Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000 23:44:49 +1200 From: "Dave McDonald" Reply-to: dave.mcdonald@xtra.co.nz Organization: na To: "Lynn Ritger" Subject: RED 3 Lynn Me 109G-6 wk.nr.163306 'RED 3 ' ( RQ+DR ) - an overview from the recovery [ in August 99] till her display at the 'Air Picnic' near Warsaw in June 2000. A little history ... The aircraft was based at Gabbert , near Lk. Trzebun in Poland She was operating with the advanced fighter training unit 'JGr.West' and had only around 35 hours engine time when she was lost due to the pilot , Ernst Pleines , suffering an engine fire shortly after take off [ as far as is known ] causing the aircraft to stall and crash into the nearby lake on 28.5.44 . Unfortunately the 24 year old pilot drowned as a result of the accident. She was discovered in good condition , apart from a break between the cockpit and fuselage , and recovered to what is to become a new museum near Warsaw. Restoration is being aided by the Krakow air museum and MBB {Germany} and is making very good progress as you can see ........ Dave.