Markings for Bf 109K-4 1/48

WNr. 332529, Stab JG 52, Deutsch Brod, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, May 1945

At the end of the war, at least three Bf 109s with a tulip pattern on the nose were found at the Deutsch Brod base (Havlíčkův Brod today). The surviving engine cowling bears a grey paint and red tulip marking. These were apparently the machines of the Stab JG 52, commanded by Kommodore Hermann Graf, who had the same markings in 1943 with JG 50. When Oberst Graf became CO of JG 52 in October 1944, he introduced the same markings to his Stab planes, including the green fuselage numbers. Graf brought two wingmen to his Stab, Lt. Anton Resch and Oblt. Heinrich Füllgrabe (67 victories; KC holder), who was killed in January 1945 on the “green 2”. By the end of the war, Resch had scored most of the victories of Stab JG 52, so it is possible that he also flew 332529. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross in early April 1945 and achieved a total of 91 victories during 210 combat sorties. The fuselage number was probably green, but the decal also offers a black variant. Fuselage was painted in RLM 74 and RLM 75 with yellow-grey version of RLM 76. Vertical tail was painted in darker version of RLM 74 and 75, the RLM 74 had a tinge of green. Wing was painted with lighter shade of colors RLM 74, 75 and 76.

WNr. 330204, Hptm. Franz Mentzel, 9./JG 77, Neuruppin, Germany, November 1944

In October 1944, III./JG 77 became the first Luftwaffe fighter unit to be completely re-equipped with the Bf 109K-4. They received 68 of these aircraft. Its commander was the experienced JG 77 veteran Major Armin Köhler (40 victories, KC). Its 9. Staffel was newly established in November 1944 and the commander was appointed Hptm. Franz Mentzel (also referred to as Menzel). At the beginning of the war, he flew the Bf 110 in I./ZG 2 and was captured during the French campaign. Later he served also in JG 5 and in several flight schools. His last (eighth?) aerial victory was an Il-2 shot down in combat over Silesia on February 3, 1945. During Operation Bodenplatte, III./JG 77 lost 11 aircraft and pilots. One of the lost Bf 109s was Mentzel’s 330204, its pilot Lt. Herbert Abendroth was captured. At the end of the war this unit fought in Upper Silesia, based at Beneschau in the Hlučín region (today Dolní Benešov, Czech Republic). Fuselage was painted in RLM 74 and RLM 75 with yellow-grey version of RLM 76. Vertical tail was painted in darker version of RLM 74 and 75, the RLM 74 had a tinge of green. Wing was painted with lighter shade of colors RLM 74, 75 and 76.

WNr. 330255, Stab III./JG 27, Wunstorf, Germany, May 1945

The commander of III./JG 27 from October 1944 until the end of the war was Austrian Hptm. Dr. Peter Werfft (26 victories). During the same month his unit received Bf 109K-4s. From February 1945 his deputy was CO of 12./JG 27, Oblt. Emil Clade (27 victories). While serving in Africa with II./JG 27, Clade and his Schwarm attacked a lone low-flying Bristol Bombay transport from No. 216 Sqn RAF on August 7, 1942 in the Allied rear. He managed to shoot it down and on the ground the machine was destroyed by Uffz. Schneider, who was awarded the victory. The commander of the British Eighth Army, Lt. Gen. W. H. E. Gott, was killed on board. In his place was appointed Lt. Gen. Montgomery, for whom Gott’s death became a major milestone in his career. Clade led 12./JG 27 from November 1944 during the fighting in western Germany until its disbandment in early April 1945. In the last month of the war, he commanded I./JG 27. After the war, he worked as an airline pilot, took up sport flying, and published a memoir in 1996. Fuselage was painted in RLM 74 and RLM 75 with yellow-grey version of RLM 76. Vertical tail was painted in darker version of RLM 74 and 75, the RLM 74 had a tinge of green. Wing was painted with lighter shade of colors RLM 74, 75 and 76.

WNr. 330209, 3a Squadriglia, Io Gruppo Caccia, Lonate Pozzolo, Italy, March 1945     

This aircraft, manufactured in February 1945, was one of six Bf 109K-4s received by the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana in Northern Italy. During February it was assigned to 3a Squadriglia “Arciere”, which was part of Io Gruppo Caccia “Asso di Bastoni” under the command of Maggiore Adriano Visconti (10 victories). Unit’s Bf 109K-4s took part in aerial combat on April 10, 1945. In the early morning hours, three Bf 109s from Io Gr. C. were sent against four P-47s from the 65th FS, 57th FG, which were conducting a weather reconnaissance in the Milan-Lago di Como area. In the aerial combat a Bf 109G-14/AS “1-7“, flown by M.llo Veronesi, and a Bf 109K-4 “3-14”, flown by S. Ten Gallori, were damaged. One P-47 was reported damaged by M.llo Forlani. The American pilots did not claim any victories. In late April, the Io Gr. C. moved to Malpensa. Fuselage was painted in RLM 74 and RLM 75 with yellow-grey version of RLM 76. Vertical tail was painted in darker version of RLM 74 and 75, the RLM 74 had a tinge of green. Wing was painted with lighter shade of colors RLM 74, 75 and 76.