Wednesday 29 January 2020

Messerschmitt Bf 109 G



Haphazardly camouflaged Messerschmitt Bf 109 G; location and exact date of photograph currently unknown to me.

The aircraft seems to be an early G-6 subtype; the camouflage on the fuselage could indicate that it was built by Messerschmitt Regensburg. It is difficult to discern if the spinner is painted entirely in RLM 70 Schwarzgrün or if it features the common white segment over one third of its surface. The lower cowling is painted in yellow.

The photo might have been taken in 1943, but then again, it actually might reflect a later stage of the war. (German Aviation 1919-1945 collection, additional thoughts regarding the identity of this aircraft very kindly supplied by Lynn Ritger)

Monday 27 January 2020

Messerschmitt/BFW M 27



Scene of the crash of Messerschmitt (Bayerische Flugzeugwerke/BFW) M 27 b D-1979, Werknummer 539. The M 27, designed by Willy Messerschmitt, was a sports, touring, and training aircraft, produced in limited numbers in 1931/32. As can be clearly seen, the M 27 b was powered by an Argus As 8 A-3 inline engine (the M 27 a was powered by a Siemens Sh 12).

M 27 D-1979 was flown by Theodor "Theo" Croneiss on the occasion of the Deutschlandflug 1931.

The inscription on the rear of the photo places this event near Königsberg and states "1929" as the year in which the picture was taken. Given that the M 27 was actually produced after 1929, however, the true date of the event is possibly 1932. (German Aviation 1919-1945 collection)