Bf109G-6 from 5./JG302

 

This aircraft served with 5./JG302 and was used in the Wilde Sau nightfighter roll, evident from the fact that the starboard wing under surface was black. Another interesting feature is the missing head armour which wasn't uncommon on Wilde Sau aircraft.

Bf109G-6 of Heinz Hunig, 5./JG2

 

Schwarze 12, W.Nr 27 083, of Heinz Hunig, 5./JG2 at Juvincourt, autumn 1943. Hunig was lost in this aicraft on October 20:th 1943. It's a striking aircraft with the yellow trim on the numerals and an interesting wingroot decoration. I created the profile for a decal sheet that never happened so now I'm posting it on my blog with the goal of posting more than once every other year! 

The pattern of the wing camouflage is interesting as it doesn't match the regular saw toothed pattern of Erla built aircraft. The 27.xxx W.Nr batch seems to be an anomaly in that regard. 

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Profile 3: The broad yellow fuselage band has been added and the rear part of the canopy has been replaced by one in original grey that appears to be RLM 75.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-10 from JG301

 

Finally I've found my self between projects and with some spare time to do a profile for my own enjoyment! The subject is based on recently discovered photos of this Erla built Bf109G-10 serving with 14./JG301 at Gahro. The camouflage appears to be the standard RLM 74/75 but with an additional darker colour on the spine above the balkenkruez and the rear of the aircraft. 

The blog is not dead! It's only resting...

Bf109E-4 of Herbert Kijewski

Bf109E-4 flown by the staffelkapitän of 5./JG3, Herbert Kijewski, as it looked on September 2, 1940. As was common on 5./JG3 aircraft, this one too had a nickname on the engine cowling. "Erika", the name of Kijewskis wife.

Bf109F-2 of Stab JG1

This Bf109F-2 has a very unusual paint scheme for a Bf109F serving in the west. Thanks to the knowledge of Franck Benoiton and Sinisa Sestanovic it is safe to assume that this aircraft was flown by the Geschwaderstab of JG1 at Jever in June 1941. Another photo of the Geschwader stab Bf109F's shows similar camouflage schemes but with yellow noses and the Geschwaderstab emblem applied.

54 Squadron Spitfire

One of the Spitfires featured in a series of photographs for Life Magazine propably taken at Hornchurch in the summer of 1941. The Sky tailbands have been applied in line with the tail unit panel line rather than horizontal. A single victory marking in the form of a swastika can be seen below the canopy. On the starboard side the inscripton "The Swan" could be seen below the windscreen.