IL2

Bf-109F JG54.7 (W5+~) $Gerhard Raimann W.Nr 13171 Relbitsy, Russia May 1942 00
Profile 00: Messerschmitt Bf-109F-4/R1 'White 5', W. Nr. 13171 flown by Uffz. Gerhard Raimann of 7./JG54, May 1942 Unlike many other JG54 aircraft, this machine does not appear to have received the modified two-tone green scheme favoured by the unit and is believed to have retained a 74/75/76 scheme, to which has been added a light 02 mottle. Note that the markings on this aircraft have been changed and that its earlier identity has been painted out with additional patches of 02. Four black victory bars appear on each side of the rudder, the W. Nr. 13171 has been applied at an angle on the fin, and the undercarriage doors have been removed.

Bf-109F JG54.7 (W5+~) $Gerhard Raimann W.Nr 13171 Relbitsy, Russia May 1942 01
Bf-109F JG54.7 (W5+~) $Gerhard Raimann W.Nr 13171 Relbitsy, Russia May 1942 02
Photo 01-02: Uffz. Gerhard Raimann of 7./JG54 seems to have been a pilot blessed with good luck for, on two days in January 1942, the 23rd and 25th, his aircraft up-ended onto its propeller and on each occasion he was unhurt. On 8 May, the tail of his Bf 109F-4/R1,'White 5', WNr. 13171, received a direct hit by anti-aircraft fire. Although a damage assessment estimated the aircraft had been 10 per cent destroyed, Raimann once again escaped unhurt and is shown here alighting from his aircraft and inspecting the battle damage. At this time, Raimann had four confirmed victories and was eventually credited with 15 before, as a Feldwebe1, his luck finally ran out on 20 February 1944 when he was shot down and killed over Germany by P-47s.