Desert brown RLM 79 on JG 5 Bf 109Fs

Sandgelb RLM 79 on II./JG 5 Bf 109Fs?
Making the case!
By
Kjetil Aakra
(Photo: Keskinen & Stenman 1998).
Introduction
One of the many controversies in regard to camouflage and markings seen on aircraftof the
Third Reich during WWII centres around the possibly use of RLM 79 Sandgelb (desert brown) on
Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4/trops allocated to II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschader 5 in summer/fall/1942. The
photograph reproduced above is one of those fueling this debate. As can be seen, the two top-surface
colours are carried further down the fuselage sides than is normal on BF 109s camouflaged in the
normal greys (i.e. RLM 75 Grauviolett and RLM 74 Dunkelgrau). Furthermore, the top colours are not
broken down in the classical Luftwaffe style mottling but consist of solid areas of colour, highly unusual
for Bf 109s at the time. The question wether this is just an unusual application of the normal greys or a
modified sandgelb desert scheme has been debated for a considerable time but as no colour
photographs of these aircraft are known, it has never been adequately answered.
Arguments have been made supporting both viewpoints. In this brief article I will try to
summarize some of the facts regarding these planes and try to make a decition as to what the most
likely colour scheme was.
Facts – What we know
The controversy centres around the approximately 45 Bf 109F-4/trops belonging to the W.Nr.
block 10001 – 10290 that were delivered to II./JG 5 from late April to December 1942. These were
delievered as follows1:
May 1942: 24 newly built machines (4 of which were lost during the month)
June 1942: 19 newly built machines (4 lost during the month)
For the remainder of 1942 only low numbers of newly constructed F-4s were delivered (2 in
July, 1 in September and 6 in December), other Bf 109Fs received came either from repair centres or
other units.
This makes a total of 52 new Bf 109Fs delievered to II. Gruppe during the course of 1942. It is
certain that the majority of these were from the 10001 – 10290 W. Nr. Block, a block that consisted of
290 F-4/trops built by Erla between January and June 19422. This was the last of the F-series built.
Known machines from this W.Nr. block serving with JG 5 are3:
W. Nr. St.K.Z.
10 023
10 073
10 096
10 099
10 101
10 112
10 121
10 122
10 123
10 124
10 128
10 129
10 130
10 131
10 132
10 133
10 135
10 136
10 138
10 139
10 144
10 145
10 150
10 153
10 155
10 157
10 160
10 161
10 164
10 169
10 170
10 171
10 173
10 174
10 176
10 177
10 180
10 183
10 193
10 195
10 151
1
Unit
III./JG 5
6./JG 5
6./JG 5
II./JG 5
II./JG 5
Code
Pilot
Yellow 3
Lt. Rudolf Müller
Yellow 6
Hartwein
Damaged 25 % on 15.08.42
Damaged 85 % on 30.06.42
II./JG 5
CD+LZ
5./JG 5
III./JG 5
II./JG 5
Stab II./JG 5
6./JG 5
II./JG 5
II./JG 5
6./JG 5
6./JG 5
6./JG 5
III./JG 5
II./JG 5
II./JG 5
7./JG 5
6./JG 5
II./JG 5
6./JG 5
Damaged 15 % on 21.04.43
Black 20
Fw. Walter Puhl
Chevron
Yellow 15
Hptm. Horst Carganico
Uffz. Wilhelm Kuchlingg
Yellow 4
Yellow 7
Yellow 3
Uffz. Ludwig Scharf
Fw. Albert Brunner
Fw. Leopold Knier
Uffz. Martin Müller
White 3
Yellow 7 (?)
Uffz. Alfred Kern
Fw. Albert Brunner
Yellow 9
Uffz. Hans Döbrich
III./JG 5
II./JG 5
6./JG 5
6./JG 5
II./JG 5
Fate
Damaged 25 % on 20.04.43
Lost on 16.09.42 (?)
Emergency landing on 01.09.42
Damaged 20 % on 29.04.43
Damaged 15 % on 22.07.42.
Lost on 12.08.42
Lost on 29.06.42.
