THE VARIANTS of the BF 109 F Bf 109Z « Zwilling » (Twin) ‘As mentioned above, the Bf 109F was often used as a fly- Jing test bed and also for some very varied research projects, periicularly because it was more available after Deing Feplaced by the Gustav in the front line and because it resembled its successor. It was fitted first with a BMW 01 radial, then a Jumo 213, with an annular radiator (a technical feature of the Fw 190), {hen with a V- type tail surfaces which resulted in bad lateral ‘Stabilly, especially when landing. ‘One of the most spectacular projects using the Friedrich ‘was without doubt the Bt 1092 (for Zwiling’-Twin), a solution ‘which had already boon tried out on the Heinkel #11. It con- ‘Ssted of joining two 109F fuselages together by means of a ‘new central wing section and a new tail section. The project ‘was started at the end of 1942; the new aircraft retained the left-hand cockpit (the right-hand one was filed in and masked ‘over), the four wing radiators but only the two outer under- ‘carriage members. “The prototype was destroyed during an air raid when it was ‘almost complete. The series production of what was to have ‘been a heavy fighter (Zerstoren), armed with five 20 mm can- ‘non, would have used Gustav fuselages since those of the §309F were no longer being produced at the time, but the pro- 5 Bf 109Z « Zwilling » ject was finally abandoned at the beginning of 1944 without any new prototype being bu ‘The Friedrich was also widely used for the design studies of the Me 309. Different parts of the fighter were tried out on It tricycle undercarriage, ventral radiator, pressurised cock- pit, ete, Finally, the only variant of these itferent attempts which was actually built was the Bf 109H, a high altitude fighter thought up at the beginning of 1943, using a Friedrich. A extra, section of wing was installed at the wing root, the horizontal taiplane was enlarged, whilst the armament and the engine ‘were those of the F-4/Z equipped with power boost equip- ment. It was heavier than a standard Bt 109F and had a slightly higher top speed, and above all, could reach 14 000, metres (about 47 000 feet) thanks to its 39-foot wing span. A pre-production series of Bf 109H-Os was tried out opera- tionally at Guyancourt aerodrome (France) but encountered a lot of wing flutter which caused several accidents. A little later, a small number of production models (Bt 109H-1, based on the Gustav) were finally produced and used especially for armed reconnaissance missions over England in 1944, but in spite of their obvious qualities, they were abandoned in favour of the more promising Ta 152H.DIFFERENT TYPES OF BF 1096 A dozen produced. Used the F-4 D8601E powerplant Production series engine cowing, but without the extra intakes on te fuselage behind ine propelier 167 produced betwoon May and July 1942 Ciosely resembled the F-4, DB6OSA engine. Wide turbo-char- ‘g6r air intake, as on the last F-4s, Larger Fo 870 0 aclator. Two tie nike placed onthe fuselage just bac the propel. Sette clameter VOM oropeler, with wider blades rounded at the tips. Pressursed cockpt wif a new armoured instalation fited into the moving part of the canopy. Side windshield glass panols ‘removed. Canopy with reinforced and welded (formorly batted) ‘mountings, Doublo-glazed windows files wit silcate gel granules to prevent uric Tank opening placed on the lef, between frames 2 and 3. ne! wal with rounded edges an ex ooas (bt hese wore rover fitoo) “Armament wae identical fo the F-4 FuG Vila and FuG 25 radio equipment with antenna