Capt. Winters
Charter Member
Hi All,
just a heads up that the Me109F 2 and 4 tropical has been completed, and will be uploaded in the next 24hrs.
Aircraft Credits:
This Bf 109F was converted from the original DR BF 109E model made by Gerard van der Harst.
Additional modellers who added in detail to the main external model were: Mathias Pommerien, Luca Festari, Tom Faulds.
Virtual cockpit model Luca Festari, with extra model work by Tom Faulds and Rob Stevenson. (External main model cockpit and converted virtual cockpit work.)
Main model Hi Res textures by John Whelan.
Virtual Cockpit textures by John Whelan.
Mos File by Rob Stevenson.
Historical adaptation and standalones by Rob Stevenson.
Flight model by Bill Wilson
AvHistory. org Flight Model V4.00.144
AvHistory weapons and sounds.
Includes the following planes. You'll have to look at the code in the description and then find the picture with the same code on the4 fuselage. you will notice that some of the planes do not have the tropical filter, this was the case for planes flown out of Sicily etc.
Thanks to all involved.
regards Rob.
Messerschmitt BF109F-2 Tropical 'Friedrich'
================================
Unit: 1st Staffel, JG-77
pilot: Unteroffizier, Horst Schlick
Code: White 3
Serial number: W.Nr: 10533
Bir El Abd,
Egypt.
October 1942.
In a scheme typical of JG 77's early desert service, Werk-Nr10.533 was discovered after the battle of El Alamein abandoned at Bir El Abd. The symbol aft of the fuselage cross is the badge of 1 staffel, initially introduced after the Polish campaign, when the unit was still operating as I.(J)/LG 2, by one Harro Harder.
This marking actually dated back even further to Harder's days with the Condor Legion in Spain, where it was used as the emblem of his 1.J/88. The rudder victory bars indicate two eastern Front kills and six acheived since his arrivalin the desert. Having escaped the El Alamein battlefield by truck, Schlick ended the war with a score of 36.
Messerschmitt BF109F-2 Tropical 'Friedrich'
================================
Unit: 3rd Staffel, JG-27
pilot: Oberleutenant Gerhard Homuth
Code: Yellow 1
Gazala,
Libya.
February 1942.
Gerhard Homuth was born on 20 September 1914 at Kiel. He joined the navy but transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1935. In 1937 and 1938, he was a member of the Luftwaffe aerobatic team, at that time part of 2.(J)/LG 2. On 6 October 1939, Homuth was appointed Adjutant of I./JG 27. He was appointed Staffelkapitan of 3./JG 27 on 1 February 1940. He gained his first victory on 11 May, when he shot down a RAF Blenheim twin engine bomber over Diest Schaffen.
By the end of the French campaign, Homuth had nine victories to his credit. He was add a further six victories during the Battle of Britain. In spring 1941, I./JG 27 was relocated to North Africa. Homuth was to be particularly successful in this theatre. Oberleutnant Homuth was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 14 June for 22 victories. On 9 January 1942, Homuth shot down two RAF P40 fighters, one near Marsa el Brega and another near Gadd el Ahmar for his 38th and 39th victories.
It would appear the first of his two victories this day was the Australian ace, Sgt Ron Simes of 3 Sqn, RAAF, who was killed in the engagement. He recorded his 40th victory on 9 February, when he shot down a RAF Hurricane near El Adem.
Homuth was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 27 on 8 June 1942. He recorded three victories on 27 July, all RAF Hurricane fighters near El Hammam, and his 60th on 27 October, when he shot down a RAF Spitfire fighter near Bir Mumim Busak.
With the withdrawal of I./JG 27 from North Africa, Homuth fell ill. In February 1943, he was assigned to the Luftwaffe delegation based at Sofia in Bulgaria as an instructor training Bulgarian fighter pilots.
Homuth returned to front line duty on 29 July 1943 as Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 54 based on the Eastern front. On 2 August 1943, on one of his first combat missions, Homuth was engaged in a 20 minute dogfight with Russian fighters. He finally managed to shoot down an Airacobra fighter but failed to return from the mission. He has remained missing ever since.
