Kursk veteran Bf 109G-2

[Devil 505]

Bf 109G-2 of 9./Jg 3 in the summer of 1943. The unit was based in the Kharkiv area during the battle of Kursk. Pilot unknown.

This scheme is a bit of conjecture on my part. There are two reference photos taken of the right side, but both are such low resolution that the camouflage pattern can only be described as "dark with a splotchy nose". The large splotches seem to best resemble those seen on Erla built 109G-s, so that's what I went with. This aircraft also features the Jg 3 "Udet" crest on the cowl and a white tipped spinner. The common yellow IFF markings for eastern front deployed aircraft is seen on the lower cowl, lower wing tips, and around the tail. A black vertical bar was used by all three squadrons in III/Jg 3 beginning in 1943. Before, the color matched the squadron's side numbers.








Reference photos:

[lyric1]

 

[Greebo]

Great skin Devil. Are the jagged edges on the top wing camouflage another feature of Erla-built 109s?

[Vraciu]

Very cool.

If the color of the bar matched the side numbers how would you see it within the theater band?

[Devil 505]

Are the jagged edges on the top wing camouflage another feature of Erla-built 109s?

Yes, the saw-tooth pattern was unique to the Erla plant. Another common feature are random "slab" mottles on the fuselage. Which is what makes me think it was probably an Erla built 109.

For example:

[Devil 505]

If the color of the bar matched the side numbers how would you see it within the theater band?

The Gruppe bar would have either been painted outside the theater band, which was most common, or been represented by a simple black outline over the band.

Or, in this case, the yellow bad partially overlaps the band.

[JimmyD3]

Awesome Devil.

[Vraciu]

Ah, cool.  Got it.