fited ‘beneath the fuselage on frame 3. There was no official tropical'sed version, but some may have been modified nthe fe. —G-1R2: he 80 last machines produced by Messerschmit Lightoned machines wih a drop tank pylon and ited with the GM-1 power boost system. aa 3: Sand fiter in frnt ofthe turbo-charger intake as on fie —6. tha On the etton a level with tha cock. two support points ting a sunshade to protect the cockpit intrion — G-2M1: two underwing 300-itre drop tanks and an ETC pyon with jetisonabietallwhoa! under the fuselage. Systom was ted out ‘successtuly but never used. No production series = G-2M2 recomaissance variant with GM-1 power boost system” and aiflerent camera models. Sometimes the canon was removed. A nom pressurised version of the G-3. More than 1 240 ‘machines produced between December 1942 and Soptomber 1943. A development ofthe G-2 with minor diferences: radio apparatus and the positon ofthe radio antenna. Bigger wheels (at fst spoked then fllecin) and talwheel to suppoM the increased weight. Uoper wing surface tear droo bus. Retracing mechanism forthe tallwhee! removed. More than 1 800 produced (15872) fom May 1942 to February 1943. identical to the G-1 but wthout the pressursing system. Plots seat ontraly armoured. Cockpit ventiaion intakes {tod nstaad of tho windshiod sido glass panels (though this ‘could vary) —@-up2 reconnaissance version Cameras. Canon removed. SG ecnnasance vrs Caras Engierted machine guns removed ana he oponings someting ill ih. Gop ropicelood version orien oho 627rep Tas ectrppod wth Nid 30 metanos water ioction ayetom ining incensed power over short percds 2 me.50 machines produced in January-February 1943. Pressured variant (eystom identical to the G1) otherwise ike the Gt "G2 Nigh atfude fighter version with GU-T power boost «Sem and shorter propeller No proof of i ever having bean made. Produced in greatest numbers (12 000 machines) DBGOSA engine. Engino-mounted armament replaced by two MG 131 ‘Germ machine guns, with fangs '0 cover the breeches, Openings for the machine guns cut out not added. Sail oval hatch an the fuselage between frames 6 ara 9. Inthe summer 7849 ‘Galland Panzer’ (bulletproof giass replacing the armour ‘plato to protect the pilot - the Galland Hood!) installed atthe end 5¢ 1943; the appearance ofthe Era’ canopy with simplified Structural supports. Beginning of 1944: new tain wth larger rud- er Lengihened tailwhoe! on the last models ofthe series. Cicular ‘radio antenna on the luselage back. G-6/R-2 6-612 reconnaissance version with Rb 50/30 cameras ft in The fuselage (between frarres 2 and 3) [Link] but with Rb 75/30 camera, G-6 Trop \ ised version wth sand fiter and sunshade Tings onthe leh side, under the cockott {G82 fed with tho GNI poner Boost aystom. = 6-83 with MWY 50 methanot-watarinjocton systom. mages i = 6-61U4 with 30-mm Mk 108 canon. = G-6UAN (sometimes simply cals G-€/N) night fighter eauip- ‘ped withthe Naxos FuG 350 rad detection (0 alied bombers) 8/s tem 7 ees with Ma 151/20 canon. = G-8Y equipped with FuG 162¥ with ‘Morane’) whip antenna under the bely Batween the radiators —G-8AS with 2 DBGO5AS engine with a bigger turbo-charger for high-alttude use. ‘Engine craale modified and reinforced. Front of fuselage redesigned. Bigger propeller. Larger air ntak forthe turbo-charger Neary always fitted withthe Evia Rood and the bigger tain. 200 ‘2ctualy produced but at least €00 conversionsos ‘About 475 machines bull at the same time as the G-6 from May 1943 to August 1944. Overall identical fo the G6 but with a pressurised cock. Posiion of MG 131 machine guns pushed the Compressor fo the right protected by a litte bump under the machi ‘he gun farings which hc air intakes. G-SIAS wih DBECEAS powerpiant. 