Gerhard Homuth was credited with 63 victories in approximately 450 missions. He recorded two victories over the Eastern front.
Messerschmitt BF109F-2 Tropical 'Friedrich'
================================
Unit: 5th Staffel, JG-27
pilot: Unteroffizier, Hans-Arnold Stahlschmidt
Code: Red 4
Libya.
August 1941.
After joining Jagdgeschwader 27 at the beginning of 1941, Stahlschmidt took time to adapt to the desert conditions. He made his first combat kill, a Hawker Hurricane of 73 Squadron, on 15 June 1941. On 20 November 1941 he claimed three 21 Squadron SAAF Maryland bombers shot down. On 22 January 1942 Stahlschmidt and his wingman bounced No.3 squadron RAAF. Stahlschmidt shot down and killed Flying Officer James McIntosh.
On 27 February 1942 Stahlschmidt was strafing Allied vehicles when his engine suddenly died. He crash landed and was taken prisoner by Free Polish soldiers. He managed to escape on foot later that night and after a 24 hour 37 mile trek through the desert reached the German lines.
On 21 February, Stahlschmidt was part of a formation led by his Staffelkapitan, Oberleutnant Gerhard Homuth. They observed 11 P40 Kittyhawk aircraft near Acroma. In a letter to his mother he described the subsequent events.
I saw the Curtiss planes approximately 300 meters below us and falling away below. These aircraft were no threat to us whatsoever. Now I just wanted to level out of my turning bank, since my colleagues were already at a substantially higher altitude.
My wingman Keppler, overshot me. Once again, I saw the Curtiss planes 300 meters directly below me and counted eleven aircraft.
Not suspecting anything untoward, I continued my level climb. All of a sudden there was a loud noise in my cockpit, I'd taken cannon fire. The crate immediately flipped uncontrollably onto its back. Fuel gushed into the cockpit, it began smoking and then I completely lost control of the plane.
Over the intercom I heard the angry voice of Homuth, 'Which of you idiots just let himself get shot down'
Trailing a long column from my radiator I fell earthward. The water temperature climbed to 140 degrees. At an altitude of 1,000 meters I again regained control of the crate. Crash landing in no mans land. Stahlschmidt escaped the burning wreck with just a pair of singed eyebrows.
Stahlschmidt later learned from Marseille and Homuth that the lead Kittyhawk had pulled up sharply and fired accurately, both were of the opinion that it was a wonderful shot. The Allied pilot was the leading Australian ace, Squadron Leader Clive Caldwell, CO of No. 112 Squadron RAF.
On 1 July 1942, Stahlschmidt was promoted to Staffelkapitan of 2./JG 27. Stahlschmidt was the first pilot in Africa to complete 200 combat missions. He was awarded the Knight's Cross, for his 50th victory on the 20th of August 1942. His last kill came on 5 September 1942 when he dispatched two P40 fighter bombers, south of Hammam.
On 7 September 1942 Stahlschmidt, flying as part of a fighter sweep south east of El Alamein intercepted a tactical reconnaissance Hurricane covered by a strong escort of Hurricane MK IICs from No. 33 Squadron RAF and No. 213 Squadron RAF. In the resulting combat Stahlschmidt was shot down. The exact details of his death remain a mystery to this day.
Messerschmitt BF109F-4jb 'Friedrich'
================================
Unit: 10th Staffel, JG-53 (Jabo)
pilot: Uffz, Felix Sauer
Code: White 3
Serial number: W.Nr: 7473
Cosimo,
Sicily.
March 1942.
late in 1941 JG 53 moved from the Eastern Front to bases in Sicily (though elements also served in the Netherlands from July to November 1941). The III. Gruppe was transferred to North Africa for a short time in December 1941 while the rest of JG 53 was eventually moved to Comiso in Sicily for operations against Malta, which ended in May 1942.
To increase the Luftwaffe's ability to carry out low level attacks against airfields and other strongpoints, a new Staffel was added to the unit as 10.(Jabo)/JG53 in February 1942. It was led by Oblt. Werner Langemann and equipped with Bf-109F-4jB fighter bombers which could carry either one 250 KG(550 Ib) or four 50 KG(110 Ib) bombs.
