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WNr. 330209, 3
a
Squadriglia, I
o
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 3
a
Squadriglia
“Arciere”, which was part of I
o
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 I
o
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.ll
o
Veronesi, and a Bf 109K-4 “3-14”, flown
by S. Ten Gallori, were damaged. One P-47 was
reported damaged by M.ll
o
Forlani. The American
pilots did not claim any victories. In late April, the
I
o
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.
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.
KITS 01/2024
INFO Eduard
53
January 2024