Bf 109E-3 Flown by Werner Mölders of Stab. III/Jg 53. This aircraft was photographed on May 25th 1940 after Mölders scored his 18th victory of WWII (he had an additional 14 scored in Spain as part of the Condor Legion). Two days later he would down two French Hawk 75's near Amiens and be awarded the Knight's Cross. On June 5, this aircraft was lost when Mölders was shot down by Sous Lieutenant René Pommier Layragues flying a Dewoitine D.520. Mölders was captured and spent two weeks as a prisoner, being released after France surrendered. Mölders was then promoted to Major and appointed Kommodore of Jg 51. While leading Jg 51 over Russia in July 1941, Mölders became the first pilot in history to down 100 aircraft. He was the removed from flight status by Hermann Goering for propaganda purposes and appointed to the post of Inspector General of Fighters, a position he would hold until his untimely death on November 22, 1941. Mölders was a passenger in a He 111 which crashed in bad weather while in transit between Crimea and Germany so that he could attend the funeral of Ernst Udet. Jg 51 would be named "Mölders" in his honor.
Mölders' Jg 53 Emil was painted in a non-standard camouflage pattern assumed to be using the usual colors of RLM 70 and 71 greens and RLM 02 over RLM 65 light blue. While the colors are assumptions, reference photos clearly show 4 distinct shades. The darkest color, RLM 70 was painted on the upper nose and spine, with 71 on the fuselage sides and wings. A heavy coat of 02 was painted over the 71 with varying density, especially on the wings. Most data and warning stencils were over-painted during this process. Insignia are the large, narrow type. Jg 53's "Ace of Spades" emblem was painted on the cowling and command chevrons and a vertical Gruppe bar are applied to the fuselage. 18 victory bars are painted on the fixed portion of the vertical stabilizer.
