Hi all,
Picked these two up on ebay some time ago. One of Spitfire PRIB P9331, there is an old threat on this forum discussing this a/c and there are some more pics of this Spit around on the web. The other is a late 109G with an Erla build canopy but with a normal style tail rudder.
Great photos, but I noticed two things about the second photo:
One, that Bf109 seems to be sitting at an odd angle...and in the background, that Luftwaffe aircraft has some odd bands on the fuselage, almost like Allied invasion strips...
I see what you mean about the angle...can't explain it though. The aircraft in the background has indeed two white bands across the fuselage but I don't think they are invasion stripes. The pilot too is dressed in all Luftwaffe gear.
I betcha its a collapsed landing gear on the port side. Look at the horizontal stabilizers and the distance to the ground - one is a mere inches while the other is..... I'm guess LG collapse.
I think that could well be the reason...didnt' notice the offset stabilizers before. I'm wondering if the pilot on the pic is the one piloting this a/c....he looks quiet relaxed. It would at least have raised my heart rate/minute.
A gear failure could be the reason why they took the photo...giving the pilot a hard time for screwing up a landing...the pilot looks more irritated than anything.