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Bf 109G-2, Maj. Johannes Trautloft, CO of JG 54, the Soviet Union, August 1942
Bf 109G-2/R6, WNr. 13531, Hptm. Hermann Graf, CO of 9./JG 52,
Pitomnik, the Soviet Union, September 1942
Hannes Trautloft started his combat career in
the Spanish Civil War. He flew the Bf 109s and
participated in the development of tactics for this
fighter. He fought in the Polish campaign as well
as in France and managed to achieve at least one
victory in every campaign. On August 25, 1940,
he assumed command of JG 54. He led this
fighter unit through Operation Barbarossa, the
attack on the Soviet Union, and in subsequent
combat til July 5, 1943. Trautloft was credited with
58 victories, and he was awarded the Knight’s
Cross on July 27, 1941. His personal aircraft
sported a non-standard camouflage scheme. It is
not clear which colors were used by JG 54 during
its deployment to the Soviet Union. One theory
supported the notion that the scheme consisted
of RLM 70, 02 and 76. The “middle green” color was
mixed from RLM70 and RLM02 shades. Note the
remnants of RLM 76 color around the swastika.
This aircraft was equipped with pressurized
canopy, typical for G-1 or G-3 versions. Some of
the stencils, including the “Do Not Walk” lines,
were covered by tape prior to overspray and
so they stayed visible.
Hermann Anton Graf was born on October 24,
1912. He trained as a locksmith and was a keen
footballer in his youth. Later he took up gliding and
was drafted into the army in 1939. He served with
JG 51 from July 1939 and was a fighter instructor in
the first half of 1940. In July 1940 he was assigned
to 9./JG 52 and took part in the fighting over Greece
and Crete in April 1941. He achieved his first aerial
victory on August 4, 1941, near Kyiv and things
began to change. In January 1942, Graf received
Ritterkreuz for his 45th victory and in March he
became CO of 9./JG 52, the so-called “Karaya
Staffel”. He achieved his 100th victory on May 14,
1942, shot down his 150th enemy on September 4,
and on September 26 became the first German
fighter to surpass the 200 victory mark. For these
accomplishments he received the Brilliants to
the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.
He later commanded units of the Erg. Gr. Ost,
JG 50, JG 1, JG 11 and JG 52. He was handed over to
the Soviets by American forces after the surrender
and returned from captivity in December 1949.
The aircraft WNr. 13531, manufactured at the
WNF factory, had darkened paint scheme on the
fuselage, probably with the use of RLM 70 color.
The left side of the rudder showed the symbols
of the kills. Decal sheet provides two options.
The rudder with 172 kills, which bears a dull
camouflage or rudder with light spots in the RLM
76 colour and 202 kill marks.
KITS 03/2024
INFO Eduard48
March 2024