A Tale of Two Messerschmitts

[imalko]

I named this thread according with the title of the article to which you will find link at the end of this post, but what really fascinated me is the story about second Bf 109 told in this article, namely Bf 109G W.Nr. 610937. This particular airplane is now painted to represent an aircraft flown by Germany's leading ace, Erich Hartman and is on display in preserved condition (fluids drained) at the Captain Michael King Smith Evergreen Aviation Educational Institute in McMinnville, Oregon (picture bellow).

But to my surprise I learned that this very same Bf 109 was once used operationally by the Yugoslav Air Force in the 50s and that it was afterward in possession of the Aeronautical Museum in Belgrade. Now, I knew that there were two Bf 109s in our Museum, one on display (Bf 109G-2) and other in storage waiting for restoration (Bf 109G-10). I also heard that this other plane was sold to foreign buyer because Museum lacked funds for its restoration, but I had no idea what became of this airplane and who actually bought it. In this article you can find entire story how this plane came to the US but also about its very interesting history before that, for this particular Bf 109 was flown by Luftwaffe, but also postwar in Bulgaria and Yugoslavia, only to find its way to the United States.

So, here's the link to the full article. Enjoy...

A Tale of Two Me-109s

 

[comiso90]

cool... thanks

 

[Airframes]

Very interesting article, thanks Igor.

 

[diddyriddick]

Nice link. Thanks!

 

[BikerBabe]

Very fascinating story and article. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Gnomey]

Very interesting stuff Igor, thanks for sharing.

 

[imalko]

Thank you guys and girls. I'm glad you found this story interesting. I'm little sad though for this Bf 109G-10 no longer being in Museum in my country, but I guess it at least ended up with some fine people who were able to restore it and now when on display many people will be able to see this part of living history. It is better this way rather then to keep it stored indefinitely with little hope for restoration...

 

[vikingBerserker]

Excellent article, Thanks!

 

[Milos Sijacki]

Thanks, excellent read.

 

[Wayne Little]

yeah, great article Igor, thanks mate!

 

[imalko]

This interesting photos were posted on one Serbian forum. Unfortunately author of these photos is unknown.

Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10 9644/White 44 is here shown in basement of Aeronautical Museum in Belgrade. The airframe was classified as "insufficiently preserved for museum exhibition" and thus was sold to United States...

 

[imalko]

Couple more shots of "White 44" after arrival to her new home at Evergreen Aviation Educational Institute in McMinnville, Oregon. The last photo is for comparison how she looks today after the restoration...

 

[wheelsup_cavu]

Wow!
That restoration looks great.


Wheels

 

[Njaco]

curious about what else they have. In that first pic I spy a P-51? maybe , something with a radial (can't tell very well) and is that an Erla hood sitting next to the Bf 109?

 

[magnu]

An interesting read .
Not a P51 but a cannon armed Spitfire, what looks like a US radial with four bladed prop and the wing with US star and bar from a P38?

 

[beaupower32]

That Erla Hood is actually connected to another Bf-109. Im thinking the Radial engine in the back belongs to a Corsair.