Using a rudimental trolley, a German armorer loading a bomb beneath the fuselage of an Jabo (Jagdbomber/Fighter-bomber) Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4 of the 10.(Jabo) JG53, while other bombs are scattered on the ground, on a Sicilian airfield, perhaps Biscari-San Pietro, near Catania, March 1942. On the aircraft’s engine cowling the “Pik-As” (Ace of pikes), emblem of the Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG53). Victor Sierra

Loading the bomb

South-East Sicily, 27 March 1942: returning from a mission over Malta, the Uffz. Felix Sauer of Luftwaffe’s 10.(Jabo)/JG53 experienced an engine failure of his Jabo (Jagdbomber/Fighter bomber) Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4, W. Nr. 7473, Weiß 3 (White 3) and was forced to land at the foreshore in front to Pozzallo. The photo show a moment of the airplane’s salvage on the part of German ground crewmen (the man on the left attached to radio mast seem have a good time). The pilot escaped unhurt, the aircraft was little damaged but was later declared a 90% loss, probably on account of the salt-water damage caused by the rising tide. Note the emblem of this fighter-bomber unit of the Jagdgeschwader 53 over the fuselage’s white band, this latter marking the Luftwaffe’s aircraft operating on the Mediterranean theatre. Victor Sierra



Jabo at sea

Jagdbomber (Fighter-bomber) Messerschmitt Bf 109F of the Luftwaffe’s 10./JG53, equipped with the Bombenträger ETC 500 IXb and already loaded with a 250 kg bomb beneath the fuselage, likely for a strike over Malta, on a Sicilian airfield, perhaps Gela, March 1942. Note the propeller spinner painted in Green 70 color whit a white segment. Victor Sierra