On 27th of March 1942 Uffz, Felix Sauer experianced engine failure and force landed White 3 on the beach near Pozzallo. It sustained little damage in the landing but was later declared a 90% loss, due to the salt water damage caused by the rising tide.
Messerschmitt BF109F-4 'Friedrich'
================================
Unit: 3rd Staffel, JG-77
pilot: Uffz, Karl-Heinz Witschke
Code: Yellow 2
Serial number: W.Nr: 13060
Cosimo,
Sicily.
July 1942.
This aircraft bears in white gothic lettering on the engine cowling the name of staffel leader 'Hptm. Werner Tismar'
who fell on April 26th, 1942.
In one of the many brief violent combats fought over Malta and the surrounding sea, Karl-Heinz Witschke was to encounter the Canadian ace George 'Buzz' Beurling. Initially Witschke had the advantage and sent a burst of fire right into Beurling's cockpit, blowing his canopy clean off. Miraculously, Beurling was not hit and, as Witschke's 109 roared past Beurling latched onto its tail.
Witschke fought hard to escape but Beurling hit Witschke's plane with his second burst destroying the engine and setting the fuel tank ablaze. Witschke bailed out but his parachute was on fire and he fell to his death.
This action took place almost exactly 3 months to the day, after Tismar's own death whom Witschke had honored by painting his leaders name onto the cowling of his own aircraft. Tismar was also flying Yellow 2 at the time of his death.
Witschke was the Canadian ace's 17th victim.
Messerschmitt BF109F-4jb 'Friedrich'
================================
Unit: 10th Staffel, JG-53 (Jabo)
pilot: Oblt, Werner Langemann
Code: White 1
Serial number: W.Nr: 7488
Cosimo,
Sicily.
May 1942.
late in 1941 JG 53 moved from the Eastern Front to bases in Sicily (though elements also served in the Netherlands from July to November 1941). The III. Gruppe was transferred to North Africa for a short time in December 1941 while the rest of JG 53 was eventually moved to Comiso in Sicily for operations against Malta, which ended in May 1942.
To increase the Luftwaffe's ability to carry out low level attacks against airfields and other strongpoints, a new Staffel was added to the unit as 10.(Jabo)/JG53 in February 1942. It was led by Oblt. Werner Langemann and equipped with Bf-109F-4jB fighter bombers which could carry either one 250 KG(550 Ib) or four 50 KG(110 Ib) bombs.
The men of the Jabo Staffel referred to themselves as the 'Bomben-Export Langemann u Co. GmbH' they were distinguished by their unit badge - a bomb dropping on the island of Malta which was carried on the rear fuselage either aft of the white theatre band or superimposed upon it. Werner Langemann claimed three aerial victories with JG53 before his staffel was amalgamated with 10 Jabo/JG27 to form Jabogruppe Afrika, which he then commanded.
Messerschmitt BF109F-4 Tropical 'Friedrich'
================================
Unit: 1st Staffel, JG-27
pilot: Ofw, Albert Espenlaub
Code: White 11
Serial number: W.Nr: 8477
Martuba airfield,
Libya.
13th December 1941.
Numerous dogfights took place over the front lines on 13th December. During the course of these engagements Marseille succeeded in once again scoring a double when he brought down a Hurricane at 1600 hrs and another at 1610 hrs in the airspace over Martuba and near Tmimi.
The day was overshadowed by a deeply felt loss. During the early morning hours Ofw. Albert Espenlaub of 1/JG 27 became involved in a dogfight with an experienced British pilot by the name of Captain Walker, during which he took several hits in his radiator.
When the engine gave out due to overheating, he was forced to make an emergency landing in enemy territory near El Adem. He was taken prisoner by a British patrol. While attempting to escape he was shot by the guards. Espenlaub was numbered among the most successful of the desert pilots. Within the short space of a few months he had scored 14 kills in Africa.
Messerschmitt BF109F-4 Tropical 'Friedrich'
================================
Unit: 3rd Staffel, JG-27
pilot: Oblt, Hans-Joachim Marseille
Code: Yellow 14
Serial number: W.Nr: 10137
Martuba airfield,
Libya.
June 1942.
Hans-Joachim Marseille is noted for his aerial battles during the North African Campaign and his Bohemian lifestyle. One of the most successful fighter pilots, he was nicknamed the 'Star of Africa'. Marseille claimed all but seven of his 'official' 158 victories against the British Commonwealth's Desert Air Force over North Africa, flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter for his entire combat career. No other pilot claimed as many Western Allied aircraft as Marseille.
Marseille, of French Huguenot ancestry, joined the Luftwaffe in 1938. At the age of 20 he graduated from one of the Luftwaffe's fighter pilot schools just in time to participate in the Battle of Britain, without notable success. A charming person, he had such a busy night life that sometimes he was too tired to be allowed to fly the next morning. As a result, he was transferred to another unit, which relocated to North Africa in April 1941.
Under the guidance of his new commander, who recognised the latent potential in the young officer, Marseille quickly developed his abilities as a fighter pilot. He reached the zenith of his fighter pilot career on 1 September 1942, when during the course of three combat sorties he claimed 17 enemy fighters shot down, earning him the Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten (Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds). Only 29 days later, Marseille was killed in a flying accident, when he was forced to abandon his fighter due to engine failure. After exiting the smoke filled cockpit, Marseille's chest struck the vertical stabiliser of his aircraft, either killing him instantly, or incapacitating him so that he was unable to open his parachute.
Messerschmitt BF109F-4 Tropical 'Friedrich'
================================
Unit: 6th Staffel, JG-27
pilot: Lt, Gerhard Mix
Code: Yellow 5
El Alamein,
Libya.
August 1942.
Messerschmitt Me109F-4 Trop 'Yellow 5' flown by Lt. Gerhard Mix of 6./JG27, 14th August 1942. Gehard Mix had to belly land this aircraft behind enemy lines in the Summer of 1942 and was taken POW before scoring a single kill.
just a heads up that the Me109F 2 and 4 tropical has been completed, and will be uploaded in the next 24hrs.
Aircraft Credits:
This Bf 109F was converted from the original DR BF 109E model made by Gerard van der Harst.
Additional modellers who added in detail to the main external model were: Mathias Pommerien, Luca Festari, Tom Faulds.
Virtual cockpit model Luca Festari, with extra model work by Tom Faulds and Rob Stevenson. (External main model cockpit and converted virtual cockpit work.)
Main model Hi Res textures by John Whelan.
Virtual Cockpit textures by John Whelan.
Mos File by Rob Stevenson.
Historical adaptation and standalones by Rob Stevenson.
Flight model by Bill Wilson
AvHistory. org Flight Model V4.00.144
AvHistory weapons and sounds.
Includes the following planes. You'll have to look at the code in the description and then find the picture with the same code on the4 fuselage. you will notice that some of the planes do not have the tropical filter, this was the case for planes flown out of Sicily etc.
Thanks to all involved.
regards Rob.
Messerschmitt BF109F-2 Tropical 'Friedrich'
================================
Unit: 1st Staffel, JG-77
pilot: Unteroffizier, Horst Schlick
Code: White 3
Serial number: W.Nr: 10533
Bir El Abd,
Egypt.
October 1942.
In a scheme typical of JG 77's early desert service, Werk-Nr10.533 was discovered after the battle of El Alamein abandoned at Bir El Abd. The symbol aft of the fuselage cross is the badge of 1 staffel, initially introduced after the Polish campaign, when the unit was still operating as I.(J)/LG 2, by one Harro Harder.
This marking actually dated back even further to Harder's days with the Condor Legion in Spain, where it was used as the emblem of his 1.J/88. The rudder victory bars indicate two eastern Front kills and six acheived since his arrivalin the desert. Having escaped the El Alamein battlefield by truck, Schlick ended the war with a score of 36.
Messerschmitt BF109F-2 Tropical 'Friedrich'
================================
Unit: 3rd Staffel, JG-27
pilot: Oberleutenant Gerhard Homuth
Code: Yellow 1
Gazala,
Libya.
February 1942.
