Bf-109E at PoF

[marine air]

It seems the Fighter Factory has a Bf-109E-7 restoration that has ground to a halt pending more drawings etc. pertaining to the tail. Maybe they can collaborate with the Friedkins and both aircraft will be flying sooner. (reverse engineer using the tail from the E-1)

[Firebird]

Thanks to all for the updated info. I was really hoping to hear that this was a new PoF bird but a Friedkin bird is the next best thing. A couple of years ago Ed Maloney was interviewed during the annual PoF airshow and I remember him saying that they woud like to have a flyable fighter from every major second WW participant as part of the collection. Of course, I guess they already have a 109G and the Hispano to boot. Anybody know if there is any sort of plan to restore the 109G in the future? Is it even in good enough condition internally to consider a restoration to airworthy?

The biggest obstacle is benz engine, they are not easy to find and when one does show up, its not cheap

Err.....read post #6 again by mrp

[JDK]

Thanks to all for the updated info. I was really hoping to hear that this was a new PoF bird but a Friedkin bird is the next best thing. A couple of years ago Ed Maloney was interviewed during the annual PoF airshow and I remember him saying that they woud like to have a flyable fighter from every major second WW participant as part of the collection. Of course, I guess they already have a 109G and the Hispano to boot. Anybody know if there is any sort of plan to restore the 109G in the future? Is it even in good enough condition internally to consider a restoration to airworthy?

The biggest obstacle is benz engine, they are not easy to find and when one does show up, its not cheap

Err.....read post #6 again by mrp

Ethan's referring to the obstacle of an engine-need for the PoF 109G, as per CV's question, not the engine the Friedkins have for their 109E. If I read it all correctly!

[DoraNineFan]

Photos of the recovery in Russia:

[octane130]

Here's a few photos of the Friedkin's Bf 109E that is currently in residence at the Planes of Fame (photos dated 5 July, 2010). This is a real time capsule with a lot of underlying desert sand brown paint showing through revealing its previous North Africa service. Fascinating! There is a large cannon-shell hole in the right wing root (projectile entered from above). There are also a few small-caliber projectile holes (probably .30 cal) that entered the wings from above, some at shallow angles. There is a small-caliber hole that entered the right horizontal stabilizer from directly below. So it might be that this fellow was also taking small-arms fire from the ground. The cannon ports on the wings have traces of doped-fabric covering that was trimmed using pinking shears. All of this is shown on the following photos.
Enjoy them!
- octane130 -

[Shay]

Amazing pictures of a combat veteran aircraft.

Any thoughts as to which unit 3523 flew with in North Afrika? Jagdgeschwader 5 was never in that theater of operations.

Do any of the discovered markings leave any clues?

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[DaveM2]

Shay, sand markings on a 109 doesn't mean that it served in Nth Africa. Many of the Es and Fs that went to Northern Russia were 'diverted' before heading there. Similar sand colours were discovered on the Carganico 109F now displayed in Canada.

Dave

[Shay]

Shay, sand markings on a 109 doesn't mean that it served in Nth Africa. Many of the Es and Fs that went to Northern Russia were 'diverted' before heading there. Similar sand colours were discovered on the Carganico 109F now displayed in Canada.

Dave

Perhaps. But here are the 2 things, for me, that don't jive with that theory:

1. This aircraft was manufactured in 1939, possibly a year or more before the beginning of the North African campaign. So it should have been delivered in standard European RLM colors and patterns, right? So there should be a layer under the pink. Possibly painted for North Africa when it was upgraded to E-7, maybe?, ...and then diverted?

2. JG5 stood up in Jan of '42, so it stands to reason that 3523 has served with other units prior to that date. Perhaps JG77?

I find it all very interesting and look forward to seeing what is found when the peel back the layers of the onion.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[Shay]

This video claims that 3523 is a veteran of both the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pzOUKeN4ys

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis