Friday, November 30, 2018

Messerschmitt Bf 109 of JG 53 in a Bay of Snow

Photographed in the winter of 1941/42, this "White 2", a Messerschmitt Bf 109F-2 of 7.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53) "Pik-As", is standing in the partial shelter of a bay of snow. Snow led to many Bf 109s (E, F and G models) being damaged in taking-off and landing, increasing the Luftwaffe's difficulties in finding sufficient aircraft to replace losses sustained in action. Externally the Bf 109F had many aerodynamic improvements over the E series. On later aircraft the left hand exhaust was fitted with a metal shield to stop exhaust fumes from entering the supercharger intake. The canopy stayed essentially the same as that of the E-4 although the handbook for the F stipulated that the forward, lower triangular panel to starboard was to be replaced by a metal panel with a port for firing signal flares. A two-piece, all metal armour plate head shield was added to the hinged portion of the canopy, although some lacked the curved top section. A bullet-resistant windscreen could be fitted to the windscreen as an option. A boundary layer duct allowed continual airflow to pass through the airfoil above the radiator ducting and exit from the trailing edge of the upper split flap. The lower split flap was mechanically linked to the central 'main' flap, while the upper split flap and forward bath lip position were regulated via a thermostatic valve which automatically positioned the flaps for maximum cooling effectiveness. In 1941 'cutoff' valves were introduced which allowed the pilot to shut down either wing radiator in the event of one being damaged; this allowed the remaining coolant to be preserved. The valves were only delivered to frontline units as kits, the number of which, for unknown reasons, was limited. Other features of the redesigned wings included new leading edge slats, which were slightly shorter but had a slightly increased chord, and new rounded, removable wingtips which changed the profile of the wings and increased the span slightly over that of the E series. The redesigned wing made the internal mounting of guns impractical, so armament was revised. The armament of the Bf 109F consisted of the two MG 17 above the engine plus a Motorkanone cannon firing through the propeller hub: The early F versions were equipped with the MG FF/M cannon, the F-2 got the 15 mm MG 151, and from F-4 on the 20 mm MG 151/20 was used. Only after a lack of spare parts, did he accept an F. Later on, an attachment of underwing 20 mm cannons addressed the issue of fire-power, but at a price to performance.


Source :
Book "Luftwaffe at War: Fighters over Russia" by Manfred Griehl 
https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Bf-109F/JG53.III/pages/Messerschmitt-Bf-109F-7.JG53-Russia-1942-01.html

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Maintenance of Messerschmitt Bf 109

Two technicians of I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) working on the piston engine of the unit's Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6. Regular maintenance was vital, so that as many aircraft as possible could be kept serviceable to counter the steady growth of Russian airpower.


Source :
Book "Luftwaffe at War: Fighters over Russia" by Manfred Griehl

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Bf 109 of Romanian Air Force at Stalingrad

The Romanian Air Force was equipped with fifty Messerschmitt Bf 109Es, about twelve Bf 109Gs, and several IAR 80 and PZL fighters. Of these more than 60% were lost in action over Russia and Romania. Altogether, the Corpul Aerian (Romanian Air Command) comprised Flotila 2 vanataori, in which there were eight fighter units, each of ten or twelve aircraft. Three of these units (Escadrile 56 to 58) were equipped with Bf 109E such as that shown here at Stalingrad, 1942. This Romanian Air Force Bf 109E-7, No 64, WNr704 "Nella", is a refurbished Luftwaffe machine which had previously served with Erg.Staffel JG52, this Bf 109E-7 was flown by Adj. stag. av. de rezerva Tiberiu Vinca during the Stalingrad campaign at the end of 1942 with the phrase 'BUCURESTI-MOSCOVA' [Bucharest-Moscow] chalked on the port side beneath the cockpit. Note also Vinca's personal monogram just visible below the cockpit, his girlfriend's name 'Nella' on the cowling, and the five victory bars he had, less than 12 of his total confirmed victories.


Source :
Book "Luftwaffe at War: Fighters over Russia" by Manfred Griehl
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Messerschmitt_Bf_109E_Rom
https://in.pinterest.com/pin/98797785560814610/?lp=true
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/24/fb/68/24fb6878a59a0510b5037a7a891e8c9c.jpgania.jpg

Monday, November 26, 2018

Bf 109 F-4 of JG 54 in the Eastern Front

This Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 fighter operated over the northern sector of the Ostfront, and in 1941 belonged to 7.Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54) "Grünherz" (Green Hearts). During the attack on Russia, JG 54 was subordinated under the command of I. Fliegerkorps / Luftflotte 1, and was based at Kowno, Dünaburg and Ostrov. In August 1941 a significant part was redeployed in the Leningrad (St. Petersburg) region.


Source :
Book "Luftwaffe at War: Fighters over Russia" by Manfred Griehl

Bf 109 "White 11" of JG 54

A Messerschmitt Bf 109 E "White 11" of II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54), handed over to a training unit after the first Bf 109 F fighters had arrived in the Russian theatre. Because the ground at forward airfield was a different colour, the aircraft's earlier camouflage has been painted over with a darker mottled pattern to give it a better chance of surviving low level attacks by Red Army aircrafts.