Lost on 28.05.42. 80 %
Damaged 50 % on 04.06.43
Lost on 15.09.42.
Lost on 05.09.42
Lost on 19.07.42.
Damaged 25 % on 22.04.43
Lost on 10.07.42
Damaged 55 % on 21.04.43
Lost on 14.03.43
Lost on 21.08.42
Take-off accident 15.05.42 50 %
Lost on 19.07.42.
Damaged 10 % on 03.09.43
Yellow 2
Obfw. Willi Pfränger
Fw. Emil Stratmann
Damaged 50 % on 06.07.43
Missing on 17.05.42 near Murmansk
Lost on 29.06.42.
Uffz. Hans Enderle
Lost on 20.05.42. 100 %
Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen II./JG5, March 1942 – September 1944.
Prien, J. & Rodeike, P. 1993. Messerschmitt Bf 109F, G & K Series. An Illustrated Study. Schiffer
Publishing Ltd. 208 pp.
3
Based on loss lists, photographs and various other documents in the possession of Air Historical
Society, Norway, a well as additional data from Andreas Brekken and Mark Shepard.
2
10 252
Stab II./JG 5
10 253
III./JG 5
10 256
10 258
Stab II./JG 5
Chevron
Lost on
19.07.43
Chevron
Lt. Werner Kunze
Lost on 19.09.42.
Hptm. Horst Carganico
Emergency landing on 22.07.42, 100 %
It is established beyond doubt that the vast majority if not all of these machines carried a
factory finish of RLM 79 Sandgelb over RLM 78 Hellblau. Examples are W.Nr. 100374, W. Nr. 10079,
one of the machines flown by Lt. Marseille in North Africa in summer 19425 (see photographs below)
and W. Nr. 102376. The first and last machine mentioned belonged to I./JG 3 and carried the famous
“modified Africa scheme” so well documented in photographs (see references and photograph below).
I. And III./JG 3 achived their spectacular camouflage scheme by adding two additional upper surface
schemes onto the single RLM 79-coloured top surface of their Bf 109Fs. Not only that, the scheme
carried was similar from machine to machine! These machines establishes beyond doubt that the W.
Nr. block in question were painted at the factory in RLM 79 on top surfaces and 78 on ventral
surfaces. It appears that most of these carried the Hellblau half-way up the fuselage sides, whereas
Marseilles’ machine probably had the entire upper surface covered I Sandgelb, probably the result of
additional repainting.
Figure 1. Hans Joachim Marseille’s Bf 109F-4/trop, W. Nr. 10059, Yellow 14 seen on 1st. June
1942. The plane carries a scheme of RLM 79 over all top surfaces and RLM 78 on ventral
sirfaces. Note supercharger dust filter and the white nose and spinner and tailband. (Photo:
Prien & Rodeike 1993).
4
See page 49 in Reference 2.
See page 46 in Reference 2.
6
See page 51 in Reference 2.
5
Figure 2. Bf 109F-4/trop, W. Nr. 10037, Black 8, of 2./JG 3 in May 1942. This machine carries the
characteristic modified Africa scheme seen on all Messerschmitts of the Gruppe at the time.
(Photo: Prien & Rodeike 1993)
Even if these photographs of I./JG 3 are not in colour, they are very useful in providing blackand-white renditions of what RLM 79 sandgelb appears like compared to other top surface colours. It
is not possibly to establish beyond doubt what the latter were in the cae of I./JG 3, but it is likely that it
was RLM 75 Grauviolett and Black-Green 70, both of which were readily available to a Jagdgruppe on
the eastern Front where I./JG 3 was stationed at the time. The darkest colour used in too strong in
tone and stauration to be RLM 74. A rendition of W. Nr. 10202, serving with Stab I./JG 3 may be seen
in figure 3 below.
Figure 3. Bf 109F-4/trop, W. Nr. 10202 of Stab I./JG 3 in August 1942. This plane was also
finished in two additional colours applied over the Sandgelb upper surfaces but the scheme
used is vastly different from that seen on F-4/trops in JG 5. © Kjetil Aakra.
