Bf 109E Desert Jabo

[Devil 505]

Bf 109E belonging to 7./Zg 1 in the late mid to late 1942. 7./Zg1 deployed to Egypt from Russia in August 1942 after the Afrika Korps' failed attempt to capture El Alamein in July. The Luftwaffe bolstered the air assets available to General Rommel on his next assault by diverting units from the Eastern Front. The three squadrons of III/Zg 1 operated Bf 109E-7's and hand-me-down E-4b's in the ground attack mission. All of their planes were repainted upon arrival in Africa in desert colors with white theater ID markings.

This specific aircraft was photographed after crash landing near Fuka, Egypt after sustaining damage on a strafing run. An unusual feature is the right wing not being painted in RLM 79 desert sand but instead being in the 1940-41 scheme of RLM 02 gray and RLM 71 green. The underside blues were also different indicating that this plane one had it's wing replaced but not repainted. The plane's individual tactical letter, "White D" was outlined in black on the left side because it would otherwise overlap and blend in with the white tail band.

[Nefarious]

Amazing work! Good job! <S>

[whiteman]

Thats an interesting mix match!

[lyric1]

 

[Greebo]

Great job on an interesting scheme! I do like parts bin specials.

[oboe]

Whatta beaut. Great skinning subject, too.  Superb underside grime.

[Vraciu]

That is awesome, bruh.

[Devil 505]

Thanks guys.

Great job on an interesting scheme! I do like parts bin specials.

I'll be doing a regular one from a sister squadron for OCD people who prefer more uniformity.

[Volron]

Thanks guys.

I'll be doing a regular one from a sister squadron for OCD people who prefer more uniformity.

Nah, do more aircraft like this.  Make them suffer! 

[Vraciu]

Nah, do more aircraft like this.  Make them suffer! 

🤣🤣🤣

[JOACH1M]

Very nice! 

[800nate800]

Beautiful sir 

[RichardDarkwood]

very nice

[Devil 505]

Here is the second Zg 1 Emil in a desert scheme. This aircraft belong to 8./Zg 1 and was photographed after being abandoned at El Daba, Egypt in late 1942. Being from 8 Staffel, the fuselage code letters are all black (red is possible for this squadron, but reference photos of this plane seem to be black). What is unique here is the artwork on the tail band of bomb destroying North Africa. Theater and IFF markings are similar to the previous scheme with slight variations, such as the RLM 04 yellow being higher on the nose.

[whiteman]

That's a great looking 109, love the dessert schemes.