Wednesday 26 February 2014

"Monotone Me's" - new AIMs decals from John McIllmurray




Introducing the first in a new series of decal sheets from AIMs decals - the first of John's new sheets has now been received and is entitled "monotone Me's". Featuring eleven Messerschmitts in overall single colour 'camo' finishes these sheets have been compiled with the assistance of the 'Luftwaffe blog'. Subjects include NJG Bf 110s, the Bf 109 G-10s of NJG 11 as depicted on this blog, Bf 109s of JG 1, Me 262s and two subjects for the Me 163. As usual with John's sheets you get some nice profile artworks and plenty of reference notes and colour information in a readable text. This first sheet in available in three scales and so we heartily recommend you head over to John's site for more info and to place your order!



Below; a nice print from my collection (via J-Y Lorant) of Bf 109 G-6/AS 'Green 5' of I./EJG 2, the Ergänzungsnachtjagdstaffel  (night fighter replacement training unit), in overall gloss back finish as featured on John McIllmurray's new decal sheet "Monotone Me's". Established in March 1944 at Ludwigslust under Staffelkapitän  Hptm. Heinrich Spitzer, this unit was augmented to two Staffeln in July 1944 and trained pilots for single-seat night fighters. Note the owl unit emblem on the engine cowl and, unusually for a Luftwaffe fighter, the painted propeller tips. Click on the image for a quality screen-size view.
 

Thursday 20 February 2014

JG 77 Emil - General Eduard Dietl Narvik - Ebay photo find Norwegian campaign album





Norwegian campaign album currently on ebay.de features this (J).TrGr 186 (JG 77)  early Emil - almost certainly 'Red 1' of the Staffelkapitän of 5. Staffel (Oblt. Peter Emmerich ?) - and pictures of "our guest " Gen. Eduard Dietl commander of the 3rd Gebirgsjäger (mountain troops) division and first recipient of the Eichenlaub (Oak Leaves) for successful operations around Narvik. (awarded during June 1940). Below; Dietl's Storch being refuelled..




Dietl wearing RK and Eichenlaub awarded during June 1940. Dietl was killed in the crash of his Ju 52 on 23 June 1944 as CO German forces in Norway and northern Finland






Stukas at Banak. For the invasion of Denmark and Norway, launched on 9 April 1940, five Do 26 seaplanes (V-1 to V-5) were brought together in the so-called Transozeanstaffel incorporated in 9./KGzbV 108 - see previous post on this blog here.

Tuesday 18 February 2014

Kommandeur I./JG 77 Hptm. Heinz Bär








..picture probably taken on the hand-over of I./JG77 by Major Ihlefeld to Hptm. Heinz Bär, appointed Kommandeur of I. Gruppe on 10 May 1942 and depicting the two officers alongside the tail of Herbert Ihlefeld's Friedrich marked with 103 victories. Note the stiffeners on the fuselage side above the tail wheel, still present on 7000-series Bf 109 F-4s..  Commentary source via Jochen Prien's 'History of Jagdgeschwader 77 Part 2 1941 to 1942'

Image currently on offer here