometimes erred in this respect. For example, Survey List of the Alternations Orders Bf 109, dated 1.7.43., page 68, list three Bf 109 G-4s produced for MWG, as "G-a4" when, in fact, it should read Bf 109 Ga-4.

It is possible, though unlikely, there existed a "Bf 109 Ga-6" serving as production templates for IAR. Never the less, all indigenous Bf 109s produced outside Germany either bore their standard German type designation or, as in the case of Czech and Spanish examples, their own specific unique designations.

newcomer - As explained earlier, there was no such official Bf 109 production designation as "E-3a." Messerschmitt's use of lower case letters as a designation suffix certainly existed but this topic is outside this thread.

[ouidjat]

for Ga-4: Györ
http://www.me109.info/display.php?a=e&fid=6552
http://www.messerschmitt-bf109.de/di...lle.php?id=203
But, curiously, no Ga-10 .. just G-10, Györ made, see WNr production batches.

Ga-2: IAR Brasov
http://mmpbooks.biz/mmp/books.php?book_id=115
All IAR made wore three digit codes on fin/rudder, no WNr.
No Ga-6.

Both being producted and assembled OUTSIDE not exported.

For E-3a:
see http://www.preservedaxisaircraft.com/ where they are effectively named Ea-3. What about original identification plates on preserved machines? Any photo available?

[ArtieBob]

Dear Mr. Lake,

The document referenced for the Bf 109 E-3a identification was a RLM document for August 1940, not from Messerschmitt, so it was indeed an 'official' document. What is your basis for stating unequivocally,"there was no such official Bf 109 production designation as "E-3a." ?

BTW-no one has responded to the second part of my query, earliest confirmed date for Bf 109s with centerline racks during the BOB and a reference? Thanks in advance,

Best Regards,

ArtieBob

[ouidjat]

Hi Artie,

in the meantime your thread in untitled Bf 109 E-3a, while there is no separation between your two paragraph ...
I Wonder if the answer is that easy.

I did start a little research but reach no conclusion for the moment... just wait a little bit more ... after summer holidays?

Regards, Franck.