Gerhard Homuth was born on 20 September 1914 at Kiel. He joined the navy but transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1935. In 1937 and 1938, he was a member of the Luftwaffe aerobatic team, at that time part of 2.(J)/LG 2. On 6 October 1939, Homuth was appointed Adjutant of I./JG 27. He was appointed Staffelkapitan of 3./JG 27 on 1 February 1940. He gained his first victory on 11 May, when he shot down a RAF Blenheim twin engine bomber over Diest Schaffen.
By the end of the French campaign, Homuth had nine victories to his credit. He was add a further six victories during the Battle of Britain. In spring 1941, I./JG 27 was relocated to North Africa. Homuth was to be particularly successful in this theatre. Oberleutnant Homuth was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 14 June for 22 victories. On 9 January 1942, Homuth shot down two RAF P40 fighters, one near Marsa el Brega and another near Gadd el Ahmar for his 38th and 39th victories.
It would appear the first of his two victories this day was the Australian ace, Sgt Ron Simes of 3 Sqn, RAAF, who was killed in the engagement. He recorded his 40th victory on 9 February, when he shot down a RAF Hurricane near El Adem.
Homuth was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 27 on 8 June 1942. He recorded three victories on 27 July, all RAF Hurricane fighters near El Hammam, and his 60th on 27 October, when he shot down a RAF Spitfire fighter near Bir Mumim Busak.
With the withdrawal of I./JG 27 from North Africa, Homuth fell ill. In February 1943, he was assigned to the Luftwaffe delegation based at Sofia in Bulgaria as an instructor training Bulgarian fighter pilots.
Homuth returned to front line duty on 29 July 1943 as Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 54 based on the Eastern front. On 2 August 1943, on one of his first combat missions, Homuth was engaged in a 20 minute dogfight with Russian fighters. He finally managed to shoot down an Airacobra fighter but failed to return from the mission. He has remained missing ever since.
Gerhard Homuth was credited with 63 victories in approximately 450 missions. He recorded two victories over the Eastern front.
Messerschmitt BF109F-2 Tropical 'Friedrich'
================================
Unit: 5th Staffel, JG-27
pilot: Unteroffizier, Hans-Arnold Stahlschmidt
Code: Red 4
Libya.
August 1941.
After joining Jagdgeschwader 27 at the beginning of 1941, Stahlschmidt took time to adapt to the desert conditions. He made his first combat kill, a Hawker Hurricane of 73 Squadron, on 15 June 1941. On 20 November 1941 he claimed three 21 Squadron SAAF Maryland bombers shot down. On 22 January 1942 Stahlschmidt and his wingman bounced No.3 squadron RAAF. Stahlschmidt shot down and killed Flying Officer James McIntosh.
On 27 February 1942 Stahlschmidt was strafing Allied vehicles when his engine suddenly died. He crash landed and was taken prisoner by Free Polish soldiers. He managed to escape on foot later that night and after a 24 hour 37 mile trek through the desert reached the German lines.
On 21 February, Stahlschmidt was part of a formation led by his Staffelkapitan, Oberleutnant Gerhard Homuth. They observed 11 P40 Kittyhawk aircraft near Acroma. In a letter to his mother he described the subsequent events.
I saw the Curtiss planes approximately 300 meters below us and falling away below. These aircraft were no threat to us whatsoever. Now I just wanted to level out of my turning bank, since my colleagues were already at a substantially higher altitude.
My wingman Keppler, overshot me. Once again, I saw the Curtiss planes 300 meters directly below me and counted eleven aircraft.
Not suspecting anything untoward, I continued my level climb. All of a sudden there was a loud noise in my cockpit, I'd taken cannon fire. The crate immediately flipped uncontrollably onto its back. Fuel gushed into the cockpit, it began smoking and then I completely lost control of the plane.
Over the intercom I heard the angry voice of Homuth, 'Which of you idiots just let himself get shot down'
Trailing a long column from my radiator I fell earthward. The water temperature climbed to 140 degrees. At an altitude of 1,000 meters I again regained control of the crate. Crash landing in no mans land. Stahlschmidt escaped the burning wreck with just a pair of singed eyebrows.
