Markings for Bf 109G-4 1/48

Bf 109G-4, WNr. 19527, Fw. Viktor Petermann, 5./JG 52, Anapa, the Soviet Union, June 1943

Viktor Petermann was shot down with this aircraft by a Soviet fighter on June 6, 1943. The combat took place over the village of Petrowskaya in the Kuban region of the Soviet Union. The JG 52 badge was painted below the canopy, with a small devil symbolizing the 5. Staffel. Previously, the serial number 19257 was mistakenly attributed to this aircraft. Petermann, a native of Weipert (Vejprty), Czechoslovakia, began his combat career in 1942 as a wingman to JG 52 Kommodore Gordon Gollob. He achieved 64 aerial victories and was awarded the Knight’s Cross on February 29, 1944. On October 1, 1943, his Bf 109G was hit by friendly anti-aircraft fire. Petermann was wounded and had to belly land. The incident resulted in the amputation of his left forearm. Despite this handicap, he continued flying combat missions, shooting down four more enemy aircraft. He also undergo conversion training on the Me 262.

Bf 109G-4/R6, Obfw. Rainer Pöttgen, 3./JG 27, Fels am Wagram, Austria, February 1944

Rainer Pöttgen was the most famous wingman of the legendary fighter pilot Hans-Joachim Marseille. He served in Africa with I./JG 27 from December 1941 and fulfilled the role of a reliable wingman who covered his leader’s back, allowing him to concentrate on the target. Pöttgen gained his first victory on June 1, 1942, after 100 combat missions flown with Marseille. Because of his leader’s high number of victories, Pöttgen was nicknamed the Flying Counter (fliegendes Zählwerk). He also flew with Marseille during the fateful day in which the famous pilot died. Pöttgen served with I./JG 27 in 1943, first in France, where he achieved four victories during the spring and summer. At the end of July 1943, his unit moved to Austria and was integrated into the Defence of strengthen the Reich. The armament of the unit’s aircraft was complemented by MG 151/20 underwing cannons for heavier bursts in the combats with Allied four-engine bombers. Pöttgen survived the war during which he achieved seven victories. He was a valued member of the JG 27 veterans organization.

Bf 109G-4/Trop, WNr. 10795, Oblt Wolfgang Tonne, CO of 3./JG 53, Bizerta, Tunis, February 1943

Wolfgang Tonne was born on February 28, 1918, in Moosbach and joined the Luftwaffe in 1937. In May 1940 he took part in the Battle of France in the ranks of JG 53, then fought in the Battle of Britain and consecutively took part in in Operation Barbarossa with the same unit. At the end of 1941, JG 53 moved to Sicily to support Luftwaffe attacks on Malta. There, in January 1942, Wolfgang Tonne was given command of the 3. Staffel. In May 1942, 3./JG 53 was again sent to the Eastern Front, here Wolfgang Tonne achieved his 101st kill and was awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves. In October 1942, 3./JG 53 was sent to North Africa. Tonne’s Yellow 7 with the number 6 painted underneath after the previous user had his awards and kills painted on the left side of the rudder. In April 1943, Tonne’s unit was based at Protville airfield in Tunisia. He scored his 122nd kill on April 20, 1943. On return to the home airfield he performed a victory roll with his Bf 109G-6/R1 WNr. 16523. He apparently misjudged the altitude, lost control of his aircraft and the risky maneuver cost him life.

Bf 109G-4/R6, Hptm. Waldemar Wübke, CO of 7./JG 54, Lille-Vendeville, France, March 1943

Waldemar Wübke was one of the few Luftwaffe fighter pilots to survive combat duty over the entire course of the war. He was credited with a total of 15 victories over Allied aircraft. He started the war as a Leutnant with 9. Staffel, III./JG 54 during the Battle of Britain and ended it as a Hauptmann, flying Fw 109D-9s of the „Papagai Staffel“, which was flying defensive missions for Me 262 of Galland’s JV 44. The JG52 started the war on the western front but was assigned to Army Group North during Operation Barbarossa as part of the Luftflotte 1. In February 1943 III./JG 54 was transferred back to the west. There it was to replace one of the Gruppe JG 26. On February 1, 1943, it was sent from Heiligenbeil to Lille-Vendeville, where it was handed new Messerschmitts Bf 109G-4. By March 25, 1943, the III./JG 54 received orders to relocate to Oldenburg and to serve within the Defense of the Reich system. Bf 109G-4s came to the 7. Staffel JG 54 mostly from other units. Aircraft of III. Gruppe carried fuselage markings consisting of a wave bar in the Staffel color. The lower engine cowling was in yellow as was the rudder.