Operational History
So, we know that the Bf 109F-4/trops carried a delivery scheme of RLM 79 over RLM 78. But
this is not what these machines looked like when they arrived at the Feldflugpark Pori in April - June
1942! Figure 3 & 4 below shows two of these F-4/trops at Pori as they appeared when they arrived at
the aircraft depot.
Figure 4. Bf 109F-4/trop, w.Nr 10173 at Pori on April 23rd 1943 enroute to JG 5. It was probably
not delivered before May as no Bf 109Fs are on record with II. Gruppe in April. Interesting
points are overpainted tailband and the drop tank. Alos note heavy exhaust staining and
recently applied service stenciling on fuselage. (Photo: Keskinen & Stenman 1998).
Figure 5. Bf 109F-4/trop, VE+TU, at Malmi airport near Helsinki. It left for Pori on May 23rd 1942.
Werkenummer of this machine is not known for certain but it may have been 7534. Note the
rentention of the white theatre tailband and the simlarity of its segmented upper surface
scheme with CI+MM in Figure 4. (Photo: Keskinen & Stenman 1998).
Before going into the specific of their camouflage and colours it is necessary to look at the
history of these airframes prior to allocation to JG 57.
7
Based on information provided by Mark Shepard.
In early summer 1942 large numbers of newly constructed Bf 109F-4/trops slated for service in
North asfrica became surplus to requirements as the new Bf 109G-2/trop was about to enter service
with the Jagdgeschwadern (JG 27 & 53) serving in that theatre. These superfluous Messerschmitts
were therefore assigned to two Jagdgeschwdern serving on the eastern front, where the need for the
latest models of Luftwaffe’s principal fighter was not so pressing. I./JG 3 and II./JG 5 were the main
recipients as far as is known.
After the obligatory Werkstattflug (factory test flight) the Bf 109Fs were flown to a refitting and
modification center located at Anklam near Leipzig. Here the F-4/trops were probably “dedesertialized”. This mainly consisted of removal of the supercharger dust filter and it was probably
here that the camouflage scheme was altered. After the modifications were finished the machines
were stored before delivery to an operational unit.
Where the Guesswork begins
Both photographs reproduced above (figures 4 & 5) are revealing. Firstly, it is extremely
interesting that the white Mediterranean theatre fuselage band has been either overpainted (CI+MM)
or retained (VE+TU). This means that there is a high probabillity that the original desert camouflage
colours were also retained, why else would the tailband be present? It is not known where the tailband
was removed/overpainted, both Anklam and Pori are possibilities. The latter is most likely as remnants
of the tailband were present even on operational machines (Hans Döbrich’s Yellow 10, se figure 7).
The F-4/trops do not appear to have had the white nosering commonly associated with Bf 109s in the
African theatre (see figure 1) as there is no sign of overpainting there. This was probably not part of
the factory finish anyway, as some Bf 109F-4/trops in Sandgelb and with delivery codes were
photographed without these markings8. The spinners were delivered in black-green 70 with 1/3rd in
white as seen on CI+MM.
What is as good as certain is that the ventral colour was definitely RLM 78. This is obvious
from photographs were the fuselage frame numbers are still visible (again Yellow 10 of Hans Döbrich).
On later photographs of Döbrich’s Yellow 10 (as well as others) repainting around the position of the
ID number is visible and a lighter colour has been applied over the Hellblau. This can only be RLM 76
Lichtblau. Detailed examination of the fuselage section of CI+MM reveals some of these features as
well as a few more of interest. Figure 6 below show these in detail.
Figure 6. Close-up of Figure 3. The following features are notewhorty:
1 – the Stammkennzeichnen appear to have been reapplied over a slightly lighter colour
(compared to the RLM 70 or 74 base colour). This could be the result of reapplication of the
letters following recamouflaging at Anklam or Pori. (Photo: Keskinen & Stenman 1998)
8
See page 43 in Reference 2.
2 – tailband has been overpainted, probably in RLM 74 or 75, most probably not RLM 79
(compare contrast with light background colour around Balkenkreuz).
