HISTORY

Source: Hanns-Wolrad Dölling via Erik Mombeeck coll.

In this picture, we can appreciate the details of the ‘Bärchen’ inscription, and note the

lack of the pilot’s head armour, which was not installed in the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E

during this period.

Source: Erik Mombeeck coll.

Another photo of 6•111 with ground crew reveals the dark finish of the supercharger air

intake, which was usually left in RLM 71 as supplied from the factory. Also note the dirt

collected in the wing root area, and chipped black paint on the foothold.

Source: Hanns-Wolrad Dölling via Erik Mombeeck coll.

A front view of Bf 109 E-3 6•111 reveals the modified finish of the propeller spinner,

whose main part is now painted white, with a red ring added near the tip. The propeller

backplate remained in RLM 63, whilst the blades had a standard RLM 70 finish. The

decals with the triangular VDM logos, which may be spotted on the earlier picture of

6•111, had apparently worn out.

on March 6. On March 16, two Messerschmitts from 3. J/88

had collided in the air and crashed, but both pilots bailed out.

On March 27, Jagdgruppe 88 flew their last mission during the

Spanish Civil War, escorting Heinkel He 111 bombers of K/88.

In April and May 1939, the Legion Condor took part in a number

of victory parades. The aircraft were then flown to Leon, where

the official disbandment ceremony took place on May 22, 1939.

A number of Messerschmitts were handed over to the newly

born Spanish Air Force. The known German document mentions

the transfer of 10 Bf 109 Bs and 21 Bf 109 E-3s, with the wear

of the latter being assessed as 60-75%.19 However, both the

documentary and photo evidence proves that the Spaniards

received ‘Emils’ in both E-1 and E-3 variants, including the

following machines: 6•87, 6•88, 6•92, 6•94, 6•99, 6•102,

6•104, 6•106, 6•108, 6•109, 6•110, 6•111, 6•112, 6•120,

6•121, 6•123, 6•126, 6•127, 6•128, 6•130 and 6•131.20 Their

fate is, however, beyond the scope of this article.

Source: Hanns-Wolrad Dölling via Erik Mombeeck coll.

A Bf 109 E-3 pictured during maintenance at Barcience-Torrijos airfield. Under close scrutiny, we may notice a part of ‘Mickey Mouse’ leg on the fuselage, indicating the aircraft’s

affiliation to 3. J/88. Although the fuselage access panel is attached upside down, it is still easy to read the ‘6•12’ number, which narrows the possible identities for this ‘Emil’.

Given that the only Bf 109 E-3s with 6•12x codes used by the 3. Staffel, were 6•128 and 6•129, and the latter was belly-landed by Lt. Josef Fözö during the unit’s deployment

at Barcience, the visible damages suggest that this aircraft is the 6•129.

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INFO Eduard - July 2019