Italian Air Force

One of very few Messerschmitt Bf 109K-4 "Kurfürst" delivered by the Luftwaffe to ANR-Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana, the National Republican Air Force of the Repubblica Sociale Italiana (RSI). The aircraft of the photo, surrounded by the Italian personnel viewing the new plane and still with the German markings, is the Wr.N.330209 just landed to Lonate Pozzolo, near Varese, from Maniago’s Luftpark which delivered on 28 February 1945 three "Kurfürst" to 3rd Squadriglia “Giovanni Bonet” of the ANR’s 1st Gruppo Caccia (Fighter Group) indeed based at Lonate Pozzolo. The aircraft delivered was Wr.N.330209 (the "Kurfürst" of this photo), Wr.N.333878 and Wr.N.339958. On 10 April 1945 the WrN.333878 was heavy damaged during a clash with P-47 of the 57th Fighter Group’s 65th Fighter Squadron and landed in emergency at Lonate Pozzolo. (The 57th FG’s history at the date April 10, 1945 write: «3 Me-109’s found but they got away only damaged – no scratches on 57th Group planes»). The two survivor of this first batch were still serviceable at the end of the hostilities, but was voluntary destroyed by the Germans. A part this three aircraft, few other "Kurfürst" proved delivered to ANR. Early April 1945 other two planes, both K-4/R3 (with 300 liter auxiliary external tank), was delivered by the Maniago’s Luftpark to 6th Squadriglia based at Aviano and afterward at Villafranca (Verona). On 19 April 1945 the two "Kurfürst" was engaged in one of the ANR’s last combats, against B-25s of the USAAF’s 340th Bombardment, en route to South Tyrol escorted by P-51 Mustangs of the 325th Fighter Group, 317th Fighter Squadron, and against Spitfire and American P-38s Lightning strafing German troop concentrations on the Lake of Garda’s sector. During the fights, both over the Garda, both the K-4 were strafed: the pilot of one of this, hit by the Spitfires, bailed out but, because a parachute’s failure, crashed the ground and was killed. The other was down by Mustangs and his pilot bailed out successfully. According the war diary of the 317th FS: «On 19 April the squadron scored its last victories of the European war, while escorting B-25s over the Brenner Pass, 6 of our fighters intercepted 17 Me-109s preparing to attack the bomber formation. In the ensuing battle, our pilots destroyed 6 of the enemy aircraft». Likely is the same combat over the Garda sector which involved a large area, as were normal. Anyway for the Italian "Kurfürst" was the end. Victor Sierra

Italian "Kurfürst"

 soldiers from the 29th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Italian)

1945