“Nude look” German armorers reloading the weapons of a X Flieger Korps, Flieger Führer Afrika,’s Messerschmitt Bf 109E on a Libyan airstrip, likely 1941. The photo give an idea of the sand’s effects over the airplane’s forward section. The dark paint of the propeller’s blades is scraped by the continuous high speed projection against the propeller of the microscopic sand’s grains, in addition to natural erosion of the metal propellers. Other effects are visible over the spinner, the wing’s leading edge and the engine cowling. Victor Sierra



Sand’s effects

Gela Airfield, Sicily, Spring 1941. Joachim Müncheberg leader of 7./JG26 “Schlageter” on the cockpit of his Bf 109E. When his units was transferred in Sicily Müncheberg (born on 18 December 1918) were already an ace with over 20 victories. The first Müncheberg’s victory over Malta date on 12 February 1941, an Hurricane of 261 Sqn RAF. From February 1941 until August 1941, when was transferred to France, the 7./JG 26 claimed 52 victories without losing a single pilot, half by Müncheberg, also over Yugoslavia in support of the German invasion of the Balkans. On 7 May 1941 Müncheberg was awarded of the Italian Gold Medal of Military Valor. After the France and Russia, on 1 October 1942, Major Müncheberg was appointed Kommodore of JG 77, operating over North Africa, Sicily and Tunisia. Müncheberg was killed on 23 March 1943 over Tunisia in combat with USAAF Spitfire fighters from the 52nd Fighter Group when, after shooting down one, he was in collision with a second. At the time of the death the Müncheberg’s score were 135 aerial victories in over 500 missions: 102 on the Western Front and 33 on the Eastern Front. Victor Sierra

An enemy of the RAF

High bank angle turn of a Messerschmitt Bf 109F in front of a steep alpine ridge, likely on the Eastern Alps. Having a Stammkennzeichen (factory code), precisely PH+BE, the aircraft, WNr. 6631 (c/n), is perhaps a fresh factory still not operational plane. Victor Sierra

