Wilhelm Schilling's Gelbe 3 - subtly evolving over time.

Wilhelm Schillings Gelbe 3 has been a popular subject for profiles and models as a colour photo has been around for ages. The photo doesn't show the whole aircraft though so profiles have been speculative. Black and white photos have appeared and show that there's more to this scheme than previously thought. 

It cleary has at least three colours on the fuselage. A light colour has been used for meandering lines on some of the darkest segments of camo. It can be seen on the starboard wing as well. On other aircraft in similar schemes the lightest colour is also used for a segment or two in the camouflage pattern. Other JG54 aircraft shows various browns and possibly RLM 02 so the actual colour is impossible to know. Also, despite the new photos, the camo from fuselage fram 7 and backwards is still speculation based on other contemporary JG 54 aircraft.

Profile 1: The first photos of this aircraft shows it when Schilling celebrated returning from his 500th combat mission. Almost the entire engine cowling is painted in the medium colour that we know from the colorphoto to be quite a bright green colour.

Profile 2: Two pictures taken during what appears to be some light repairs shows that new segments of colour has been added on the enginecowling. (The aicraft was damaged twice in September according to the loss lists)

Profile 3: The broad yellow fuselage band has been added and the rear part of the canopy has been replaced by one in original grey that appears to be RLM 75.
 

Bf109G-6 of Wilhelm Schilling, 9./JG54

Willhelm Schillings Yellow 1 as it looked in February 1944 at Ludwigslust. Several publications are giving the W.Nr for this aircraft as 440 141 which is a WNF W.Nr. The relase of Eduards 1/48 Bf109G-6 includes decals for this aircraft and the instructions are consequently showing a wing pattern  for a WNF aircraft too. The problem is that the camouflage on the fuselage of this aircraft is a very typical Erla camouflage. 

Going through a JG54 losslist compiled by Bob Wartburg I found two entries for a Yellow 1 flown by Schilling on the same date in February 1944. One is the aforementioned 440 141 and the other is 27 068. Now 27 068 IS an Erla built Bf109G-6 so it's also quite likely the correct W.Nr for this particular Yellow 1. This also means that the wings would have had the saw toothed pattern rather than the WNF one.

For a run down of the various pattern, check my previous blog post on the subject!

Black 1 of Max Helmut Ostermann

Many photos exist of the Bf109F-4/Z of Max Helmut Ostermann flown in the spring of 1942. Photos taken from both sides at what is clearly the same time shows that this aircraft looked very different from side to side. Additionally the light color seems grey rather than white.