Finnish Ilmavoimat Messerschmitt Bf.109G-8

[Tsrjoe]

does anyone out there have any information or images on the three Messerschmitt Bf.109G-8 aircraft delivered to the Finnish Air Force ? I am interested to ascertain if any retained their camera fit whilst in Ilmavoimat service,

many thanks, cheers, Joe

[Vesa Jussila]

Camereas were never delivered to these planes and were use normal fighters. There was modified camera installation after the war. I can try find some information about modification.

[leyreynolds]

I'd be interested in the post-war info' too please.

[Kjetil Åkra]

The two G-8s that reached Finland were:

MT-462 W.Nr. 200041

MT-483 W,Nr. 710012

A third was left behind when it was damaged during the delivery flight.

A photo of MT-483 may be seen here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/28092068@N03/5235435499/

Kjetil

[Vesa Jussila]

Here is something.Original delivery was two planes, MT-462 and -474. MT-474 was damaged in germany and never came to finland.

Here is well known picture of -462 just after delivery still in german colours.

Damaged MT-474 was later replace by MT-483 and plane is here in Utti.

Last delivered plane MT-514 was also G-8, but this was also damaged during ferry flight in Pernau and was left there. So in theory there was four G-8 in FAF service, but only two of them saw real service.

After the war MT-489 and MT-507 were moified to recce planes, but these were G-6 models.

In this picture MT-483 is in post-war markings

And cocpit of MT-489 that was modified in finland to be used with VH-21 camera.

What is not clear for me : Where VH-21 was installed, because there was two locations in G-8

This information is from Pentti Manninens article from Suomen Ilmailuhistoriallinen Lehti.

Edited March 31, 2015 by Vesa Jussila

[vppelt68]

Hi. I know this plane :-)

The MT-462 was a G-8/R-5 trop: now before anyone gets too excited, in a G-8 the R-5 option means a ground liaison radio, not 30mm wing guns as in a G-6! Vääpeli Nils Katajainen, later a knight of the Mannerheim cross and the only reservist pilot to earn the medal, scored at least these enemy aircraft with the -462:

29.6.1944 18.50–19.50 Kärstilänjärvi Il-2

30.6.1944 10.50–12.00 Juustila Pe-2

3.7.1944 06.10–07.10 Ihantala ja Tammisuo 2 x Jak-9

3.7.1944 11.50–12.35 Mannikkala 2 x Il-2

Katajainen made a crash landing with the plane 3.7.44, if I recall the date correctly. It was rebuilt and returned to AF service sometimes after the war (the dates are printed in Suomen Ilmavoimien Historia part 6). Later the -462 was burned in an accident and the camera gear was transplanted to another airframe. Below is a picture from Lappeenranta airfield, taken 2.7.1944 before the Soviet raid on our airfields. This is the -462 in the center of the picture, still with German insignia. After the damage done later that evening to several other planes I doubt anybody had time to repaint an intact plane before Katajainen crashed with it the next day.

EDIT: to make it clear, the -462 did have the staggered camera hatches and preparations for the cameras in space "A", but that was it. No cameras until postwar service.

Here´s a grainy zoom of the -462. My imagination has always seen transfer code "G8" overpainted in front of the cross!!!

Apparently the MT-483 saw some limited action during July 1944 but it was neither damaged nor gained any victories with. There is at least another picture of it in SIH series of books but can´t access them atm. EDIT: that was the pic Kjetil already posted a link for, thanks! If you wish to model the MT-483 in 1:72 scale, The InScale72 decal set #0028 is the way to go.

Regards, V-P

Edited April 1, 2015 by vppelt68

[Kari Lumppio]

Hello!

The above photo of MT-462 has been taken around mid day July 2nd, 1944 at Lappeenranta. The plane was damaged next day in forced landing. This means that MT-462 flew all the war time missions in German colours and markings.

Other planes arriving in Finland at the same time with MT-462 received Finnish markings and stencilling within a day or two IIRC. It is possible that the plane was to be returned to Germany, but situation did not allow?

The plane was repaired by late November 1944, but most likely flew next time with cocade markings in April 1949.

Cheers,

Kari

[vppelt68]

And that´s Nipa´s next (and last) ride, the MT-476 in the foreground, already repainted. V-P