Aircraft variant confusion

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Gary Koch
Bf109G Werknummers
Wed Dec 8, 2024 04:12
172.199.125.110


In researching a 25 Aug 44 dogfight, I came across a list of Luftwaffe losses for III./JG76. The unit was short-lived and flew Bf109Gs. In this particular dogfight, all 12 losses are shown as Bf109G-14 models, but the werknummers don't seem to match. I know that werknummers beginning with "78XXXX" were Bf109G-14/AS models. On the loss list, the following werknummers were shown as Bf109G-14s:

163485
413622
413649
413676
413679
413738
441801

I believe that most of these are actually Bf109G-6s. Can anyone identify the correct models of these werknummers? Is there a complete list of Bf109G werknummers anywhere on the web?

Thanks in advance, Gary

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Andreas Brekken
andrebre@online.no
Bf 109 G WNr
Wed Dec 8, 2024 10:37
83.109.116.27


Hi.

If 163485 is correct (not listed in Peter Schmoll's book) it would be a G-6, possibly with an AS eingine. I suspect it is really 163435, a G-6/AS built at Regensburg in July 1944.

The 413xxx series are G-6 built at Erla. All the below listed WNr's fit neatly in the 413400 - 413900 range listed by Prien and Rodeike.

The 441801 would be a WNF built G-6 also.

So to the explanation to the fact that all these are listed as G-14's:

The Sollbestand of the unit at the time was probably G-14's. Thus it was supposed to be equipped with this subtype. If the clerks making up the loss lists were less technical than a TO usually was, they would report the WNr's and the aircraft type that the unit was supposed to have.

This is seen very frequent in the loss listings from the RLM also, and in my opinion is one of the bases for the 'mixed batches of subtypes' statements frequently seen in both published books and elsewhere. (The production block xxxxxx consisted of Bf 109G-6 and G-14).

Regards,
Andreas Brekken