Luftwaffe ground staff members de-ice the tailplane of MeBf 109 fighter using scraper and mallet, Russia, 1941-'42.   Keeping the Luftwaffe in the air during a Russian winter was a difficult task by any standards, and one for which its technicians were pretty ill-prepared in this period.  Best regards, JR.

"Flight delayed for de-icing", Russia, 1941-'42.

Oblt. Dinger,Staffelkapitan of 4./JG53,in the cockpit of his G-4 trop,photographed at La Marsa in Tunisia in late February 1943.Note the unusual telescopic sight in the wind screen next to the reflector sight.A very uncommon piece of equipment in a G-series aircraft.Considering the way it is mounted,it may very well have been a result of pure improvisation by II./JG 53

Telescopic sight

This odd structure is an "alert box", erected around a MeBf 109 fighter, Russia, 1941-'42.  The idea was to preserve the aeroplane's engine, cockpit and front transmission gear from the worst of the cold, allowing it to be launched at relatively short notice without problematic "defrosting".  Still left some scope for icing to the wing extremities and tail, however.  Best regards, JR.