One of the Messerschmitt Bf 109Gs, perhaps of Luftwaffe’s JG53, captured in Sicily by the USAAF’s 57th Fighter Group, July 1943, was transformed, with works in the field, in two seat aircraft removing the fuselage tank, replaced by the belly tank, to accommodate the second seat. Obviously, lacking a suitable canopy, the original canopy was removed, keeping only the windscreen and the aircraft turned into an “open cockpit” plane. Transformation’s author was the Sgt. Fred Symmank, enlisted man of technical services of 57th Fighter Group’s 65thFighter Squadron, while one of the pilots was the Lt. Jim Hadnot, a 65th Fighter Squadron’s Officer. Note under the open cockpit the original writings in German. Victor Sierra

A Messerschmitt 109 very unusual

Dirt and flame spur as this B-24J of the 854th Squadron of the 491th Group ploughs into a field at 150 mph. It was hit by flak at 1,500 feet as it was making a climbing turn from DZ 'W' during a resuply mission to the 101st Airborne during operation 'Market'. The pilot, Capt James K. Hunter tried a crash-landing in a field near Udenhout. The field was too short, and seconds after this photo was taken the aircraft hit trees and a haystack and exploded, killing the entire crew save for one gunner, Frank Di Palma, who was thrown clear and severely wounded. Holland, September 18, 1944.

Seconds to disaster

The Messerschmitt 109G transformed in two seat by the USAAF’s 57th Fighter Group preparing for take-off from Scordia or Pachino Airfield, Sicily, Summer 1943. Note the belly tank, used instead of the fuselage tank, removed for the second seat, and the lack of canopy. Very probably with a such airplane the flights were a kind of “leisure flight” more than authentic simulated dogfight with the other American fighters as with the other Bf.109s captured in flying conditions. Obviously, according the 57th FG’s history, it was necessary to take several precautions when flying the 109 so as to avoid getting shot down by local anti-aircraft artillery as the escort of a 57th FG’s P-40 Warhawks. The final fate of this strange former German plane is unknown. Likely it remained in Sicily when the Group was transferred to Italian mainland, end September 1943. Victor Sierra