Stahlschmidt later learned from Marseille and Homuth that the lead Kittyhawk had pulled up sharply and fired accurately, both were of the opinion that it was a wonderful shot. The Allied pilot was the leading Australian ace, Squadron Leader Clive Caldwell, CO of No. 112 Squadron RAF.
On 1 July 1942, Stahlschmidt was promoted to Staffelkapitan of 2./JG 27. Stahlschmidt was the first pilot in Africa to complete 200 combat missions. He was awarded the Knight's Cross, for his 50th victory on the 20th of August 1942. His last kill came on 5 September 1942 when he dispatched two P40 fighter bombers, south of Hammam.
On 7 September 1942 Stahlschmidt, flying as part of a fighter sweep south east of El Alamein intercepted a tactical reconnaissance Hurricane covered by a strong escort of Hurricane MK IICs from No. 33 Squadron RAF and No. 213 Squadron RAF. In the resulting combat Stahlschmidt was shot down. The exact details of his death remain a mystery to this day.
Messerschmitt BF109F-4jb 'Friedrich'
================================
Unit: 10th Staffel, JG-53 (Jabo)
pilot: Uffz, Felix Sauer
Code: White 3
Serial number: W.Nr: 7473
Cosimo,
Sicily.
March 1942.
late in 1941 JG 53 moved from the Eastern Front to bases in Sicily (though elements also served in the Netherlands from July to November 1941). The III. Gruppe was transferred to North Africa for a short time in December 1941 while the rest of JG 53 was eventually moved to Comiso in Sicily for operations against Malta, which ended in May 1942.
To increase the Luftwaffe's ability to carry out low level attacks against airfields and other strongpoints, a new Staffel was added to the unit as 10.(Jabo)/JG53 in February 1942. It was led by Oblt. Werner Langemann and equipped with Bf-109F-4jB fighter bombers which could carry either one 250 KG(550 Ib) or four 50 KG(110 Ib) bombs.
On 27th of March 1942 Uffz, Felix Sauer experianced engine failure and force landed White 3 on the beach near Pozzallo. It sustained little damage in the landing but was later declared a 90% loss, due to the salt water damage caused by the rising tide.
Messerschmitt BF109F-4 'Friedrich'
================================
Unit: 3rd Staffel, JG-77
pilot: Uffz, Karl-Heinz Witschke
Code: Yellow 2
Serial number: W.Nr: 13060
Cosimo,
Sicily.
July 1942.
This aircraft bears in white gothic lettering on the engine cowling the name of staffel leader 'Hptm. Werner Tismar'
who fell on April 26th, 1942.
In one of the many brief violent combats fought over Malta and the surrounding sea, Karl-Heinz Witschke was to encounter the Canadian ace George 'Buzz' Beurling. Initially Witschke had the advantage and sent a burst of fire right into Beurling's cockpit, blowing his canopy clean off. Miraculously, Beurling was not hit and, as Witschke's 109 roared past Beurling latched onto its tail.
Witschke fought hard to escape but Beurling hit Witschke's plane with his second burst destroying the engine and setting the fuel tank ablaze. Witschke bailed out but his parachute was on fire and he fell to his death.
This action took place almost exactly 3 months to the day, after Tismar's own death whom Witschke had honored by painting his leaders name onto the cowling of his own aircraft. Tismar was also flying Yellow 2 at the time of his death.
Witschke was the Canadian ace's 17th victim.
Messerschmitt BF109F-4jb 'Friedrich'
================================
Unit: 10th Staffel, JG-53 (Jabo)
pilot: Oblt, Werner Langemann
Code: White 1
Serial number: W.Nr: 7488
Cosimo,
Sicily.
May 1942.
late in 1941 JG 53 moved from the Eastern Front to bases in Sicily (though elements also served in the Netherlands from July to November 1941). The III. Gruppe was transferred to North Africa for a short time in December 1941 while the rest of JG 53 was eventually moved to Comiso in Sicily for operations against Malta, which ended in May 1942.
