Aircraft profile of the Month

Messerschmitt Bf 109E-7, Yellow 7 Oblt. Horst Carganico, Staffelkapitän 1./JG 77 Petsamo, 25. September 1941 Introduction: On September 25th 1941 Oblt. Horst Carganico, Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 77 then stationed at Petsamo, Northern Finland, received the Ritterkreuz for 27 aerial victories. At the time he was one of the highest scoring aces on the so-called Eismeerfront. Carganico’s personal mount during summer/early fall 1941 was a Bf 109E-7 marked Yellow 7, the subject of this month’s aircraft profile. Aircraft Type: Despite having the older E-1 style canopy framing, Yellow 7 is an E-7. I./JG 77 was wholly equipped on this type in 1941 (along with a few E-4s) and the capped spinner also points to this subtype. It is well established that many Bf 109E-1 were converted to E-7 standard and quite a few of them were delivered to JG 77 & JG 5, but the installation of the older type of canopy framing is not caused by a “partial” E-1 to E-7 conversion (quite often these conversions retained the older canopy framing, but usually with the extra windshield armour glazing added). As matter of fact, Carganico seems to have preferred the older type of framing, it is certain that he used it on his Bf 109E when he was a Adjutant in II./JG 77 and he even had this early framing retro-fitted to all of his Bf 109F-4s (at least three different ones)! It may have been because of the better visibility or perhaps the earlier type was easier to open in an emergency! Camouflage & Markings: Yellow 7 is finished in the standard fighter scheme of RLM 74 Dunkelgrau and RLM 75 Grauviolett over RLM 76 Lichtblau. The fuselage spine seems to be rather heavily covered in RLM 74 with a segment of slightly lighter colour beneath this (probably RLM 75). Only the forward fuselage and rear fuselage back to the national insignia is photogrpahically documented, but it is likely that the rest of the fuselage as well as the tail fin is finished mostly in RLM 74 as seen on several other aircraft of the Staffel at the time. The lower half of the fuselage appears to be in RLM 76 with only hints of mottling. This division of the fuselage into three distinct horizontal segments of different colours gives the aircraft a characteristc appearance. The rudder appears to be finished in a solid colour which is closer to RLM 75 than RLM 76. It is too dark to be RLM 02 or Yellow (RLM 27 or 04). The entire engine cowling is finished in yellow, probably RLM 04. Judging by the photos this was a rather fresh application when the aforementioned photos were taken on September 25th. Yellow-nosed Bf 109Es from I./JG 77 are rarely seen on photos and were much more common on JG 5 Emils in 1942. It is possible that yellow noses were introduced as an easy recognition marking in early fall 1941 or sometime later. The currently available photographic material is too scarce to make a final judgment on this. A very unusual feature of Yellow 7 is the highly polished natural metal spinner. It is not known why the spinner was not painted as it must have been highly reflective and visible in sunny weather! The spinner back plate remains in RLM 70 so the answer may be that the spinner is a very

recent replacement which has not yet been painted. It is known that the spinner was later painted in RLM 70 with a yellow tip (see below) so this explanation seems to have most to it!

Carganico’s 27 victories are shown on the rudder as white bars with a roundel or a red star superimposed on top signifying the nationality of each victory. A photo of the rudder of Carganico’s Bf 109F-4, W.Nr. 10132, shows that the first 5 bars had British roundels while the next 22 had red stars and a close study of the rudder photograph mentioned above confirms that the same sequence was present on Yellow 7 as well. History: It is not known when Carganico started to use Yellow 7 but it is likely it had been his personal plane for some time, perhaps even before 1./JG 77 arrived at the northern front in early June 1941. What is certain is that the machine was his personal plane when he received the Ritterkreuz as a series of photos show him in and about the aircraft wearing his characteristic light grey flight jacket and the newly awarded Ritterkreuz. One of these photos also show him with his victory stick with 27 white bands. A further, previously unpublished photo, feature some other pilots and a ground crew

member along with Craganico holding the rudder of Yellow 7 which has been detached from the aircraft. The rudder is marked with 27 white bars. All in all this makes it very likely that the series of photos showing Carganico and Yellow 7 together were taken on September 25th. Carganico probably continued to use Yellow 7 into early fall and winter 1941 and perhaps as long as early May 1942 when he received his first Bf 109F-4. A few photos exist which show Yellow 7 later in its carrer. It later had what appears to be a partly overpainted (or heavily weathered) nose and a spinner in regular RLM 70 with the tip in the Staffelcolour of yellow. The final appearance of Yellow 7 is probably hinted at by an interesting photo showing a yellowed-nosed Bf 109E-7 at Alakurtti bearing the Russian bear head insignia of 4./JG 5 may be Yellow 7 after it had been handed over to this Staffels this aircraft displays heavy overpainting of a large insignia below the cockpit identical in shape, size and placement to Carganico’s personal terrier insignia.

Carganico with mechanic in front of Yellow 7 (above) and with Hugo Dahmer (right), showing the yellow nose and highly polished spinner cap to advantage. The upper photos also show the relatively pristine finish of the yellow paint.

Two photos of Carganico in the cockpit of his Yellow 7. The left one shows details of the early E-canopy in exquisite detail. The photo on the right provides details of Carganico’s personal emblem, a terrier on a diamond shaped background, probably in yellow (compare hue with the yellow numeral). The dog is probably light brown with details in white and black. Also note the different tonal strength of the colours of the fuselage sides, probably RLM 74 (top) and 75 (below) as explained in the text. Note shape of the numeral.

Another photo of Carganico and Yellow 7, this time with his victory stick. Especially noteworthy in this shot is the black exhaust stubs.

Carganico with friends and the rudder of Yellow 7. Note relatively uniform colour of the rudder.

This might be Yellow 7 in 1942, after Carganico had switched to the Bf 109F. The main point of interestest is the overpainted insignia below the cockpit. As far as is known no Staffel of I./JG 77 or JG 5 used an emblem of the size and shape seen here. The bear’s head insignia belonged to 4./JG 5 and this Staffel continued to use the Emil up to at least late July 1942. The photograph was taken at Alakurtti as evidenced by the hangar with the number “2” in the background (seen on several other contemporary photos). Note that the aircraft now has the extra armoured windscreen and that the newer type of canopy now has been fitted. The spinner is now at least partly finished in RLM 70, something the pilot no doubt appreciated!

Profile 1. Yellow 7 as it appeared on September 25th 1941. Note the strange vertically segmented division of the RLM 74/75/76 colours.

Profile 2. Yellow 7 sometime later, probably October-November 1941, this time with an all black-green spinner and either a heavily weathered yellow cowling or a partly oversprayed one. The exact number of victories at the time the photo of Yellow 7 in this guise was taken is unknown.

Profile 3. A conjectural depiction of Yellow 7 as it may have appeared in mid-1942 after it had been transferred to 4./JG 5. Individual number is unconfirmed and White 5 is an arbitrary suggestion only. Note 4./JG 5 Bear’s Head insignia on nose and oversprayed insignia below windscreen. Fuselage sides show signs of having been heavily oversprayed with RLM 76 as well while cowling seems to have had a fresh coat of yellow applied.