I believe that it's either a Bf 109 or a Fw 190 however after careful consideration I'm leaning towards the 109. The shape of the wing tips appear a bit more rounded than a 190's should be ant the top of the rudder also appears more 109ish. Additionally I think that the cowl is too narrow to be a 190. ( I believe that it was only the later models of the 190, D perhaps, that had the retracting tail wheel, for that matter late model 109s also had retracting tail wheels)
Stig - I have two 1/72nd scale models of FW 190s and, when viewed from the angle in the picture, the wingtips do appear a little more rounded than in plan view. Also, the bulge on the cowling is the teardrop shaped blister present on either side of a 190's nose (not sure what it covered without looking it up). But the clincher is the every visible detail aft of the canopy - i.e the slope of the top deck of the rear fuselage, the tell-tale shape of the empennage, and that disproptionately large, fixed tailwheel, which is classic FW 190. Q.E.D, methinks.....!!!
I've seen this image before and if I recall correctly its not what it seems. The falling airman is I believe not from the aircraft in the picture which still has its canopy intact but from another aircraft out of the shot. As for the ID of the aircraft I go along with Adam, a FW190. Regards Peter
Quick aside, Peter - from your signature can I infer you've a particular interest in the September, 1942 raid on Gestapo H.Q. in Oslo by RAF Mosquitos?
My first instinct was 109 when I saw the photo, but as others have said it's more likely a 190 Here's a possible comparison shot:
Quick aside, Peter - from your signature can I infer you've a particular interest in the September, 1942 raid on Gestapo H.Q. in Oslo by RAF Mosquitos? Not really Adam, although anything to do with aircraft is my cup of tea as the saying goes, its just that the remark took my fancy, it seemed to be such a laid back thing to say considering the circumstances. Regards Peter
Yes, it is quite a funny remark - I like it! The main reason I ask is that I wrote an article for PC Pilot magazine (issue 61, published in April this year) recreating that very mission using Microsoft's Flight Simulator X and Just Flight's Mosquito add on package! Wish I'd known about that quote: I'd have worked it into the article!
I wasn't sure if it was an 190 because the tailwheel isn't retracted. But I'm not sure if the tailwheel retracted on all marks of the 190 or not. I believe the tailwheel was semi-retractable on most of the A series (A1 -A9), but if you look at old shots of FW 190s in flight you will still find examples with the tailwheel fully extended. The bulges on the wings to which someone else has made reference were common to later marks of both the Bf 109 and FW 190, and covered the breeches of the cannon/machine guns.
Mildly annoyed now . I thought it looked like a 190 too, but having been so wrong so many times I didn't dare say. Is this one of those exceptionally rare occasions I could actually identify a winged beast? Sorry, still getting my coat .
Hey, Mr Von Poop - we all get it wrong sometimes! My Achilles Heel is tanks and ships. I can tell a Tiger from a Sherman or HMS Hood from Tirpitz, but that's about it!! But you WERE right about it being a 190 - the redoubtable "Butcher Bird" designed by Kurt tank.
"Is it a bird? Is it a plane?" Lovely to see a bunch of grown up men (supposedly) twisting themselves in knots
"Is it a bird? Is it a plane?" Lovely to see a bunch of grown up men (supposedly) twisting themselves in knots I'm not knotted. And I don't have to twist myself. I know. Therefore, I am!
I've been looking at three-line views again today. Take a look at this section of the original pic... 1/ on those marks of the FW190 that DO have wing blisters....the wing blister is towards the REAR or trailing edge of the wing. In this pic it's towards the FRONT or leading edge - like a Bf109G. 2/ On ALL marks of the Fw190, the tailplane/elevators are further down, below the level of the top of the fuselage where it meets the tailplane... ...whereas on the original pic and on all variants of the 109 it's visibly ABOVE that fuselage line...
I've been looking at three-line views again today. Take a look at this section of the original pic... 1/ on those marks of the FW190 that DO have wing blisters....the wing blister is towards the REAR or trailing edge of the wing. In this pic it's towards the FRONT or leading edge - like a Bf109G. 2/ On ALL marks of the Fw190, the ailerons are further down, below the level of the top of the fuselage where it meets the tailplane... ...whereas on the original pic and on all variants of the 109 it's visibly ABOVE that fuselage line... I agree with you although I believe you mean the elevators and not ailerons.
For as much as it is worth (Probably not very much), I also go along with the Bf 109 theory. Regards Tom
I agree with you although I believe you mean the elevators and not ailerons. Chaps - the aeroplane in the picture is NOT a Messerschmitt 109. I would bet folding money on it, so sure am I! The nose profile is that of a radial engined fighter (the Fw190 wasn't a radial engined fighter, but its annular cooler conferred it with a radial engined fighter look), not an inline engined fighter! As for the position of the tail plane, the viewing angle distorts the perspective, and it is impossible to determine its exact location with reference to the fin/rudder. By the same reasoning, it is impossible to state with certainty the position of the wing blisters!
Phylo RoadKing James S...I have the same reservation - iit looks like a 109...but it also looks like a 109 with the cockpit still closed, you can see the shine on the glass of the canopy. Apart from this the aircraft looks undamaged and the attitude of the man does not really look like someone who has come out of an aircraft flying along at 300 plus MPH.
