KITS 06/2021

WNr. 150816, JG 300, Bad Langensalza, Germany, April 1945

Which Luftwaffe unit did this aircraft belong to remains uncertain. Some researchers assign it to JG 2, others to JG 51 and yet others, to JG 300

because the photographs clearly show the Reich Defense markings consisting of three bands. None of the JG 2 Gruppen operated Messerschmitt Bf 109G in 1945 and the aircraft from II./JG 51 we marked differently. The Bad Langensalza airport is rather far away for the JG 51 area

of operation in 1945. Owing to the fact that this airport was located in the JG 300 operational area this aircraft most likely belonged to III./JG

300. The horizontal stripe after the fuselage cross is raising another question because II./JG 300 operated FW 190s. One of the possible explanations is the acceptance of this aircraft by another unit whose mechanics painted the horizontal stripe on the fuselage.

WNr. 491407, Capt. Cesare Marchesi, 3a squadriglia, Io Gruppo Caccia, Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana,

Lonate Pozzolo, Italy, March 1945

After declaration of the Italian Social Republic on September 18th, 1943, a puppet state on the German armed forces occupied territory, and

under the leadership of Benito Mussolini, Germany allowed this state to form the army in the strength of four divisions. Its aviation component, named Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana, consisted of two fighter groups (Gruppo Caccia), a group of torpedo bombers (Gruppo

Aerosiluranti Buscaglia) and several transport flights. 1o Gruppo Caccia (Asso di Bastoni) initially flew Macchi C.205 but from November 1944

till February 1945 went through the transition training on Messerschmitt 109 in Holzkirchen, Germany. In February the unit received Messerschmitts 109 of the versions G-10 (manufactured by Erla factory in Leipzig), G-14 and G-14/AS and several K-4s. The original German markings

were oversprayed in Italian colors and the aircraft received the Italian markings. The German iron crosses were left on the wing underside

surfaces. There was a 1o Gruppo insignia painted on the fuselage nose’s port side.

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INFO Eduard - June 2021