Source :
Book "Luftwaffe at War: Fighters over Russia" by Manfred Griehl

Monday, November 19, 2018

Junkers Ju 88 at Bad Zwischenahn Airfield

Junkers Ju 88 “T5+BU” (probably an A-4) of 1.Staffel / ObdL (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe). Picture taken at Bad Zwischenahn airfield in March or April 1941. The Staffel had moved to this airfield at the end of January when it was still equipped with Heinkel He 111’s. In the first three weeks of March they switched to the Ju 88. The Staffel had an authorised strength of 9 aircraft. To make long weather flights over the Northsea and Polar Sea possible, the range of the Ju 88 had to be increased. This was done by removing the ventral gondola with the aft-firing MG. The absence of this defensive weapon to the rear and below led to a number of losses due to British fighters. Note the unit emblem of Westa 1./ObdL and the aircraft’s individual letter “B” painted black on the fuselage and green on the upper side of the wing. The unit code “T5+...U” was used by the Staffel till mid January 1942, after which it was replaced by “D7+...H”. Note also that camouflage precautions are in full process at Bad Zwischenahn. The walls to protect the aircraft against shrapnel and the frame to hold the camouflage nets are already completed. The nets itself have not been installed yet.


Source :
"Luftwaffe im Focus" magazine, edition Nr.1 - 2002

Messerschmitt Bf 109 on the Snow

Two pictures of Messerschmitt Bf 109 C-1 or D-1 of an unidentified Luftwaffe unit. As these aircraft have already the two ventilation slits behind the exhaust and show the wing armament (although removed here), these aircraft are not Bf 109 B’s. Note also the large opening in the middle of the spinner of the VDM-metal propeller, intended for the MG 17. The style of the German cross indicates that these pictures were probably taken during the winter of 1940/41. Most of the aircraft carry the typical 1940 camouflage.


Source :
"Luftwaffe im Focus" magazine, edition Nr.1 - 2002

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Rumanian Heinkel He 111 Abandoned in Bessarabia

Two pictures of Heinkel He 111 H-3 Nr.5 of Aeronautica Regală Română (ARR, or the Royal Rumanian Air Force), taken at an unknown airfield in Bessarabia. The aircraft crashed due to bad weather during a night operation in July 1942 on Popesti-Leordene airfield near Bucharest. Four men were killed, including a Luftwaffe Leutnant. One man was wounded.


Source :
"Luftwaffe im Focus" magazine, edition Nr.1 - 2002

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Kriegsmarine Filmberichter with Arriflex 35mm Camera

Horst Grund (Kriegsmarine filmberichter or cameraman) shot some scene in the boat with his Arriflex 35mm camera, in the Mediterranean sea, 1943. He is wearing a kapok schwimmweste (life jacket/vest) early model. The Arriflex 35 II is one of the most significant motion picture cameras of all time. It was designed and developed by Arnold & Richter, A.G. of Munich Germany, founded in 1917 as film laboratory equipment and accessory manufacturers. The name ARRI derives from the first two letters of each founder’s name: August Arnold and Robert Richter. ARRI introduced their first camera the Kinarri in 1924. 100 Kinarris were sold. After a great deal of research and development, they developed the mirror reflex viewing system in 1931. After perfecting their mirror reflex system, ARRI introduced the Arriflex 35 in 1937. It was the world’s first 35mm reflex motion picture camera. The mirror reflex viewing system it introduced was so superior that it is used on all professional motion picture cameras, in all formats, to this date!


Source :
http://cinematechnic.com/resources/arri_35-2
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Horst_Grund
https://ww2db.com/photo.php?source=ll&color=all&list=search&foreigntype=P&foreigntype_id=985

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Two Reichsbahn Personnel Eating Their Lunch

Look like this picture was taken yesterday (and they are a bunch of reenactors), but actually it was taken during World War II! It shows the personnel of Reichsbahn (German Reich Railway) eating their lunch. The picture was taken in 1944 by Walter Hollnagel. In August 1944, this German photographer was tasked to photographed the state of the Italian railways (please note that after the Italians concluded a truce with the Allies on 8 September 1943, most of the country was occupied by the German army). While the Allied forces were slowly moving forward, the Anglo-American aircraft delivered destructive attacks on infrastructure facilities. Back to the picture: The man on the right is an official of pay group 8 or 7a or a supernumerary official of pay group 7. His actual "rank" designation depends on his occupational specialty; he could be a Kanzleisekretär, Kanzleivorsteher, Reichsbahnobersekretär, Vermessungsobersekretär, Lokomotivbetriebsrevisor, Betriebsoberwerkmeister or Oberlokomotivführer. There's no way to tell for the man on the left. Not much to say about the uniforms; they are wearing normal Reichsbahn service dress. From the badges and insignia, it's probably an early-war photograph. (The sidecap for men as worn by the official on the left was introduced around the outbreak of war. However, his colleague is not yet wearing the large wings on the cap band of the service cap and the duty station insignia on the left upper tunic sleeve, both of which were introduced in 1941.)


Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2014/08/foto-berwarna-deutsche-reichsbahn-drb.html
https://eisenbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie/Deutsche%20Reichsbahn%20Gesellschaft
https://flackelf.livejournal.com/214873.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=213048&start=105
https://www.vintag.es/2012/12/fire-at-train-station-of-florence-italy.html
http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5937803

Monday, November 5, 2018

Oberst Von Drebber and Hauptmann Bender on Field Telephone

Two German officers using Feldtelefon (field telephone) at a position near Stalingrad, autumn 1942. From left to right: Oberst Moritz von Drebber (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 523 / 297.Infanterie-Division) and Hauptmann Bender. In October 1942, the regiment was renamed as Grenadier-Regiment 523. Von Drebber received the rank of Generalmajor on 1 January 1943, and on 22 January 1943 he was appointed as commander of the 297. Infanterie-Division. Three days later he surrendered to the Red Army. The picture was taken by Alois Beck.


Source :
https://www.akg-images.de/CS.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&VBID=2UMESQDIHRM1H&SMLS=1&RW=1280&RH=871&POPUPPN=58&POPUPIID=2UMDHUSBDVJ