Strana 31
#2112
BOXART STORY
Illustration: Antonis Karydis
Afrika
Text: Jan Bobek
The boxart for the June release Afrika
features two aircraft in a mid-air encounter that,
historically, could not have happened. Typically,
when preparing boxart, we adhere closely to
specific historical events. However, for Limited
Edition kits, we sometimes work with the artist to
create illustrations that are more symbolic than
strictly historical.
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is one of the legendary
aircraft of the Second World War. It saw combat
and underwent continuous modifications from
January 1937 through 1944. It is unclear whether
its designers originally intended it to operate in
the harsh conditions of North Africa, but when the
need arose, they adapted it to the environment
remarkably well. In short, the aircraft was
equipped with a basic turbocharger intake filter
and emergency survival gear.
In the spring of 1941, while preparing for the
attack on the Soviet Union, the Luftwaffe was also
involved in operations against Yugoslavia and
Greece, including the battle for Crete, and carried
out raids on Malta. At the same time, British forces
succeeded in capturing Tobruk after fighting
against the Italians. During the spring months,
Rommel's Afrikakorps was deployed to North
Africa, and in April 1941 began the encirclement of
Tobruk, which would not be broken until the end of
the year during Operation Crusader.
The first Luftwaffe unit to arrive in Africa
equipped with Bf 109 E-7 and E-7/N aircraft was
I./JG 27, under the command of Major Eduard
Neumann. By the end of April, the unit had
successfully entered combat. Their primary
opponents were twin-engine bombers and Hawker
Hurricanes. These fighters, and later the Spitfires
as well, were at a disadvantage compared to the
various Bf 109 variants due to the large dust filter
mounted beneath their engine cowlings.
In mid-1941, the second unit equipped with
Bf 109s to arrive in Africa, somewhat unexpectedly,
was 7./JG 26 "Schlageter," commanded by Oblt.
Joachim Müncheberg. This unit was better known
for its operations along the French coast. It arrived
in Africa following an extended deployment
against Malta and remained in combat on the
continent until September.
The other two components of JG 27 arrived in
Africa later in the year, following their involvement
in Operation Barbarossa. II./JG 27 joined the
fighting in September, and III./JG 27 followed in
December. Both units were already equipped
with the Bf 109 F-4/trop variant. I./JG 27 began
converting to this version in November.
By the end of the year, one of the most
successful fighter pilots in Africa was Lt. Hans-
Joachim Marseille of 3./JG 27, with 36 confirmed
victories. The same number of kills was credited
to his commander, Oblt. Gerhard Homuth, as well
as to the commander of 1./JG 27, Hptm. Wolfgang
Redlich.
At the beginning of 1942, Axis forces succeeded
in pushing the Allies back to Gazala, and in June,
Tobruk once again fell into Axis hands. Around this
time, III./JG 53 "Pik As" arrived on the African front,
equipped with Bf 109 F-4/trop aircraft.
In July 1942, the Allies managed to halt the Axis
advance into Egypt at the First Battle of El Alamein.
Then, in late October and early November, during
the Second Battle of El Alamein, the British Eighth
Army forced the Axis forces to retreat westward.
During this critical period, Luftwaffe units were
reinforced with II./JG 51, II./JG 53 "Pik As," and
I. and III./JG 77 "Herz As," all equipped with the
Bf 109 G-2/trop variant. In November 1942, I./JG 27
was withdrawn from Africa.
After the Allied landings in North Africa, Axis
forces were forced to fight on two fronts. In early
1943, II./JG 77 was transferred to Africa. Following
the Axis victory at the Battle of Kasserine Pass in
February 1943, the Allies regrouped and launched
a final offensive against Axis forces in Tunisia.
At this point, the Axis supply situation on the
African mainland had become critical. Convoys
and transport aircraft were repeatedly targeted by
devastating Allied attacks. Sicily was also coming
under increasing Allied air raids.
Luftwaffe units began to evacuate gradually
to Sicily, in some cases defying orders from
the German high command not to retreat from
Tunisia. Several Jagdgeschwader commanders
suspected that, with surrender imminent, many
valuable ground personnel would have no chance
of evacuation. As a result, they chose to risk court
martial by evacuating their men—some airmen
and mechanics were flown to Sicily by their
comrades, crammed into the fuselages of Bf 109s.
The surrender of Axis forces in Tunisia on May
13, 1943, marked the end of this chapter of the war.
However, during its deployment in these extreme
conditions, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 proved to be
a highly adaptable fighter, inflicting heavy losses
on the enemy throughout the fast-moving North
African campaign.
INFO Eduard
31
June 2025