I’m catching up on older builds and getting them posted; something I’ve wanted to do since I started the blog.

Other than the history behind the subject, this model was built to practice the German mottle scheme as the Hobby Boss Easy Build kit is just that. Construction took all of a few minutes!

I built this model in September, 2008.

The Subject

Bf-109E-4 assigned to Stab. Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53) during the Battle of Britain, Summer/Fall 1940. The aircraft crash-landed at Monkton, Kent on 5 September 1940; the Pilot Hauptmann Wilhelm Meyerweissflog was captured unhurt. (Note: I modeled this as an E-4 because while the reference indicated it was an E-1, this late in the year it’s not probable that an E-1 would still be operational on the front lines.)
The RAF crash reports indicated the aircraft was camouflaged in light navy-gray with a red band 1 foot broad round the cowling and with red spinner and white wing tips.

While JG 53 was making a reputation for itself during the Battle of Britain, according to RAF Air Ministry intelligence summary no 60, Reichsmarshall Hermann Göring was informed that Major Jurgen von Cramon-Taubadel’s wife was Jewish. Göring then ordered the whole of Stab/JG 53 to remove the “Pik As” emblem from their planes, and replace it with a red stripe around the engine cowling as punishment. All of Stab./JG 53’s planes immediately were stripped of their “Pik As” insignia, and soon after the whole of the Stab./JG 53 had also stripped the swastikas off the tails of their planes, possibly in protest. During this phase of the Battle of Britain, Stab.JG 53’s planes were easily recognizable because of the red band and the absence of a swastika on the tail of their Bf-109’s. On 30 September Major Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn became Kommodore and the Stab./JG 53 was allowed to paint the “Pik As” back on their Bf-109’s, removing the red band from their cowlings.

References: SAM Colours #1, The Messerschmitt Bf 109E on the Western Front – 1940, Peter Scott, Guideline Publications, and internet forums.

The Model

Hobby Boss Bf 109E-4/7 built out of the box. What makes this model unique as it’s painted in RLM 74/75/76. Most traditional references indicate the Bf-109E during the Battle of Britain were 71/02/65. However more recent research (as of 2008 when I was looking into it) are indicating that beginning in late Summer and more regularly during the Fall of 1940 German aircraft were beginning to reflect more “grays” and less “greens”. Apparently this was a lesson from the Battle of France in which the aircraft were more visible with their 71/02 schemes. Bf-109Fs were delivered in the 74/75/76 scheme beginning in Winter/Spring 1941 so it is reasonable that some Bf-109Es were repainted. By the end of the Battle of Britain (per the German timeline), well into 1941, all fighters were painted 74/75/76.

The decals were from my spares box, brought together from various Microscale sheets. Unfortunately at the time of construction I did not note the types of paints used, but they are likely Model Master enamels given that’s what I generally had at the time.

I chose this particular aircraft to model because of the unique history as well as the paint scheme. Not many Jagd Waffe Bf-109s were without a swastika (although this particular aircraft had one).

Thanks for reading…