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Strana 45

Bf 109G-5/R3, 1./JG 50, Wiesbaden-Erbenheim, Germany, July-October 1943
Bf 109G-5/U2/R3, W.Nr. 26099, Lt. Walter Bohatsch, 5./JG 3, Amsterdam-Schiphol,
The Netherlands, November 1943
The ObdL’s Jagdgruppe Süd was formed on July
21, 1943, under the command of ace Hermann
Graf, and was primarily intended to intercept
fast British twin-engine de Havilland Mosquito
bombers. The unit consisted of experienced
pilots selected from other units. On August
15, 1943, the unit was renamed JG 50. Together
with JG 25, their pilots did not achieve many
successes in combat against the Mosquitos;
however, when deployed against American
formations of heavy bombers during the
daytime offensive over Europe in the summer
of 1943, both units were deemed successful. The
Bf 109G-5 White 1 bore Erla factory paint scheme,
and the surfaces of the aircraft in JG 50 were
very carefully polished. Contrary to custom, the
aircraft of JG 50 did not bear usual markings,
only numbers on their rudder. JG 50 was short-
lived and was disbanded at the end of October
1943 and incorporated into I./JG 301. Hermann
Graf was then appointed commander of JG 11
in November 1943.
Walter Bohatsch was born on January 14,
1921. From June 1942 to February 15, 1943, he
completed pilot training, and in April 1943 he
was assigned as a fighter pilot to II./JG 3 on the
Eastern Front. There, on April 17, 1943, he scored
his first aerial victory. His victim was a LaGG-3.
In total, he was credited with thirteen Soviet
aircraft shot down during his service with JG 3.
In August 1943, II./JG 3 was transferred to the
Western Front. The Bf 109G-5 Black 6 bore the
Erla factory camouflage without both the yellow
lower engine cowling and the yellow rudder.
The pilots of II./JG 3 tried to attract as little
attention as possible from the American fighters
escorting the B-17s. On February 20, 1944, Walter
Bohatsch was injured in a crash involving
a Bf 109G-6, and in May 1944, he was transferred
to 1./JG 7, where he flew the Me 262. There,
he was credited with his fourteenth aerial
victory on April 10, 1945, and his fifteenth on
April 14, 1945. His target was a B-17 over Dresden.
He scored his final B-17 kill on April 19, southwest
of Prague, and flew his last combat mission in
a Me 262 on May 8, 1945. He survived the war
and died on October 4, 2006.
STAVEBNICE 10/2026
INFO Eduard
45
November 2026

Bf 109G-5/R3, 1./JG 50, Wiesbaden-Erbenheim, Germany, July-October 1943

STAVEBNICE 10/2026

The ObdL’s Jagdgruppe Süd was formed on July 21, 1943, under the command of ace Hermann Graf, and was primarily intended to intercept fast British twin-engine de Havilland Mosquito bombers. The unit consisted of experienced pilots selected from other units. On August 15, 1943, the unit was renamed JG 50. Together with JG 25, their pilots did not achieve many

successes in combat against the Mosquitos; however, when deployed against American formations of heavy bombers during the daytime offensive over Europe in the summer of 1943, both units were deemed successful. The Bf 109G-5 White 1 bore Erla factory paint scheme, and the surfaces of the aircraft in JG 50 were very carefully polished. Contrary to custom, the

aircraft of JG 50 did not bear usual markings, only numbers on their rudder. JG 50 was shortlived and was disbanded at the end of October 1943 and incorporated into I./JG 301. Hermann Graf was then appointed commander of JG 11 in November 1943.

Bf 109G-5/U2/R3, W.Nr. 26099, Lt. Walter Bohatsch, 5./JG 3, Amsterdam-Schiphol, The Netherlands, November 1943

Walter Bohatsch was born on January 14, 1921. From June 1942 to February 15, 1943, he completed pilot training, and in April 1943 he was assigned as a fighter pilot to II./JG 3 on the Eastern Front. There, on April 17, 1943, he scored his first aerial victory. His victim was a LaGG-3. In total, he was credited with thirteen Soviet aircraft shot down during his service with JG 3. In August 1943, II./JG 3 was transferred to the

Western Front. The Bf 109G-5 Black 6 bore the Erla factory camouflage without both the yellow lower engine cowling and the yellow rudder. The pilots of II./JG 3 tried to attract as little attention as possible from the American fighters escorting the B-17s. On February 20, 1944, Walter Bohatsch was injured in a crash involving a Bf 109G-6, and in May 1944, he was transferred to 1./JG 7, where he flew the Me 262. There,

he was credited with his fourteenth aerial victory on April 10, 1945, and his fifteenth on April 14, 1945. His target was a B-17 over Dresden. He scored his final B-17 kill on April 19, southwest of Prague, and flew his last combat mission in a Me 262 on May 8, 1945. He survived the war and died on October 4, 2006.

November 2026

INFO Eduard

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