Me109 E1 comes out of hiding

[Spitty]

The notorious ex Indian yard find Me109 E1 has had some news..Sorry its Fb..
https://www.facebook.com/The-Kent-Battl ... nf&__xts__[0]=68.ARD9ylU9a40c9VHHFrMuYPrFqrmZLUoZKefTtEC_CIkSR2DXh9RFVon3NNb6tAA9Rj8Hk-c7g5Zqy1pPuRvKcgMLY26LnOZoJ8LwFZw8NXfE5ioh2fPikWlbMxsQKyXelg4WwXx0ciIqd5avH10iLpCtk9APpheweME5rFXXx4m7S48aX6Eio-a00boOcLBYeclMQEHRTFiuO0-HCFfJo6TJycVbEWnPRMJA6ax3Jh5C3MPfgc_LytlEADg8QXFhumTt9aOtm0VTIMD425MaaIwaxYsugbPl5BvDMsCQjrjP3QLF2DpCaf6tsY4MVDh5s7rYVz_B5cVS6OG3-suQ

[JohnTerrell]

Its been a major subject in a couple of recent UK magazines as well. It will be fantastic to see this project really get going now. Numerous pieces that were missing have been collected over the past several years to be refitted in the aircraft as it is restored, including the original German radio which will be restored to working order, all of the armament and gun sight, etc. Some battle damage patches will also be retained. As mentioned on the Facebook link, the recent acquisition of a complete DB601 has allowed for the decision to be made for the restoration of the airframe to commence. It is estimated that between 60-70% of the original airframe will be able to be retained in the restoration. One piece that they were still on the hunt for, at least as of last year, was an original seat. One of the interesting aspects of JG53, the unit it was assigned to, is that they painted over the swastikas on the tails of their 109's in 1940, and clear evidence of this has been found on the tail of this airframe. It was also reported last year that Aero Vintage Ltd. was in the process of acquiring the aircraft from Rare Aero, and when completed the 109E will be operated alongside the Historic Aircraft Collection's Hurricane and Spitfire at Duxford.

Last edited by JohnTerrell on Tue Mar 10, 2020 6:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[DH82EH]

I heard, through an acquaintance, that Guy Black recently sourced a DB601 engine here in Canada.
I'm going to go way out on a limb here and suggest that it might be for this project.
Given Guy Blacks way of doing things, it will emerge nothing short of perfect.

Andy

[JohnTerrell]

Yes, that's true Andy. Issue 3 of "Iron Cross" magazine, published last year, has a great article by Guy Black about the project. It's Guy Black's shop, Retrotec, that is restoring it, and the soon-to-be registered owner of the aircraft, Aero Vintage Ltd, is also owned by Guy Black. The project had been on the back burner/in the parts-collection phase while Retrotec were working on the re-manufacturing of a DB601 in-house. With the purchase of the complete DB601, they can now focus on the airframe.

[DH82EH]

Hey John.
I didn't noticed that we were composing posts at the same time.
I always enjoy your input and expertise regarding this warbird nonsense
You kind of make me feel like a chump

Cheers friend.

Andy

[wolf]

Somewhat sucks that they are restoring this ship....

If this is the original paint then it is a time capsule showing original WWII Luftwaffe mixed paint - very rare. Should be done as a Smithsonian project.

There is enough Ha1112's that could be made into fake Bf109's that an original is not necessary.

[gregv]

Great to see pics of this airframe and hear that it will be getting worked on.

Speaking of DB601's, anyone have any idea what happened to the DB601 in the crate that was part of Connie Edwards' stash?

greg v.

[Sopwith]

Great news, hope it all goes well for them. I would love to see it flying sometime in the future. Can’t have enough genuine 109’s flying.

[mrp]

I had heard from a good source, that the ex- Connie Edwards DB601 had been sold to Dan Friedkin for the 109 project he owns , on display at Planes of Fame, Chino Ca. The restoration of the 109E was supposed to have been started by Fighter Re-builders . I am not sure what will become of this project as I have heard that it will remain in its as recovered state and not be restored for flight as had been originally proposed.I would think that the engine is sitting out at Comanche Ranch ,Texas.

