A Messerschmitt Bf 109F of the Luftwaffe’s Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG53) “Pik-As” overflying the Alps during the unit’s ferry flight from the Eastern Front to Comiso, Sicily, later 1941 for operations against Malta. Victor Sierra

Bf 109 over the Alps

A ground serviceman painting over the engine cowling’s upper panel of a Messerschmitt Bf 109 the “African” emblem chosen by the Luftwaffe’s I Gruppe/Jagdgeschwader 27 (I./JG27) at the time of its deployment to North African theatre of operations. Victor Sierra

Painting the “African” emblem

RAF’s mechanics look over the cockpit of Messerschmitt Me 410A-3, TF209, at No. 1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight at Collyweston, Northamptonshire. This aircraft was the Luftwaffe’s plane code F6-OK, Werk Number 10259 of the 2(F)./122 (Aufklärungsgruppe 122), at this time based at Perugia, Central Italy, which on 27 November 1943, engaged in a photo recce mission over the Naples area landed for unknown reasons at Montecorvino airfield, near Salerno, in Allied hands. The Me 410 was captured intact and the crew, Fw. Hans Beyer and Uffz. Helmut Hein was taken POW. The aircraft was transferred in England and arrived for testing at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, on 14 April 1944. The Me 410, with the British military registration TF209 and RAF’s marking, was also evaluated by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down. TF209 flew with the Fighter Interception Unit at Wittering from August 1944 until March 1946 when it was transferred to No. 6 Maintenance Unit at Brize Norton. Victor Sierra