3 – there is also evidence of repainting over the Hellblau on the fuselage sides, again after
possible reaplication of St.K.z. after the original Sandgelb was complimented with RLM 70 or
74.
Figure 7. Hans Döbrich’s Bf 109F-4, Yellow 10. This machine still carried the fuselage frame
numbers meaning that the original RLM 78 was still carried. A further proof of this is the
overpaiting around the numeral in a lighter blue colour, presumably RLM 76. The white tailband
is also faintly visible behind the fuselage cross. © Kjetil Aakra.
Moving on to the colours making up the camouflage scheme, several possibillities present
themselves. Accepting that the lightest colour is RLM 79 Sandgelb, two possibilities seem most likely
in regard to the darkest colour. Being a fighter, RLM 74 would be a natural colour to use on these
machines and the tonal contrast on CI+MM and VE+TU seem to be consistent with the apperance of
this colour on black-and-white photographs. However, other photos (from a private collection) of II.
Gruppe Bf 109Fs from this period show what is definitely a much darker colour applied to the top
surface. This was in all likelyhood RLM 70 black-green. The best example is provided by W.Nr. 10073,
yellow 3. of 6./JG 5, flown by Rudolf Müller. This machine is unusual in that the topside colours covers
the entire upper and side surfaces of the fuselage. However, the general picture is complicated by the
fact that a third upper surface colours has been applied. This is very light in appearance and I interpret
it as RLM 75. That this is a third colour and not just RLM 79 is proved by the fact that it partly overlaps
the fuselage Balkenkreuz and thus have been applied after the machine was completed, most likely
when in service with JG 5. Furthermore, the Werkenummer of this machine is present on a lighter
patch of colour. As the surrounding colour is definitely not RLM 70, it becomes obvious that a third
colour has been added and I believe this was RLM 75 as this would have been readily available to the
ground crew of JG 5. Application of a third top surface colour has been seen on many F-4/trops at the
time, including Yellow 9 and Yellow 12 of 6./JG 5 (see figures 6 & 7 below).
Figure 8 below shows how Müller’s F-4/trop appeared in summer 1942. Comparing the photos
of Müller’s Yellow 3 with other F-4s in 6. Staffel it becomes clear that the dark colour was most
common on the majority of II./JG 5’s F-4/trops. RLM 74 cannot be ruled out but RLM 70 is the best
documented choice.
Figure 7. Obfw. Rudolf Muller’s Bf 109F-4/trop, W.Nr. 10073, Yellow 3 of 6./JG 5, as it appeared
during summer 1942. Noteworthy features are the large segments of RLM 70 and 75 covering
the entire fuselage top surfaces, leaving only traces of the original RLM 79 below the cockpit,
on the supercharger intake and nose section. © Kjetil Aakra.
Müller’s Messerschmitt is more of an abberation however, definitely not being typical of the F4/trops of II./JG 5. A more typical scheme is exemplified by e.g. Yellow 12 of Lt. Heinrich Ehrler (figure
10), although on this machine it is obvious that a third colour has been apllied over the original top
surface colour. Available photographs of this machine show that the darker colour has allready started
to fade or its original application was not sufficient to completely cover the Sandgelb colour.
Figur 8. Yellow 9, a Bf 109F-4 of 6./JG 5 showing what is definitely three colours on the upper
surfaces. They were most likely RLM 70 (darkest colour), RLM 75 (medium dark) and RLM 79
(lightest). Note white wingtips. (Photo: Keskinen & Stenman 1998).
Figure 9. Heinrich Ehrler’s Yellow 12 showing uneven apllication of the second top surface
colour and addition of a third colour on the rearmost part of the engine cowling. © Kjetil Aakra.
Two top surface colours appear to be most common, however. A typical scheme is seen in
Figure 11 below. The scheme is characterized by the fact that the two (or in some case, three) upper
surface colours are carried halfway down the fuselage sides. The schemes are also more or less
identical from machine to machine, though not to the same degree as seen in I./JG 3. Although this
scheme has been seen mostly on F-4/trops from 6./JG 5 it is also known from 5./JG 5. The last Staffel
of the Gruppe, 4./JG 5, continued flying Bf 109E-7s for a considerable time and so far no Bf 109Fs of
this unit with what would appear to be a modified African scheme has been located.The three Staffeln
of III. Gruppe had differently camouflaged Bf 109Fs as did IV. Gruppe.
