KITS 03/2022

Bf 109G-14, W. Nr. 464534, EJG 2, Pilsen,

Czechoslovakia, May 1945

This Bf 109G-14 is one of the planes found at Pilsen

Airfield after WWII. The pilot of the plane is not really

known. Underneath the last marking the marking of

the last user could clearly be seen. The symbol on

the aircraft’s nose belonged to KG 55. This squadron,

originally a bombing squadron, flew until September

1944 with two-engine He 111 planes. In 1944, rather

than the bombing squadrons, the situation at the

battlefields required fighter plane squadrons. So,

three KG 55 Gruppes were remarked to KG(J) 55 and

instead of Heinkels they were supposed to get jet-powered Me 262s. These aircraft never reached the

squadron, though; the pilots had to be content with

Bf 109Gs and Fw 190As. Pilsen was just a location of

the IV. Gruppe; this squadron was later transferred

under Erg. KGr (J). In January there was a change in

marking to I./EKG(J) and in March 1945, remarking to

5. /EJG 2. Its 19. Staffel (originally 4./EKG(J)) remained

in Pilsen till the end of WWII.

The aircraft bears a camouflage scheme of Erla factory from Leipzig. This scheme was mostly used with

previous variants of Bf 109G, the scheme is characterized by sinuous transition between RLM 74 and RLM

75 colours used on the wings. There is a chance that

the rudder, originally painted yellow, was repainted

with one of the camouflage colours. The KG 55 symbol (mythical griffin bird on the escutcheon) is placed

onto this aircraft without a coloured base.

Bf 109G-14, W. Nr. 464380, flown by Magg. M. Bellagambi, CO of 5a Squadriglia,

2o Gruppo Caccia, Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana,

Osoppo, Italy, March 1945

After the declaration of Italian Social Republic on

September 18th, 1943, a puppet state on the territory of Italy, occupied by German military under the

command of Benito Mussolini, Germany allowed this

Republic to establish its own military force of four

divisions. Its air force component called Aeronautica

Nazionale Repubblicana consisted of two fighter plane groups (Gruppo Caccia), torpedo groups (Gruppo

Aerosiluranti Buscaglia) and several transportation

squadrons. In 1945, both fighter plane squadrons

OVERTREES

flew Messerschmitts Bf 109G-6/G-10/G-14. The commander of 5a Squadriglia, called Diavoli Rossi, was

Maggiore Mario Bellagambi, a fighter ace with 14

shot downs. After WWII, in 1949, he was, once again,

admitted to Italian air force where he, prior to his

retirement, became a Generale di brigata aerea. He

died in Florence on June 25th, 2001.

Bellagambi’s 109 is camouflaged with RLM 74/75/76

colours, the sides of the fuselage are very likely

darkened with Italian Verde Oliva Scuro 2 colour. The

same colour is applied to the stain underneath the

red devil, the emblem of 5a squadriglia. The rudder,

supplied by one of the subcontractors, bears a camouflage painted in RLM 81 and 82. It is probable that

the bottom engine part was yellow or repainted by

RLM 76. The yellow lining of fuselage marking of the

ANR aircraft is, compared to other aircraft, reversed

or bears yellow triangles around the flag.

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#82118X Bf 109G-14 1/48

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Bf 109G-14 1/48

46

INFO Eduard

March 2022