German Air Force

Weiß 14 in Italy

Asisbiz via J-Y Lorant

Italy, Summer 1944. Weiß 14, the Bf 109G-6 (pilot Oblt. Heimo Emmerstorfer) of the of 2.Staffel, I./NAG 12 (I./Nahaufklärungsgruppen), one of tactical reconnaissance Gruppen established by the Luftwaffe in Southern Germany on 1943 and equipped with various models of the latest Bf 109G sub-types and tasked with fast, high altitude recce sorties over the battlefield beyond the reach of Allied fighters. The recce Bf 109 was fitted with Rustsätze comprising the RB 12.5/7 or RB 32/7 camera installations, prior to the appearance of the dedicated G-8 recce variant, and was deployed to the hot spots of the European theatre. The 2.Staffel of the I./NAG 12, established at Herzogenaurach, Southern Germany, Spring 1943, came in Italy early 1944 for recce missions over US-held airfields and ports. Prior of the deployment in Northern Italy, the unit was based on the Albanian Berat airfield, Southwest Tirana, and, afterwards, at Sarajevo. Victor Sierra