Figure 10. Bf 109F-4/trop, Yellow 6, of 6./JG 5, possibly W. Nr. 10101. Two upper surface
colours are visible. Note the white wingtips. (Photo: Keskinen & Stenman 1998).
During the last decade some of the machines delivered to II./JG 5 have actually been
recovered from their crash sites in Northern Russia and restored. Most notable is W.Nr. 10132, a
former mount of Horst Carganico. This has enabled us to analyse the remaining parts for paint
samples and indeed, on this machine traces of RLM 79 were found9. Even if it has not unequivocally
proved that RLM 79 was a topside colour at the time of the crash, it at least established this colour as
a part of the airframe’s original colour scheme. When restored, 10132 was finished in a 74/79/78
scheme.
9
Information from Mark Shepard.
It is also interesting to note that traces of RLM 79 Sandgelb was found on Bf 109G-1/R-1 W.
Nr. 14141, Black 6, St.K.z. DG+UF, recovered from Southern Norway and currently under restoration
at Sola Aviation Museum. There has also been speculation that some of the G-2s delivered to JG 5 in
early 1943 were finished in RLM 79 when delivered to JG 5. This scheme was subsequently modified
by the application of RLM 70 and white spots to make the planes more suitably camouflaged for the
winter season10!
Finally, one of the arguments against the existence of a modified Africa scheme on these Bf
109s operating over the not-so-desert like tundra of Northern Norway, Finland and Russia, has been
that it would be totally unsuitable for the environment found here. At the time of writing this the autumn
has reached us living in this region and I can personally testify that there is more than enough of
brown colour to go around in nature these days! It is therefore probable that the Sandgelb, when
combined with greens and/or dark greys, would be suitable for the environment, especially during late
summer and fall.
Summary and Conclusion
To sum it all up, it seems more than likely that the BF 109F-4/trops belonging to the W. Nr.
block 10001 – 10290 delivered to JG 5 in early summer-fall 1942 (see list above) carried either a
combination of RLM 79/707/8 or RLM 70/75/79/78, at least during their initial service. This is made all
the more probable by the following facts:
-
At least machines of W. Nr.block 10001 – 10290 delivered to JG 27 and I./JG 3 carried RLM 79
on their topmost surfaces, in the latter case supplemented by two other colours.
Traces of Sandgelb has been found on remaining pieces of JG 5 Bf 109F-4/trops.
Detailed analysis of available photographs, several of which have never been published or been
generally available, reveals that there are two or sometimes three upper surface colours on these
F-4s
The style of application of the upper surface colours is not consistent with a factory applied RLM
74/75/76 scheme due to the solid appearance of the scheme
It is however, consitent with a modified Africa scheme as seen on I./JG 3 machines
As an example of before-and-after images of these machine, figure 12 & 13 below are revealing.
This depicts Carganico’s W. Nr. 10132 in its hypothetical pre-delivery scheme and how it appeared
when in service with Stab/II./JG 5.
Figure 11. How W. Nr. 10132 might have looked before transfer to Anklam (or Pori) where the
Africa scheme was modified. © Kjetil Aakra.
10
See Luftwaffe in Focus No. 2, pp. 27 – 30.
Figure 12. W. Nr. 10132 after repainting and application of opertional markings. Note that the
canopy has been changed into an early E-1 type as the pilot, Hptm. Horst Carganico, preferred
this type to the more angular deisgn seen on the Bf 109E-4 and later versions. © Kjetil Aakra.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Andreas Brekken and Mark Sheppard for crucial information used in this article. Photos are
from Prien, J. & Rodeike, P. 1993. Messerschmitt Bf 109F, G & K Series. An Illustrated Study.
Schiffer Publishing Ltd. and Keskinen, K. & Stenman, K. 1998. German aircraft in Finland 1939-1945.
Apali OY. Finland. All profiles are © Kjetil Aakra.