Page 44
Bf 109G-14/AS, WNr. 785185, Lt. Heinz Schüler, 16./JG 5, Stavanger-Forus,
Norway, March 1945
Bf 109G-14/AS, WNr. 783906, 3./JG 4, Ensfeld,
Austria, April 1945
In November 1944 in Stavanger 16. Staffel
Jagdgeschwader 5 was established in order to
boost the IV. Gruppe inventory to four Staffels.
The IV./JG 5 equipment was unified to Bf 109G-14
even though couple of Fw 190 continued flying
with the unit till the end of 1944. Bf 109G-14/AS
marked blue 17 was flown by Lt. Heinz Schüler
who painted Berlin’s coat of arms under the
windshield. It is apparent in the photographs that
at that time the aircraft did not carry the Defense
of the Reich markings, however when Lt. Schüler
landed it on March 27, 1945, at Stavanger-
Sola airport it sported black and yellow bands
(JG 5 aircraft marking) behind the fuselage
national insignia. The upper sides were
camouflaged in RLM 74/75 colors in standard
camouflage pattern from the Messerschmitt
factory in Regensburg.
Elements of I./JG 4 were gradually established
in Romania during 1942 and 1943, where they
participated in the defense of local oil fields
and petrochemical plants. From late 1943 until
the summer of 1944, the unit was deployed in
Italy before fighting in the defense of the Reich.
Its final mission was to oppose Soviet forces along
the Oder river, which included escorting Heinkels
He 111 from I./KG 200 equipped with Hs 293 guided
missiles for attacks on pontoon bridges. In mid-
March 1945, I./JG 4 was disbanded, and its pilots
were transferred to II.(Sturm)/JG 4, III./JG 4,
or began training on the Me 262s. The Yellow 8
aircraft, with its upper surfaces painted in RLM
74/75 colors, may have been reassigned to
III./JG 4 after I./JG 4 was disbanded. While most
of its aircraft remained in northern Germany
shortly before the surrender, some pilots were
permitted to fly home independently. This could
explain why the original I./JG 4 aircraft was found
in Austria at the war’s end.
KITS 11/2024
INFO Eduard44
November 2024