How good was the Messerschmitt 109?
The climbing performance of the Messerschmitt Bf 109 K-4 was phenomenal and noticeably superior to any of the enemy aircraft. Above 6,000 metres, the German plane was so clearly superior to the Soviet aircraft that the Soviet pilots strictly avoided any aerial combat at this altitude.
How many Messerschmitt Me 109 are still flying?
As of December 2016 there are 67 known existing Bf 109 airframes. About twenty of the surviving Bf 109s existent in the 21st century served at one time with the Luftwaffe fighter wing Jagdgeschwader 5, more than with any other Axis military aviation unit of World War II.
Why were German planes painted yellow?
You’re right that the yellow tactical markings were used in order to reduce the friendly fire incidents (similar to the Allied D-Day stripes). As noted by Alan W. Hall in Messerschmidt Bf 109 warpaint: Quick identification has always been a necessity in aerial conflict …
Why did German planes have spiral noses?
“The purpose of this pattern is to provide ground personnel with a visual cue that the engine is actually turning. This simple warning is an important safety feature that can often prevent tragic accidents when personnel are working near rotating engines.
Why did both sides start marking the underside of the wings of the planes?
Invasion stripes were alternating black and white bands painted on the fuselages and wings of Allied aircraft during World War II to reduce the chance that they would be attacked by friendly forces during and after the Normandy Landings.
What kind of camouflage does a German Me 109 have?
Here a Me 109F-2 on the Eastern Front not long after the initial German invasion of the USSR. The basic camouflage is of RLM02 Grau and RLM70 Schwarzgrün in a splinter pattern on top with RLM76 Lichtblau underneath and sides, the blue having a mottling of both the grey and the green over it on the sides.
Who was the pilot of the Me 109?
Gruppe, JG 77, Pilot: Oberleutnant Helmut Henz (Staffelkapitän) Poland, September 1939 Here is a Me 109E-3 in the original camouflage scheme used up until after the invasion of Poland, namely a splinter pattern of RLM70 Schwarzgrün and RLM71 Dunkelgrün on top and coming right down the fuselage sides, with RLM65 Hellblau underneath.
What kind of camouflage does a sandgelb have?
The basic camouflage is of RLM79 Sandgelb on top with RLM78 Himmelblau underneath. The sides are slightly mottled with RLM80 Olivgrün.
Where is the JG 1 mark on a Messerschmitt 109?
The red band marking of JG 1 is on the rear fuselage – it should be noted that the width of this band varied from aircraft to aircraft. Lastly it should be noted that the fuel octane triangle on the G model was moved back to a similar position as on the 109E, high up on the fuselage side rather than over the wing root.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq5cTF_4r10