I assume that the DB601 that Guy Black has now sourced , is the one that was stored at Markham Ont , with the Land , Sea and Air collection fronted by Al Rubin. The Canada Air and Space Museum in Ottawa , also has a nice DB601 on display, which includes 109 engine mounts. I know that Guy Black was interested in that engine, but I am not sure if it is this one that he has obtained.

mrp

[Fleet16b]

I had heard from a good source, that the ex- Connie Edwards DB601 had been sold to Dan Friedkin for the 109 project he owns , on display at Planes of Fame, Chino Ca. The restoration of the 109E was supposed to have been started by Fighter Re-builders . I am not sure what will become of this project as I have heard that it will remain in its as recovered state and not be restored for flight as had been originally proposed.I would think that the engine is sitting out at Comanche Ranch ,Texas.

I assume that the DB601 that Guy Black has now sourced , is the one that was stored at Markham Ont , with the Land , Sea and Air collection fronted by Al Rubin. The Canada Air and Space Museum in Ottawa , also has a nice DB601 on display, which includes 109 engine mounts. I know that Guy Black was interested in that engine, but I am not sure if it is this one that he has obtained.

mrp

The engine is most likely the one from Markham Ontario Canada . Though part of the Air Land and Sea Museum , it was not owned by Al Rubin . He is only the property manager for Markham Airport. Everything there is owned by the Thompson Corp. Rubin loves to allude that he is the owner of everything but its not true
Glad the engine has moved on as it was in beautiful shape externally and had the original mounts with it . Its a shame it sat so long as it did .

[Richard W.]

Its been a major subject in a couple of recent UK magazines as well. It will be fantastic to see this project really get going now. Numerous pieces that were missing have been collected over the past several years to be refitted in the aircraft as it is restored, including the original German radio which will be restored to working order, all of the armament and gun sight, etc. Some battle damage patches will also be retained. As mentioned on the Facebook link, the recent acquisition of a complete DB601 has allowed for the decision to be made for the restoration of the airframe to commence. It is estimated that between 60-70% of the original airframe will be able to be retained in the restoration. One piece that they were still on the hunt for, at least as of last year, was an original seat. One of the interesting aspects of JG53, the unit it was assigned to, is that they painted over the swastikas on the tails of their 109's in 1940, and clear evidence of this has been found on the tail of this airframe. It was also reported last year that Aero Vintage Ltd. was in the process of acquiring the aircraft from Rare Aero, and when completed the 109E will be operated alongside the Historic Aircraft Collection's Hurricane and Spitfire at Duxford.

Painting over the swastikas is something I hadn't heard about before. Is it known why JG53 did that?

[JohnTerrell]

I know very little and only what I've read others write about on the subject. In the summer of 1940, the Kommodore of JG53 was Major Hans-Jurgen von Cramon-Taubadel. In August of 1940, the prideful "Pik As" (Ace of Spades) insignia was removed from JG53's aircraft and a 6-inch red band was applied around the nose. Herman Goering is reported to have instituted that order (backed by RAF intelligence reports), and it has been suggested that it was a mark of shame handed down after Goering had found out that Cramon-Taubadel was married to a woman of Jewish descent. This may be backed by the fact that the "Pik As" was added back on again almost immediately after Oblt. Gunther Freiherr von Maltzahn took over command in October 1940. At some point, and I don't know the time-line, the swastikas on the tails were painted over on JG53 aircraft, and this has been viewed as having been a political protest of the matter.





Hans Georg Schulte's Bf-109E of JG53, seen here after being forced down in England on September 16th 1940 (the official British report on the aircraft states that there were remnants of the red band beneath the white-painted cowlings - just a hint of demarcation seems to show around the bottom cowling in this photo).



This photo of JG53 Bf-109E's is rather intriguing, as you can see some in the background with the red bands, and the main subject aircraft at the center has the swastika painted over on the vertical stabilizer but a new swastika re-applied on the rudder. Schulte's aircraft, "White 5", as seen above, can also be seen in this earlier shot.

[Joe Scheil]

IT should be preserved. There is no reason to strip off the original paint and build a flyer out of that plane. It is almost criminal to do so.

We have flying "E" models, so this one should be sympathetically preserved as its paint and structure seems to be generally original. A true shame.

[GRNDP51]

IT should be preserved. There is no reason to strip off the original paint and build a flyer out of that plane. It is almost criminal to do so.

We have flying "E" models, so this one should be sympathetically preserved as its paint and structure seems to be generally original. A true shame.

If it really does retain 60-70% originality this is going to be an incredible restoration.

I'll take a flyer with that authenticity any day.