6-52 (0° G-5/U2) reconnaissance variant with GM-1 power boost system, G-SIRA alto but without the engine-mounted machine guns. = G-5¥ ft with FuG t6zy radio. Tactical reconnaissance version. Produced between August 1943, to the begining of 1945, Overall identical to the G8 but ramos & land 6 renlorced fo take miscellaneous protographic equioment lath openings under the fuselage. Standard tain save rare excep- tions. Pug 17 radio and raaio antenna mast moved back to frames ‘and 4. Some machines without canon. Teena ited with GN-1 power boost system, = .G-aNs sited with NW 50 methanol water njction system. Same sited with Rb 60:30 camora SAMs ited win two Ro 22/7x9 cameras: cea sitea win nyo Rb 12.5/7x9 cameras. oz Two-seater trainer made by trasorming existng machines (G-2, 3, 4'and 6). Second seat placed behind the original one with ‘movable hood and concave glass sie sections. Reaticed fu! 03d. ‘Armament normaly removed. though some machines did keep one for wo machine guns. G14 ona More than 5 000 machines produced, ot continuously (uly 1944 to February 1848). Identical to the end-oF-preduction G ‘6: DBGOSA engine, Ela hood, small or big talfr, lengthened th. real, upper wing surface farings square wheels bigger Only the Tadlo antenna forthe Fue 16Y = whon this was Instaled = nas moved {othe fen wing, {G-14R2 feconnaissance variant, ential tothe G-1O/R2. G46 a planned variant which was never made ited with all- weather pilot nsirumentation = +1444 ft with MK 108 canon = G-WAS fied with 086054 engine some with larger Fo 967, coll radiator, thersise identical to the G-6/AS. nw About 2600 built (October 1944- end ofthe war). No unitorm ver. sich but @ plethora of variants and combinations, as with tre G-é land the G-14" long or short fae, wing faitngs depending on Ihe 8422 of te wheels, big or smal fal radio mass, etc. Era hood ‘apparently nas standard. ‘Machines wero fted with tho DBBOSDM (with MH’ 5D system): ‘small bump 00 ether sido of tho fuselage, under the first exhaust pipe and a lager ol rasator 0) filers placed bigher up Ge tomR2 fired wih Rb 500 camera in he fuselage and MW 50 system. ‘G-AOIRS fitted with Ro 125/729 camera OIRG ffod with semi-automatic plot for bad woathr. IIRT ffed with undenwing WGr2' rocket. launchers. [trans feted wth 3omm canon and MAW 50 system, Five Rustsatze existed for he Gustav although the diferent yer. ‘sions dic not use fhem all. (N.B. a Pustsate~ addtional equipment "aid not change the arcratt designation) — Rt: Bomb launcher pyion EFC 500 Ib Bomb-launcner pyion ETC SO"ViId belly pylon anc S00 drop tank. TAB: vo uncerwing gondolas containing an MK 108 304mm TRB: tno undenving gondelas containing an MG 151/20 20-mm : Gonio navigational ald system (Peiufaniage) wip a oreular antenna on te fuselage back G-10 (R3)DIFFERENT TYPES OF Bf 109F a ape scorns eg crete rar ano loon sewers cone te Ye pce Creer eimeeta ener ele dues ta Saas egos ‘Safer ey ne vr peer Suse fre Heed nahi etn ice be saserertecana see Steet hos St eet eS Sees ‘Rlaeal fo th FO except bv 9 roundaa ert charpar Ita Bracing struts under hon FA zona curses 8 ttod nt an ETC py cary an SO 250 tha bob. EB fo tpcaiead Madu a Sand ir moaicsbon Carecouth Pefeksnotin —(( freacy shy tan fos C Fag Seco paps pram yuisenm ya etme it Fea aee a ose eee aes Heer Meee ica aman eee, reine eee ee RED Rae te BESTS naan tp oa ero oosreaes nf neaaeer