Bf 109 found in russia

[pablo10]

http://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-...im-pearce.html

On April 4th of 1942 Widowitz was shot down by a Soviet lend-lease (rather, in reality “lend-keep”) Hurricane whilst on an escort mission. Hits to his engine were observed followed by a forced, near perfect, wheels-up landing on the ice of a frozen lake. The aircraft then sank through the ice and came to rest on the lakebed where it remained untouched until the recovery in 2003. Widowitz died more than a year later during another crash landing.

[BenVK]

"Built in September 1939 by Arado GmbH at Warnemunde this aircraft (Werke No: 3523) was known to have flown in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain as an E-1. It was recovered in August 2003 by warbird recovery specialist Jim Pearce from a lake bed somewhere in Northern Russia where it had lain since force-landing on the frozen surface on 4th April 1942. The pilot, Lt. Wulf-Dietrich Widowitz, was uninjured but killed a year later in another crash."

I'm very puzzled by the pink undercoat, why would they do that?, it only adds weight.

[NickG]

It's on display at Planes of Fame museum Chino, California, 10 minutes from my house. They plan to restore it for the owner. Just static display status I believe, not flying condition.
Would be a shame...now it shows the original paint and battle damage in fuselage areas, as well as wing and even engine hits...

[BenVK]

I assume they will "restore" it by painting it in some god awful modern day paint and in a scheme that's completely inaccurate.

[juvatwad]

I'm very puzzled by the pink undercoat, why would they do that?, it only adds weight.

It's primer.

[BenVK]

Wow, really? and your provenance is?

[M.Rimmer]

I assume they will "restore" it by painting it in some god awful modern day paint and in a scheme that's completely inaccurate.

Unfortunately you're probably correct I often wonder how historians of the future will view these "restorations".

[BenVK]

Well, I will do my upmost to show them the before and after photos and maybe, just prehaps, some common sense will prevail. I doubt it though.

[juvatwad]

The Luftwaffe used a red brown primer, typically on non metal surfaces, but many examples exists of this color paint being evident on wrecks, etc. on metal surfaces.

[M.Rimmer]

Well, I will do my upmost to show them the before and after photos and maybe, just prehaps, some common sense will prevail. I doubt it though.

I think the view is changing Ben and more people are starting to see historic aircraft as artifacts but IMO it will be another twenty years before we see any real change and sadly by then many more original aircraft will have been compromised through "restoration". Have you see the RAFM's Dornier? granted it's a complete wreck, but "it is what it is" and I admire the museum for undertaking a complex and challenging conservation.

Oh to have had the funds and infrastructure to have bought and preserved many of the aircraft brought out of the east!.

Matt.

[pablo10]

here is some interesting 109s and how they are today
http://axis.classicwings.com/Luftwaf...mitt/me109.htm

[hs132]

Hello, Im glad to say I have looked this Fighter over a few times. Here are some pics. When no one was around I placed a flight jacket and cap on the tail. Best, Bill

[hs132]

1

[piw]

Certainly should be kept as found.

[pablo10]

Bill-well done and that looks great