Werner Molders' Bf109F.

[Airframes]

A quick (I think!) question regarding Bf109F-2, W.Nr 5628, flown by Werner Molders on May 4, 1941, from Mardyk.
There's a rather good profile of this aircraft in the Kagero Monografie No.31 'Bf109F - Vol 1', giving the Werke Nummer as above, and showing the Gruppe Kommandeur winkel etc.
Earlier in the same volume, there is a photo of Molders in the cockpit of, presumably, the same aircraft, on the same date.
However, there is also a photo of his Bf109F-1, with the same W.Nr, before it was re-painted, and showing the delivery codes SG+GW.
The question is, was W.Nr 5628 a F-1, a F-2, or a F-1 later up-graded to F-2 standard?

[Crimea_River]

Hi Terry. SG+GW W.Nr 5626 is listed as an F-1 here: The LEMB Stammkennzeichen Database

[Airframes]

Ah, 5626 - with the F-2 being 5628 - very close sequence for different sub-types maybe ?

[Crimea_River]

Sorry Terry, that's a typo. I meant 5628.

[Njaco]

Terry, when I did my "Molders " thread with the pics, that was one question that I can tell you is being hotly debated across the net. The one fact I did find was that SG+GW was an F-1. And then all hell breaks loose!!!!

[Airframes]

Thanks Chris, that's what I've found too ! Personally, I think it would have been a F-1, later re-painted. As there appears (from photos) to be little if any external difference, including the wheel wells, I'll go with that.
Thanks for the responses chaps.

[clinton78]

Hi guy's, Just thought I'd fit this question on the end of this topic.

Is there any evidence that Werner Mölders Bf109F-1 WNr.5628 SG+GW had a thinner and shorter variation of the supercharger intake than what is seen on other slightly later Bf109F-1? I say this because in the Kagero TopDrawings Bf109F booklet there is just a small port side view of what is captioned as a 'Bf109F-1 early' which clearly has as described above a thinner and shorter supercharger intake than the other F-0 or F-1 drawings in the booklet. Apparently Mölders received the first operational F-1 and you can't get any earlier than that? So did WNr.5628 have such a supercharger intake?

[stona]

Surely the difference between an F-1 and F-2 is armament.
The type isn't defined by wheel wheels or supercharger intake style (some F-1s had a square one),nor the addition of armoured glass or strengthening strips at the empennage join.
Molders' aircraft was built as an F-1,whether it was subsequently upgraded will not be easily seen in photographs,or on a model.
Cheers
Steve

[clinton78]

Thanks Stona, I'm talking about the differences between Molders F-1 and other F-1s. Like the E series wing roots and the gun cameras in each wing with the additional crushed upwards MGFF ammo drum fairings under the wings which should really not be there?

[stona]

I'd hazard a guess from the limited evidence that the "E style" wing root was common to all F-1s,being carried over from the F-0s. The square intake seems to be associated with the relatively few WNF built F-1s.
I'd never thought of looking for gun cameras in both wings! I know Molders had one in the port wing.
Cheers
Steve

[clinton78]

Ok, they are not amended MGFF bulges but a more squared off retangular protrusion to allow camera installation. Thank's Wayne Little!

Steve, again thanks, I think both wings had the camera as both have the bulges underneath and dodgy square cut outs in the wings leading edge. On some photos the cut out's have a plate either temporarily or permanently placed over the camera aperture holes.

Difficult to tell about the wing roots as the F-1 and F-2s look so alike unless photographic evidence turns up of F-1s who's WNr.s are known its difficult to compare but I'm working on it. Thanks for your comments.