Bf 109F-4/Trop flown by Albert Espenlaub of 1./Jg 27 on December 13, 1941. On that day, the 14 victory pilot was forced to ditch his 109 behind British lines in western Egypt after sustaining hits to his radiator. He was taken prisoner and the plane photographed by the English troops. Espeblaub attempted to escape his prison camp in Palestine on the night of February 24-25, 1942. Sadly, he was spotted by a guard and shot, killing him instantly.
Espenlaub's aircraft featured the factory desert scheme of RLM 79 sand yellow over 78 bright blue. The spinner, wing tips and tail band were colored white as theater markings and the lower cowl and rudder painted yellow for additional IFF. The I/Jg 27 "Africa" emblem was painted on the cowl.
