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[poy]

[Moggy Cattermole]

Oooh, ooh, it's a 109! *beams proudly*

There, another picture explained!

Horace

[SAS~Storebror]

Yep, interesting picture of an interesting aircraft again.
First the header image for reference:


Now a larger variant (click for full size):


Same thing with comments (click for full size), explanation below:

What we see here is a Bf-109 G-10/R3.
Identification of this type is as follows:

• Overwing bulges for "thick" undercarriage
• DB-605 DM characteristic blisters in front/below of exhaust pipes
• Enlarged Fo 987 oil cooler for DB-605 DM
• Bulged cowling, significant for G-6/AS and G-10 types
• "Thick" undercarriage
• Long leg tail wheel
• Enlarged wooden rudder

Add to that we can see:

• Bigger VDM 9-12159 A propeller for DB-605 DM engine
• Wet mount point for additional 300l drop tank (R3 Rüstsatz)

The aircraft has been captured in may 1945 at Salzburg-Maxglan airport.
At this airport, parts of the former JV 44, a Me-262 jet squadron, have been reassigned to JG 7 which held operations with 3 squadrons of JG 300 "Wilde Sau". In particular the JG 7 aircraft were usually supposed to fly safety sorties for the jets during takeoff and landing, covering the airport for the whole sortie (that's why they got the R3 Rüstsatz even though in those days of the war enhanced range was rather useless).

The aircraft is likely from production block 130 000 - 130 500 or 490 000 - 491 500, which were some of the first Bf 109 G-10 to be produced and delivered beginning in october 1944.

And yes, as Phas3e already stated, the guy standing in front, inspecting the propeller hub cannon, is Sgt J. T. Sipkovsky.

Best regards - Mike

[Phas3e]

What we see here is a Bf-109 G-10/R3.
Identification of this type is as follows:

• Overwing bulges for "thick" undercarriage
• DB-605 DM characteristic blisters in front/below of exhaust pipes
• Enlarged Fo 987 oil cooler for DB-605 DM
• Bulged cowling, significant for G-6/AS and G-10 types
• "Thick" undercarriage
• Long leg tail wheel
• Enlarged wooden rudder

Add to that we can see:

• Bigger VDM 9-12159 A propeller for DB-605 DM engine
• Wet mount point for additional 300l drop tank (R3 Rüstsatz)

None of those things amount to it being a G-10 though its possible it was had a DB605 fitted during an overhaul,

Simply because its a Regensburg built machine, they built their G-14AS (and very very few G-10s) along side their K-4s.
The DB605D under cowling, tails and tail wheels and possibly even props were all used on the late build G-14AS (from mid 784XXX -).


The wheels are a standard G-6 type.

[SAS~Storebror]

None of those things amount to it being a G-10 though its possible it was had a DB605 fitted during an overhaul,

Simply because its a Regensburg built machine, they built their G-14AS (and very very few G-10s) along side their K-4s.
The DB605D under cowling, tails and tail wheels and possibly even props were all used on the late build G-14AS (from mid 784XXX -).


The wheels are a standard G-6 type.

The wheels might have been a "field mod" replacement, the overwing bulges clearly show that this aircraft originally was equipped with "thick" undercarriage which the G-14 just didn't have since they were introduced with the G-10 to compensate the heavier dry weight.
The K-4 is out of question since it featured additional gear doors which aerodynamically provided a fully covered lower wing area.

Leaving a handful out-of-series modifications aside, this image with a pretty high probability shows the above mentioned Bf 109 G-10/R3.

Best regards - Mike

[HundertzehnGustav]

0.02
the additional gear doors were sometimes removed...

pinning down the type of 109 this is... good luck, gents.
that plane was a real mess after 1943

[SAS~Storebror]

Maybe we can agree at least that it looks like a G-10.
Of course theoretically, with some odd out-of branch replacement in production or some later parts being interchanged in field service it could as well have been a G-14/AS, G-6/AS or even a stripped down K-4 which eventually ended up in G-10 state, but leaving the oddities aside it has all signs of being a factory produced G-10 whereas all other possibilities would mean that it would have to be some modified airframe.
Having a G-6/AS, G-14/AS or K-4 leaving the factory in exactly the same state like a G-10 would be, can be ruled out by the simple fact that germans are pedantics: They wouldn't build the very same thing under two different names

Best regards - Mike

[Phas3e]

Regensburg G14AS (the above is regensburg built, you can tell from the camo style and underwing cross) were sent from the factory with K-4 exterior parts and thats where much confusion lies today.

Heres a couple of good examples that if we didnt have the serials would assume they were G-10s

[mojojojo]

after 1943, there were so many 109 variants and sub-variants, it could take years to find out what that 109 is.

[Helen-of-Sparta]

Oooh, ooh, it's a 109! *beams proudly*

There, another picture explained!

Horace

  That is correct Moggy, you must have for you gold star and go at top of you class 

 Helen 

[Duggy]

Not being a Luftwaffe expert, here's a couple of photos taken at the same time.
Might help solve the problem.


Regards Duggy.

[Blumax]

I don't what the 109 is but that other beast has very small prop blades for a plane of it's size, they look very odd but then with the engines that close together then i suppose would have to be small