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Showing results for tags '318 Squadron'.
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I'm researching a BF 109 G14/AS in RAF markings, there are a couple of photos around of the A/C showing the Squadron's LW Codes. The background is interesting: On 16th April 1945, two fighter pilots from 2 Lovačko Jato in the Croatian Axis forces, Lt. Vladimir Sandtner and Lt. Josip Cekovic, flew their Bf 109G-14/AS and Bf 109G-14 consecutively from Lucko airbase to surrender to allied forces in Italy. Cekovic landed in Jesi, while Sandtner in Falconar. His plane was later captured by Americans. After the armistice in Italy on 6th May 1945, F/Lt Jan Preihs flew with his commander for briefing in Jesi. While waiting on the airfield, he met some nice Americans who later asked him for a bottle of whiskey. They wanted to exchange it for previously captured Bf 109 and Bücker biplane trainer. Preihs, amazed by the deal, came up with a plan and shared it with his commander. He later called his unit to ask for a pilot who could fly the Messerschmitt. F/O Bolesław Stramik was the one who volunteered for the job. They fueled up all of their planes and flew back to the airfield. They accidentally fueled the Messerschmitt with 100-octane fuel instead of German synthetic one, thus they weren't surprised by reports of "smoking Messerschmitt landing on the airfield". The plane was repainted into RAF colors and given the Polish checkerboard and 318 Squadron's unofficial emblem - three cards. F/O Bolek Stramik is the father of a fellow Morgan owner. His information from a Polish magazine is that the undersurface was either dtadard RAF Grey or possibly the original RLM Blue. But other information on the web suggests Azure blue as the squadron had previously been in North Africa. Can anyone say with any certainty what colour was used, and also what happened to the A/C? Probably left in Italy.
