IL2

Messerschmitt Bf-109E JG27.1 (W6+) Libya 1941 01

Photo 01: An air-to-air view of White 6, a Bf-109E-7Trop of I./JG27.

Messerschmitt Bf-109E JG27.1 (W6+) El Gazala, North Africa 1941 00

Image 01: Messerschmitt Bf-109E-7 Trop White 6 of 1./JG27, Gazala, 1941 Finished in Sand Yellow 79 and Blue 78 colours, this aircraft is typical of the low-demarcation scheme applied after the earlier mottled scheme was discontinued. The engine cowling is yellow and the spinner is red with a white segment.

Messerschmitt Bf-109E JG27.1 (W6+) El Gazala, North Africa 1941 01-02

Photo 01-02: A Bf-109E-7 Trop of I./JG27,White 6 at Gazala. Pilots who returned to Germany to collect new aircraft have remarked that the only external difference between their standard Bf-109s and those intended for North Africa was that the latter were fitted with a dust filter and it is assumed from this that such aircraft still retained their European schemes. Presumably, therefore, the new Sand 79 paint scheme was applied in transit, probably in Sicily.

Messerschmitt Bf-109E JG27.1 (W6+) El Gazala, North Africa 1941 03

Photo 01: Another, almost identical White 6 to that shown above.