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Bf 109E-3, WNr. 5102, Lt. Herbert Kunze, Stab I./JG 77, Döberitz, Germany, June 1940
This aircraft was manufactured by WNF in early
autumn 1939 and assigned to I./JG 77 led by
Hptm. Johannes Janke. This unit was frequently
relocated prior to World War II outbreak so it was
no wonder the members of I./JG 77 ironically
dubbed themselves “Wanderzirkus Janke”
(Janke’s Wandering Circus) and expressed their
feelings about the constant relocation with
a scuffed boot as the unit's emblem. Janke's
adjutant Lt. Kunze was born in Berlin in 1918.
He achieved two victories in September 1940
and lived to see his promotion to the rank of
Oberleutnant. He was killed in combat with
Spitfires of No. 603 Squadron on September
14, 1940 while at the controls of Bf 109E-4 WNr.
3759. He crashed near Lympne and was buried
two days later in Hawkinge Cemetery. Kunze
originally used a Bf 109E-1 with the name “Sepp”
under the cockpit, but for this Bf 109E-3 he chose
to paint a small rabbit with a spear between its
ears and the inscription “Kieki”.
BUILT
INFO Eduard
113
November 2024