Bf109G with tall tail and kill/victory markings (1 Viewer)

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kettbo

Senior Airman
443
22
Oct 18, 2007
Western Washington, USA
A bit of help requested!

In mid 1943 the LW had the white tails and white rudders for leaders. Many were well-adorned with victory claim/kill markings and often Knights Cross decoration. I know the tall tails were coming into service with the Bf109G-5/AS and Bf109G-6/AS end of 1943/early 1944. Seems when the tall tails come in, the decorated rudders disappear.

Official policy or Self-Preservation?

I have been looking at many of my sources without luck
Any linkies to pics of tall rudder with kill markings are much appreciated!

edit: found this for MAJ SPECHT but not the picture(s) the profile comes from
Aircraft illustration
 
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As memo serves, in 1943 all fighter planes belonged to the Reichsluftverteidigung (Air Defense of the Reich) got white rudders. Later the entire tails were painted with the colours. So it wasn't a matter of being a leader.
 
George, here are a couple for you,

First is White 5, Bf109G-10/U4 W.Nr 611048 of II/JG52 with 7 victories.
Second Yellow 2 Bf109G10/U4 W.nr 612XXX also of II?JG52 with 2 barely visible kill markings at the top of the rudder
Third is Double Chevron Bf109G-6 W.Nr. 411960 of IV/JG5 Hptm. Franz Dorr with 128 victories

2 others I know of and have, are Friedrich Karl Muller Bf109K? 30 victories on rudder and.....Kurt Welter I think also Bf109K-4? these 2 I also need to find.

Sources for 1 2 Luftwaffe over Czech territory Messerschmitt Bf109g-10/U4 by Japo
for 3 from the internet, but I have it in Eismeerjager JG5 by Eric Mombeek
 

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I think that by the time these modified tail Bf 109s were appearing on the frontlines, personal markings were not a priority and weren't applied many times. That may be the reason you don't find many of them.
 
and here are those other 2 tall tails, Freidrich Karl Mullers 30 victory tail which still survives and also Kurt Welters rudder, both could be G-10's or K-4's there are references to both.

Sources:JaPo Bf109K-4 Camo and Marking and Luftwaffe rudder Markings Karl Ries
 

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  • Welter Rudder_0778.jpg
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