en gee aor Me Pee eG Me nea ee Alongside the German armed forces, combat agains the Soviet Union was also carried autby her Axis alles, Finlan, aly, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and ‘Spain, Romanian ground wits operatod alongede the Germans onthe southern font supported by thlr own air urs. n March 1943, the Romanian unt {Grupul 7 began to accept the Messerschmitt 3f 1086, but was subsequently moved to combat areas in the Ukraine. The ara flown by Lt. Av. Petre Protopopescu carried a camouflage scheme composed of German RLM 74/75/76. The German national insignia was oversprayed wih the same colours, and the markings were replaced by those of Romani, the St Michael Cross, and the rudder cari the Romanian national colours. Both sides ofthe front (of aircraft carted the inscription ‘Don Pedro, the plot's nickname.wN Bf 109G-4/R6, flown by Hptm. Waldemar ke, CO of lle — Vendeville, France, February/March 1943 ‘The frst unit slate fr rotation between the Easter and Western Fronts was ll. Gruppe JG 54 taking from the Soviet Union tothe Channelarea. Thee, twas to replace one ofthe Gruppe JG 26. On Fabruary ‘st, 1983, was sent from Hellganbol to Lile-Vendevil, where took on now BI 1086-8, By March 25th, 1943, the I IG 54 roceived orders to relocate to Oldenburg and to serve within tne Defence ofthe Reich system. Bf 109G-4s came to the 7h Staffel ‘5G 54 mostly from other unis. Acraf of Il Gruppe caried fuselage markings consisting ofa wave bar inte Staffel colour. The lower engine cowing was inyellowas wasthe rudder. Silane! ——(efoe oy eal 18 2 peo vez TEXTUNALEDNETE NA BODRATALOSSW SEM e Ea [Lommel 10 elise ESS siioie (Rae? EES ao‘Viktor Petermann, fying ths aircraft, was snot down by a Soviet fighter an June 6, 1943, The combat took place over Petrowskaya village in the Kuban, ‘Soviet Union. The Stamkennzeichen code VN+G was overpaint on the fuselage —butis stl parialy vise. This code was probably lfton the wings, The JGS2badge was panted below the canopy the small devils the badge ofthe Sth Staffel Petermann, anative of Weipert(Vejpty), Czechoslovakla, achieved ‘54 aerial victories and was awarded the Kright's Cross on February 29, 1944. On October 1, 1943 nis Bf 109G was Mi: by friendly AA fre. Peterman was, ‘wounded, belly landed and his left forearm had to be amputated. Despite his handicap, he managed to ly further combat missions, downing four enemy ‘kcal, and he underwent Me 262 raining. (GESKOU VERZITEXTU NALEZNETE NA ee aarasconnrero5os 43 97505 ere [se Bolu 20)19 347, Flown by Fw. Jan Reznak, 13. (Slowaken)/JG 52, Anapa airfield, Soviet Union, ime a member of Slovak Armed Forces in 1999 when the Jan Reznak launched his miltary career as @ member of Czechoslovak Air Force. He b Independent Slovak State was formed, Asa Third Reich al, Slovakia participated inthe war against te Soviet Union. Slovak Letka (fight) 13 fought under the command of JG 52. Reanak achieved a foal of 32 aerial victories over the Easter Front, making him te most uecesstul Slovak, and respectively Czechoslovak, fighter ace. Seven opponents out a his total scare were flamed fying W.Nt. 19347 inate Apr! early May, 1963. The txolar on the spinner 's typical for Messerschmits flown By Slovak plots. Note the unusual colar of the cowling that doesnt mateh the rest ofthe camouiage, Originally painted Inyollow, twas probably oversprayed with acamoullagecolorby ground personnel, (GESKOU VERZITEXTU NALEZNETE NA Damal a a S| actus, aSRS en eM cums nic PAUSES April 1943 ‘Wolfgang Ewald was bora March 26th, 1911 in Hamburg and joined the ranks ofthe Luftwaffe in 1935, Shorty after completing fighter training he was attached to 2/4 8, with which he served in Spain until August 1937. Shorly after his retum in May 1938, he was named CO of 2.JG 52, which he led through the invasion of Poland and the Bitzivieg against the Netherlands, Selgium and France. Al the end of August, during the Batle of Brian, he was given ‘command ofthe entire Gruppe JG 52. After serving wit Jagafiegerurer 2, he was assigned fo I.IG3 on May 20th, 1942 and subsequenty commanded ittrom July 23rd, Not even a ful year ater, on July 14th, 1943, Major Ewald was hit by ground fre and forced to leave his plane and was taken prisoner. He ‘Spent 76 montis in captviy, and was released in Decombor 1949, Aller hs rotur ta Germary, he Was involved inthe formation ofthe new Luftwaffe, from ‘which he ratired in 1980. He died on February 24th, 1995. During his Second World War combat career, he shot down 77 enemy aicrat, and claimes one: In Spain. He received the Knight's Cross on Docomber Sth, 1942. The aireat that Major Ewals lew in Apr 1843 over the Kerch Peninsula was camouflaged ‘according tothe Luftwaffe fighter standard, consisting of RLM 74/75/76. The yellow bottom wing tos and fuselage band denote Easter Front service, and ‘on the noseis the JG3 unitmarking. Lt Adolf von Gordon was shot downin his areratin combat with 2s on AprI20th, 1943. 40 48-790004CRs Use cue MSA EYE) laian Macchi C.202 fighters flown by the Regia Aeronautica from the beginning ofthe war were cue tobe replacasby their mare capable descendants, the 1.205, Fiat G.55 ane Reggiane Re.2005s, Dus o slow production infation ofthe later types and the need fr fighters to combat Aled ar power, Germany was asked to supply is soulhem ally withthe Messerschmitt Bf 108G, mosty in the form of the G-6 version. The llalans received ten Bf 1086-45, {ad all, along with C-2 and G-6 aircrat, were assigned fo the 150’ Gruppo Autonoma. This unit was made up ofthe 363", 364° a 365" Squadriglia and {o counter the Allied air treat, they were based at Sily, The Bf 1036-4 used by laian units came fom Lufwaffe stocks and so were camouflaged In RLM74/75/76. The German national insignia wore aversprayed with the Kalan colaut Grigio Azzurro Charo 1, and, asin the ease of areal 366-1, with the ‘acditon of small squiggles of Verde Ova Scuro 2. The usual white identifiers usee onthe southern front a the wingtip bottom and the fuselage band were: ‘ded tobe consistant wih Lutwateaicra.Ee Oe mea ome LL Erch Hartmann, the most successful fighter ace in history, bagan to ply his rade wth 7. Staffel JG 52, to which he was assigned on October 10th, 1942. He first few the BT 1086-2, but by the fst half of March 1843, the unit began accepting the BF 108-4, From the beginning of May 1843, ater gaining his ‘tthand t2thkls, hewas made Rottenfthr (lead ofa two ship fight!) and hs score bogan to quichy rise to reach 352by the end ofthe war. Forhis success, hhe was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords ard Diamonds. Hartman's White was camouflaged in the standard Luftwaffe scheme Consisting 0” RLM 74/73/78, The factory codes on the fuselage sides and the bottom of the wings were not completely obliterated, but only partially ‘oversprayed with a white wave (ll Gruppe marking), the white number 2 and ayoliow ban, which together wit tho yellow bottom wing tps was common to Lufwatfe aircraft operating on the Easter Front. The front ofthe sireat carted the marking offs previous user, lJJG 52. Flying hs arora, Uz H.Mosslor was forcod tbely in boning enemy lines due to ongino fallen May 26th, 1943.and was taken prisoner. 39 48733034