The Devil Went Down to Smolensk

[Devil 505]

Bf 109G-2 of 9./Jg 54 in the winter of 1942-43. Pilot unknown. In response to the Soviet offensive to capture Velikiye Luki, 9./Jg 54 deployed to Smolensk along with the rest of III/Jg 54 from their long time base at Siverskaya, just outside of Leningrad. Over the course of the battle 9./JG 54 was the highest scoring squadron from III/Jg 54 with 38 victories.

This aircraft was photographed at Smolensk airfield and features a whitewash that fully covers the upper fuselage and wings. The full compliment of unit markings also can be seen.

[Vraciu]

Exquisite.  I love it.

[lyric1]

 

[Nefarious]

Really amazing work, your dedication to AH special events as a contributor and a player are greatly appreciated. 

[oboe]

Great work, Devil.  Fantastic wing root grime.

[FTJR]

Great work, Devil.  Fantastic wing root grime.

This...

[Greebo]

Very nice skin Devil, great work.

[whiteman]

 Very cool! Question, what does the wavy line represent? I'm not familiar with all the German markings, thanks!

[Devil 505]

The wavy line is a tactical marking used to show that this plane belongs to Jg 54's III Group. Every plane in squadrons 7,8 and 9 has a wavy line in that squadron's color. When Jg 54 expanded to 4 groups, III Group changed it tactical marking to a vertical bar and the new IV Group began using the wavy line. Also, to round out how Jg 54 used these markings, I Group does not have a tactical marking at all and II Group uses a horizontal bar.

Each Jagdgeschwader (Jg) had their own system for the use of these tactical markings.