ae Brains att nes F.4 Fa dential fo the F-1 but wih a DBEOTE engine using BA fuel (87 octane, gereaed waht prerns 80) Pobaby ten 50 praaiced (dtc te 3 (086016 power and MS 181/20 cao win 180 eae ETN ee ee ate ie ast Se ea a Fe ae eae ES Sa yon - 4 Top sand mr ang suv eaverent F-4 Trop Fee ee Oe eee en rg rates bracers Cenc ihe Sane Tei ler ora choos oaliaters or recennnssance missions (on degra FS nd 8, ” Rati fo 2030 cameray naevely panna Deni ne cock Fa 5050 car F-4/R8 s, FF (Ro 7510) witout radio the space being occupied bythe cameras), mast [nlenna or cannon (perhaps aso hitheut he coslng-mourted machine gure Ip some —) FG: ted other wit an Rb 50/30 or an Rb 7550 camera with reco equoment '[Link] model produced (summer 1941), High-attude ight varsan identca! fo the P2 but using 100 octane luo! a afermt propater and MG 151/20 caren. —~ 8" F-t with rentorced armament, two extra manne gure te wings. One machine ‘ought fo have been produced, Bu ony wth te angie neunted pune Hite.‘THE TYPES OF BF 109F {nd four 50 bombs pees ee, ‘Wore woe F4, but wit a special ores tote nae. “ype F-4m-s ited wit 6 galon dopa “ype F-am-7 Mea wh vo 20 mm MG 154 oanpon The amament turned cut to be ‘ery shactve anonuratey 1 the Satinent ot maroouablty Woon ee asa ghte-oomber ie is arcons wee fo r ws rsa wre fo recoraitanes a wre equiped wth a caer. rer te ssaga wt wo 782 ren Macnee {ortho sana wut gon forthe, oqppes wan RO 2050 FOSOSO {rors amas, nae tthe orth sega. Sherpoo age as ncresod by rtling 50 re ip tr ype For RE ru of clay in obtaeing the DB S0%E engin, the F-05 ‘nore equipped wtf DBO" N and with te avamrt of me Mo 05's ona MG FF nthe nows and tw UG 7 Th ‘tere rom the F-0 in paings compress ana a gget a ite {ean te narmalectangust amho oho € seras Ata co {in expe rating, stucralproles appecred wh the lon gorceactho et me Ss angen he conc ice rererams tansy gin aceenie sarmenneans Se epalrnant tnt ees Griveawame eres Type ra ‘Thepntpal featur cl he machine was he nivous ode GM 1 cngne toesTHE VARIATIONS OF RANK MARKS IN THE WING Wing Commander (Geschuader Kormodre) Second in Command (Geschwace Adjutant) ; = Secon onmand the JG, Kepnan iy Meertig Wing Commander's Chet Sat >. ase ¢. Commanding Offer of he JG27, Major Gustav Hod - June 1848, = ae CCommaning Oia of he JG3, Hauptmann Hans von Hahn - 1980,THE DIFFERENT VARIATIONS OF RANK MARKINGS WITHIN THE GROUI Polch plane shot down the a potting upnards meant alin the ak Belgian plane shot down LS ech Pn sat eu ae Bilis we crac Soarmad etay ioe, ee Sonar oon ‘ eo © British plane oot tings : a Sbservation Balloons. an tee unt tn rma ut cn ome pl ar a ra nh rn ipl, wt each | they were placed on the rudder. The pin bar are was te rationality ofthe aaversry, aswel the dat apace ofeach victor forthe most precise lls,TAIL MARKINGS Mo 109-4 Pot Oberleutnant Frank Liesendaht ‘Statehartn othe “0JG 2 abo: JJagoborbe), On 28 June 1942, Llesencah had sunk 20 sips fora tet of 63000 tons Me 109F-4 Me 109-4 Pot Enen Hatann of te 916 52 Pit: Oborleunant Siegid Scho ‘Sarienaptan ofthe NG 2 ‘Thievile, France, end May 1942 Me 1006-4 Pilot Haupimarn Heine Ba (Grupoenommaendeur of tre VG 82 in Nay T94e Me 1096-2 Phot: Oberst Ado Galland at the ond of his command of JG 26, Sth Docomber 1941 Me 1096-4 Trop, Stoteapiine ie 80027 tfenaphanct te 300 2 ijoin in toe 8a Mo 109-4 Pot: Gorden Gale Kommedore of ho JG 77 in June 1942 oD ot Me 1096-2 Pat: Obertioutnant Warner Mélders, ‘Kemmedore o1G 51, Eastom Frnt, uy 1981 Me 10864 Top. Pho Hane Joachim Marsile oft IG 27 ‘Safe Norn Affes, 151 September 1042