Nordafrika/Mediterranean

 

With its vast expanses of featureless wasteland contrasted against a brilliant blue sky, the North African theatre did not present nearly as stern a challenge for concealment to the Luftwaffe.  Originally, the regulations stipulated a spotted effect on the uppersurfaces, but this was eventually simplified to 79 Sandgelb over 78 Lichtblau, the scheme we are all familiar with thanks to the exploits of Hans Jochaim Marseille and the other Experten of JG27.

 

In what is perhaps the ultimate statement in effective camouflage, "Weiße 3" of 1./JG27 sports a coat of 79 Sandgelb over 78 Lichtblau, with spots of 80 Olivgrün applied to help the aircraft blend with the desert scrub below. 

 

 

2./JG27 naturally followed suit, but the aircraft Staffelkennzeichen were changed to black numbers with a thin red outline to increase their visibility against the lightened desert scheme.  In the photo below, we see Franz Elles' Bf109E-4/trop (NOT Werner Schröer, as is often reported) overflying the North African coast.

2.jg27_elles.1.jpg (60537 bytes)

At right is another 2./JG27 aircraft undergoing maintenance in typical desert working conditions...i.e. no shelter or facilities.

    

 

    Here we have an Emil undergoing gun alignment...the "ballast" on the tailplanes is noteworthy...

It is unclear whether this is a JG27 or 7./JG26 machine (both units operated Emils in the North African theatre).

 

As noted in the introductory photograph, here is a splendid example of the simplified 79/78 scheme, worn by an F-4/z Trop of 1./JG27.  While the color reproduction is slightly suspect in this print, it is still evident that the 79 Sandgelb has faded quite a bit, as evidenced by the fresh patches on the rudder.  Also note the extensive exhaus staining along the wingroot of this otherwise quite clean Friederich.

 

In this photo of a well-worn 6./JG53 Friederich, one can see that the European "grey" scheme of 74/75/76 was kept on those machines transferred to Comiso, Sicily in early 1942 which is the likely setting of this Petrick photograph.

 

Approximately a year later, we see "gelbe 7" of 6./JG53 photographed at Comiso after being captured in this photo from Jeff Ethell's collection (thanks to David Ethell for this image).  

Note also the Gruppenstab Gustav just behind...there is the faintest hint of what may be a center chevron indicating this would be the Gruppenkommandeur's aircraft.

 

Even "Experten" can have a bad day...

Here we see a "Fliegerdenkmal" (literally, "pilot's monument") as executed by the Uffz. Moycis of 7./JG27 at a field near Vienna.  Looks like skid marks behind the plane, and a flat left tire...and now, two bent prop blades!

Beyond the dingy appearance of all white areas on the aircraft (which *do* belong that way; note the patch of 76 below the windscreen, it is relatively light and fresh), other items to note are the previously painted out number and Gruppe markings, the fully closed screen-style Trop filter, and most interesting from a modeler's point of view, take close note of the slat areas...they are camouflaged along with the wing, not painted in RLM02.  Note also that in contrast to some of the other Fs and Gs pictured in the Color Galleries, the exhaust staining on this aircraft is quite minimal.