 The Wrk.Nr of this aircraft is not known but the camoflage is similar to aircraft from WNF in the 13000 series such as Max-Hellmuth Ostermann's Black 1. The original camoflage of RLM 74/75 /76 has been darkened by RLM70 on the fuselage sides. A lighter color, perhaps RLM02, has then been added, obviously after the markings were applied. The rear part of the aircraft is not visible in any photos so it's impossible to say for certain whether this aircraft had a yellow tailband or not. At the time this feature differed from aircraft to aircraft in III./JG54. It's also not possible to tell whether Seiler had put victory bars on the tail of the aircraft or not. Many pilots did this in III./JG54 but none of the aircraft flown by Seiler during 1942 seem to display any such markings. The landing gear doors were removed on this aircraft which was a standard measure to prevent mud and snow building up between the gear and the door during the winter and spring. Reinhard Seiler was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 54 on September 30, 1941 after having served as Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 54. Seiler was wounded in action on March 20, 1942 flying a Bf 109 F-4 (Wrk.Nr unknown), possibly this aircraft. |