Rod's WarBirds

WWII German Aircraft Photographs - Fighters

Messerschmitt 109 - Page 77

Me109-G2 II.4.JG52 White(2+-) Russia September 1942
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Me109-G2 II.4.JG52 White(2+-) Russia September 1942
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Me109-G2 II.4.JG52 White(2+-) Russia September 1942
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Me109G-6/Trop JG51 Geschwader Hawk Head Emblem Yellow10 Pilot Looking for Mechanics to Help with Engine Start 1943
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Me109G-6/Trop JG51 Geschwader Hawk Head Emblem Yellow10 Pilot Looking for Mechanics to Help with Engine Start 1943
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Me109G-6/Trop JG51 Geschwader Hawk Head Emblem Yellow10 Pilot Looking for Mechanics to Help with Engine Start 1943
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Me109E-3a (E07) Prototype
(D-IRTT) Later (CE+BL) WrkN1797 1st Flight Flown By Test Pilot Friedrich 'Fritz' Wendel
October 26, 1938
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Me109-F0 Pre-Production Prototype (PH+BE) WrkN6631 Retained Square E-Series Supercharger Air Intake In Augsburg, Germany 1941
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Me109-F0 Pre-Production Prototype (PH+BE) WrkN6631 Retained Square E-Series Supercharger Air Intake In Augsburg, Germany 1941
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Me109-F0 Pre-Production Prototype (PH+BE) WrkN6631 Retained Square E-Series Supercharger Air Intake In Augsburg, Germany 1941
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Me109-F0 Pre-Production Prototype (PH+BE) WrkN6631 Retained Square E-Series Supercharger Air Intake In Augsburg, Germany 1941
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Me109-F0 Pre-Production Prototype (PH+BE) WrkN6631 In Augsburg, Germany 1941
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Me109-F0 Pre-Production Prototype (PH+BE) WrkN6631 Retained Square E-Series Supercharger Air Intake & Has Partially Retracted Tail Wheel On Test Flight Over Alps 1941
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Me109-F0 Pre-Production Prototype (PH+BE) WrkN6631 On Test Flight Over Alps 1941
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Although very well known, the aircraft shown in the following photos taken on April 18, 1940 has descriptions that are invariably misleading ...

It does not show a hypothetical Bf109-E2 axial gun MGC/30 installed in the nose (this variant has never existed),
but the Bf109E-3 (CE+BM) WrkN1952 was used to test an in-flight towing device to improve bomber escort for the future Sea Lion operation, the invasion of Britain.
Piloted by Heini Dittmar, the Bf109E-3 (CE+BM) WrkN1952 was towed on April 18, 1940 by a Bf110C-1 (CE+BU) WrkN0959
piloted by Hermann Wurster from Augsburg to Munich-Riem, and then back to Augsburg where the Bf109 released from the tow & landed.

The test is successful because the Bf109E-3 lands by itself back at Augsburg by detaching itself in flight and landed by its own means.
However, the tests will not be continued in view of the development of the E-7 variant capable of carrying an additional ventral 300 liter fuel tank.

The bar that comes out of the hub of the propellor is where the Bf109E-3 is hooked to the towing cable.

There are 4 letters on the Nose Near the Propeller Spinner indicated by the four letters G.Sch = Abbreviation for Glykol-Schutzol and has nothing to do with the towing mechanism.

Modifying to E-7, the Bf109E-3 becomes Bf109E-7 WrkN1952 & now with code "White 15" at 4.(Eins)/JGr.Drontheim
and will be lost due to technical trouble on October 8, 1941 off Bud, Norway.

Me109E-3 (CE+BM) WrkN952 Flown By Heinrich 'Heini' Dittmar Flight Testing Prop Nose Towing Device to Be Towed By Me110C-1 (CE+BU) WrkN959 Flown By Augsburg Test Pilot Hermann Wurster & Then Released To Land Alone Germany April 18, 1940
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Me109E-3 (CE+BM) WrkN952 Flown By Heinrich 'Heini' Dittmar Flight Testing Prop Nose Towing Device to Be Towed By Me110C-1 (CE+BU) WrkN959 Flown By Augsburg Test Pilot Hermann Wurster & Then Released To Land Alone Germany April 18, 1940
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Me109E-3-(CE+BM)-WrkN1952 Used For In-Flight Towing Tests For Better Bomber Escort For Operation Sea Lion & Tests Were Successful But E7 with Drop Tank Made Such a System Obsolete Germany
April 18, 1940
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