109E-4 of I/Jg 3 flown by Gruppenkommandeur, Gunther Lutzow. This skin represents the way the plane appeared in July 1940. There are 7 victory marks on the rudder; his score would be 18 by September, when he was promoted to Geschwader Kommodore.
Lutzow was a vocal critic of both Herman Goering and the SS, and as such, Lutzow was "promoted" to the position of "Inspector of Day Fighters, Eastern Front" in August 1942 and later the same position on the Italian Front.
Lutzow was a key participant in an effort to sack Goering in late 1944. The so called "Fighter Pilots' Mutiny" was unsuccessful and Goering threatened to have Lutzow shot for "high treason," instead he was exiled to a desk job in Italy.
Lutzow's friend, and fellow mutineer, Johannes Steinhoff, recruited Lutzow into Gen. Adolf Galland's JV 44. This Me 262 squadron hand picked it's pilots from those not currently posted in other squadrons, in flying roles. Soon, the JV 44 roster contained a number of great pilots and the squadron was given a number of unofficial nicknames, such as: "Squadron of Experts" and "Galland's Circus." Lutzow claimed 2 kills in the Me 262, bringing his total to 110. Unfortunately, on April 24, 1945, Lutzow failed to return from an interception of B-26's. His aircraft or body were never found.
