World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
29 Aug 2010 03:33:43 PM

Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1's of JG/77 prior
to the invasion of France.
The black boot is the emblem of I.Gruppe,
I./JG77

2.  Bill says:
23 Feb 2011 03:19:13 PM

UPSIDE DOWN ENGINE:

The inverted V-engine reduces drag, ease of
maintenance, aircraft w/fuel injection could
roll, dive without hampering performance.
Design led to better visibility, narrower cowling over the nose and exhaust stacks
were set lower less glar at night.
In 1942 it took 3500 man hours to build one
Bf 109, 27,970RMs for a DB601 engine and a complete Bf 109E w/engine radio and armament for 85,900RMs

Reichmarks (RM)

3. Anonymous says:
16 Feb 2012 09:48:52 PM

WATCH YOUR AMMO:

The Messerschmitt Bf 109E was armed with two
7.9mm machine guns in the upper cowling w/500rpg giving the pilot about 25 seconds firing time.
Two 20mm cannons one in each wing w/60 round drum magazine giving 7 seconds firing time
most magazines held 55 rounds for reliable feeding

4. Pierre Lagacé says:
11 Jan 2014 04:12:59 AM

Someone who is very knowledgeable told me this picture was taken not in France but at Odendorf, Germany, in May 1940 by the Propaganda Ministry. The camouflage is wrong from the time period indicated. By that time Bf 109 would have had their new camouflage painted on.

5. Pierre Lagacé says:
11 Jan 2014 04:16:52 AM

This is the article I just posted on my blog.

http://athabaskang07.wordpress.com/2014/01/11/marquise-ost/

My search for Felbwebel Grünther Kramer led me to your Website.

http://athabaskang07.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/sgt-major-gunter-kammer-or-gunter-krammer-redux/

6.  Bill says:
27 Mar 2015 03:33:09 PM

CAMOUFLAGE 101:

Messerschmitt Bf 109E camouflage scheme adopted by the Luftwaffe start of 1940, splinter pattern RLM74 upper surfaces RLM75 fuselage sides and under surfaces.
Second half of 1940 upper surfaces RLM71, RLM02 and RLM65 under surfaces. Camouflage schemes would change depending where the Luftwaffe operated. During the Battle of Britain ground crews of JG51 toned down the fuselage sides and tail with a mottling of RLM02 and RLM71 aircraft were painted with different degrees of density and pattern.
There will always be a measure of doubt regarding wartime photographs. Variations of Luftwaffe camouflage are way too extensive to describe here in detail...

7.  Bill says:
28 Mar 2015 10:31:45 AM

CONTINUE CAMOUFLAGE 101: 27 Mar 2015 #6

Those not familiar with WWII RLM Luftwaffe color codes mean.
RKM74 Dunkelgrau (Dark Gray), RLM75 Grau (Gray), RLM71 Dunkelgrun (Darkgreen), RLM02 (Gray), RLM65
Hellblau (Light Blue)

The Luftwaffe used (34) different types of colors to camouflage its aircraft that operated on all fronts, color schemes were mixed with darker and lighter tones in the field by ground crews along with stocks of paint that had been issued or captured paint on hand. Variations of Luftwaffe camouflage is a subject in itself.

8. R.T. says:
18 May 2016 10:05:33 PM

This pic shows the barrel of the the wing mounted cannon on the closest plane other pics I have seen are cut off before that . Wing mounted cannon appeared on the E-3 along with corresponding bulges on the under side of the wing . The boot emblem also appears on the ambulance .