(34) Messerschmitt Bf 109s over the Mediterranean

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Color profiles: Arkadiusz Wróbel, captions: Maciej Góralczyk
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References:
Mombeeck, E. Luftwaffe Gallery No. 2, Linkebeek 2011.
Mombeeck, E. Luftwaffe Gallery JG 26 Special Album 1937-1945 No. 1: The Abbeville Boys, Linkebeek 2011.
Prien, J., Rodeike, P., Stemmer, G. & Bock, W. Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945, Teil 5, Heimatverteidigung 10. Mai 1940 bis 31. Dezember 1941, Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum Oktober 1940 bis November 1941, Einsatz im Westen 22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941, Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942, Eutin 2003.
Prien, J., Rodeike, P., Stemmer, G. & Bock, W. Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945, Teil 8 Band I, Einsatz
im Mittelmeerraum November 1941 bis Dezember 1942, Eutin 2004.
Prien, J., Rodeike, P., Stemmer, G. & Bock, W. Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945, Teil 8 Band II, Einsatz
im Mittelmeerraum November 1941 bis Dezember 1942, Eutin 2004.
Prien, J., Rodeike, P., Stemmer, G. & Bock, W. Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945, Teil 11 Band I, Einsatz
im Mittelmeerraum 1.1. bis 31.12.1943, Eutin 2010.
Prien, J., Rodeike, P., Stemmer, G. & Bock, W. Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945, Teil 11 Band II, Einsatz
im Mittelmeerraum 1.1. bis 31.12.1943, Eutin 2011.
Roba, J.-L. & Pegg, M. Luftwaffe Colours: Jagdwaffe Volume Four Section 2: The Mediterranean 1942-1943, Hersham 2003.
Luftwaffe im Focus Edition 19, Bad Zwischenahn 2012.
Luftwaffe im Focus Spezial Edition 3, Bad Zwischenahn 2008.

 

Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-7/N; probably W.Nr. 4139, “White 11”, flown by Lt. Theo Lindemann of 7./JG 26, Ain-el-Gazala, Libya, summer 1941. This aircraft carried a RLM 71/02/65 scheme with densely mottled fuselage sides. The nose, rudder and most likely also the elevators were painted yellow. The main part of the spinner had a finish of two third RLM 70 and one third white, the tip was white, and the backplate was RLM 70. A broad white Mediterranean theatre band was applied on the rear fuselage. A colour photo proves that the emblem of 7. Staffel was black during that period. Note the dark canopy framing, lack of Geschwader emblem under the windscreen, and the RLM 65 background of the swastikas, which had been masked before camouflaging the fuselage sides. Lt. Theo Lindemann shot down his first victim, a Martin 167 bomber, on 21 August 1941, west of Sidi Barrani. That was also the penultimate victory of 7. Staffel in African skies. The unit’s withdrawal to France started in late August 1941.

Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 trop; flown by Ofw. Karl-Heinz Bendert of Stab II./JG 27, Derna, Libya, December 1941. The mount of Ofw. Bendert was finished in a RLM 78/79 mid-demarcation scheme. It probably carried a white fuselage band on the rear fuselage, which partially overlapped the Gruppe marking. The badge of II./JG 27 was applied on both sides of the engine cowling, while the emblem of Stabsschwarm most likely appeared on the port side of the fuselage only. The spinner remained in factory finish of two third of RLM 70 and one third white. The rudder sported eight small black victory bars. Ofw. Bendert scored his eighth victory on 13 December 1941. He later belonged to the infamous “Experten Schwarm” from 4./JG 27, which members claimed false victories during the summer of 1942. [Drawings by Arkadiusz Wróbel]