To increase the Luftwaffe's ability to carry out low level attacks against airfields and other strongpoints, a new Staffel was added to the unit as 10.(Jabo)/JG53 in February 1942. It was led by Oblt. Werner Langemann and equipped with Bf-109F-4jB fighter bombers which could carry either one 250 KG(550 Ib) or four 50 KG(110 Ib) bombs.
The men of the Jabo Staffel referred to themselves as the 'Bomben-Export Langemann u Co. GmbH' they were distinguished by their unit badge - a bomb dropping on the island of Malta which was carried on the rear fuselage either aft of the white theatre band or superimposed upon it. Werner Langemann claimed three aerial victories with JG53 before his staffel was amalgamated with 10 Jabo/JG27 to form Jabogruppe Afrika, which he then commanded.
Messerschmitt BF109F-4 Tropical 'Friedrich'
================================
Unit: 1st Staffel, JG-27
pilot: Ofw, Albert Espenlaub
Code: White 11
Serial number: W.Nr: 8477
Martuba airfield,
Libya.
13th December 1941.
Numerous dogfights took place over the front lines on 13th December. During the course of these engagements Marseille succeeded in once again scoring a double when he brought down a Hurricane at 1600 hrs and another at 1610 hrs in the airspace over Martuba and near Tmimi.
The day was overshadowed by a deeply felt loss. During the early morning hours Ofw. Albert Espenlaub of 1/JG 27 became involved in a dogfight with an experienced British pilot by the name of Captain Walker, during which he took several hits in his radiator.
When the engine gave out due to overheating, he was forced to make an emergency landing in enemy territory near El Adem. He was taken prisoner by a British patrol. While attempting to escape he was shot by the guards. Espenlaub was numbered among the most successful of the desert pilots. Within the short space of a few months he had scored 14 kills in Africa.
Messerschmitt BF109F-4 Tropical 'Friedrich'
================================
Unit: 3rd Staffel, JG-27
pilot: Oblt, Hans-Joachim Marseille
Code: Yellow 14
Serial number: W.Nr: 10137
Martuba airfield,
Libya.
June 1942.
Hans-Joachim Marseille is noted for his aerial battles during the North African Campaign and his Bohemian lifestyle. One of the most successful fighter pilots, he was nicknamed the 'Star of Africa'. Marseille claimed all but seven of his 'official' 158 victories against the British Commonwealth's Desert Air Force over North Africa, flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter for his entire combat career. No other pilot claimed as many Western Allied aircraft as Marseille.
Marseille, of French Huguenot ancestry, joined the Luftwaffe in 1938. At the age of 20 he graduated from one of the Luftwaffe's fighter pilot schools just in time to participate in the Battle of Britain, without notable success. A charming person, he had such a busy night life that sometimes he was too tired to be allowed to fly the next morning. As a result, he was transferred to another unit, which relocated to North Africa in April 1941.
Under the guidance of his new commander, who recognised the latent potential in the young officer, Marseille quickly developed his abilities as a fighter pilot. He reached the zenith of his fighter pilot career on 1 September 1942, when during the course of three combat sorties he claimed 17 enemy fighters shot down, earning him the Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten (Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds). Only 29 days later, Marseille was killed in a flying accident, when he was forced to abandon his fighter due to engine failure. After exiting the smoke filled cockpit, Marseille's chest struck the vertical stabiliser of his aircraft, either killing him instantly, or incapacitating him so that he was unable to open his parachute.
Messerschmitt BF109F-4 Tropical 'Friedrich'
================================
Unit: 6th Staffel, JG-27
pilot: Lt, Gerhard Mix
Code: Yellow 5
El Alamein,
Libya.
August 1942.
Messerschmitt Me109F-4 Trop 'Yellow 5' flown by Lt. Gerhard Mix of 6./JG27, 14th August 1942. Gehard Mix had to belly land this aircraft behind enemy lines in the Summer of 1942 and was taken POW before scoring a single kill.
Makes the Mediterranean even more tempting, what a luscious array of aircraft now available in the Mediterranean Theatre!
Hi LZ Need a missing facility "LBS_dr_airbase_s1afr_transports_42" for the J-52 mission. All the others work great, Thanks:salute: