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Messerschmitt Bf-109F JG27.2 (II+ El Gazala, North Africa 1941 00
Image 01: Messerschmitt Bf-109F.4 Trop of Stab II./JG27, December 1941 This aircraft was finished in a standard mid-demarcation 78/79 camouflage scheme but lacked the usual white spinner and the nose and fuselage bands normally associated with the North African theatre of operations. The II./JG27 arrived in North Africa in the Summer of 1941 and the effect of the sun has faded and bleached the paintwork. As the emblem below the cockpit is clearly that of Stab II./JG27, the black and white Stab markings, sometimes identified as denoting an aircraft flown by a Major of the Geschwader Stab are thought in this instance to have another significance, possibly indicating that the aircraft was flown by the Gruppe Technical Officer.
Messerschmitt Bf-109F JG27.2 (II+ El Gazala, North Africa 1941 01-02 Two photographs showing a Bf-109F-4 Trop of Gruppenstab II./JG27, probably in December 1941. Seated in the cockpit Photo 01: is Ofw. Otto Schulz of 4./JG27 who was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 22 February 1942. It is believed that in this photograph, one of a series taken at the same time, Schulz was merely posing in the cockpit as at this time he had his own machine coded White 2 and did not join the Gruppenstab until he had been promoted to Oberleutnant in May 1942.The driver of the Kubelwagen, Photo 02: is Lt. Ernst Boerngen who, at the time of this photograph flew with the 5. Staffel and was also the Gruppe Technical Officer. By the end of December 1941, Boerngen had a score of six confirmed kills. Note that this view confirms the aircraft depicted in the profile had an all-yellow engine cowling.
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