Me-109 G-6 Ion Galea (1 red), Me-109 G-6 Ion Galea (1 red)

Hello.

I am a Spanish modeller and my current project is the Me-109 G-6 (Red 1) of Ion Galea (see url-1). I have the following questions:

1. Where were roundels placed on the wings (See url-2)? ¿Place 1 or Place 2?

2. In file “Me-109 G-6 Galea.jpg” you can see traces of San Michael Cross under romanian roundel on fuselage. It’s true? Why? They used poor quality paints? They deteriorate quickly? Can you see traces of San Michael Cross under romanian roundel on the wings too?

3. The blue band of tail don’t come up to the edge but red and yellow bands yes. It’s tru? Only in left side of the tail or right side too?

I know it’s not easy answer these question. There are only a few good photos…

url-1: http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/2606/me109g6galeaft5.jpg
url-2: http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/1961/roundelsonwingsoj5.jpg

Thanks in advance.

Miguel Sánchez – Spain (España)

Hi.

Here you are a profile of this plane:

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/6941/prgalea2gp3.jpg

Regards.

Miguel Sánchez - Spain (España)

You should have also posted the source of the profile: Bogdan Patrascu via this very site: http://www.worldwar2.ro/arr/?article=698

Hu Miguel,
That photo is not terribly clear, but it is part of a series of similar photographs taken on the same day and maybe there are other photos that can show it more clearly.

1. Where were roundels placed on the wings (See url-2)? ¿Place 1 or Place 2?

Usually, the roundels were located halfway between the wingtip and wingroot, so "place 1" is more likely.

2. In file “Me-109 G-6 Galea.jpg” you can see traces of San Michael Cross under romanian roundel on fuselage. It’s true? Why? They used poor quality paints? They deteriorate quickly? Can you see traces of San Michael Cross under romanian roundel on the wings too?

First of all, the cross has nothing to do with "Saint Michael". In fact, I am not aware that Saint Michael had a "cross" as such (such as Saint George or Saint Andrew). The cross is called King Michael Cross.

Secondly, many aircraft featured this kind of unintentional "see through" roundel over a cross. There is no single reason why that may be, but all of the reasons you mentioned above are feasible.

It is very hard to tell whether you can see a cross behind this roundel, but as I said, it would not be unusual.

3. The blue band of tail don’t come up to the edge but red and yellow bands yes. It’s tru? Only in left side of the tail or right side too?

It is unclear why the bottom of the blue stripe is different. It may be overpainted? It may be some battle damage that was patched over? It is not a "regulation marking" and quite unusual. It is impossible to say whether the same was done on the other side.

Hope this helps,
Radu

masm 71, mr.Dan Antoniu ask me to send to you the follwing information:

-the fact that a pilot is pictured near a plane , is not means necesary that this is the plane he flew

-at the time of the picture , Galea could not carry on the plane red 1 no.

-no 1 plane never aper in Galea's log book

-if a company produce decals related to a specific pilot , this is not necessary an historical true fact.

mr Antoniu also ask you to provide the source of the information you affirm.

have a good day.

You should have also posted the source of the profile: Bogdan Patrascu via this very site: http://www.worldwar2.ro/arr/?article=698

Hi, Victor.

Excuse. I get this profile from Internet, but I didn't remember where. Excuse to all and specially to Bogdan Patrascu.

Miguel Sánchez - Spain (España)

Hi, Radu.

Thanks A LOT for your help!

Well, excuse for mistakes. Really, it’s King Michael Cross, not San Michael Cross… Sorry.

Thanks again.

Miguel Sánchez –Spain (España)

Hi, Horia.

>>-the fact that a pilot is pictured near a plane , is not means necesary that this is the plane he flew.

>>-at the time of the picture , Galea could not carry on the plane red 1 no.

>>-no 1 plane never aper in Galea's log book

>>-if a company produce decals related to a specific pilot , this is not necessary an historical true fact.

>>-mr Antoniu also ask you to provide the source of the information you affirm.

Yes, I agree with you.

Well, already I remember where I found information about 1 Red: Wings Palette (http: // wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/f/33/193/0). Source according to this web is The Romanian Royal Aeronautics in WWII. You can read that in this web:

"Bf.109G-6/R-3
Unit: Grupul 9 vanatoare
Serial: 1 (W.Nr.15540)
Pilot - Lt. av. Ion Galea. Miskolc, Hungary, July 1945.

Artist: © Bogdan Patrascu
Source: The Romanian Royal Aeronautics in WWII[http://www.arr.go.ro/] - DEAD"

The photo I post is from this book:

Rumanian Air Force 1938-47. Aviation - Squadron Signal. Ref. 6080, by Dénes Bernád.

Regards.

Miguel Sánchez - Spain (España)

The aircraft's Constr. No. (W. Nr.) is not correct. In fact, on the print I made off the original negative the full six-digit number is not legible.

Please also note that I did not write in the photo legend that 'Red 1' was Galea's aircraft, only that Galea [whom I had the chance and honour to meet personally, who also paid a visit in my home in Budapest] is standing near the aircraft. From here the decal maker made a huge lap, without consulting me, of course...

Gen. Dénes

P.S. It's nice to see that the books I wrote are not only read, but also used as reference (by modellers, not by decal makers)...

This post has been edited by Dénes on November 19, 2008 07:34 pm

Below two pictures with "red 1" ( left side and right side). Courtesy G-ral Dobran Ion.
You can see the roundels wing position, also the white painted wing tips. The Wnr could be 165548 or 165540, from the batch received in july '44 by 7th FG and 9th FG.





This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on November 19, 2008 08:58 pm

The aircraft's Constr. No. (W. Nr.) is not correct. In fact, on the print I made off the original negative the full six-digit number is not legible.

Please also note that I did not write in the photo legend that 'Red 1' was Galea's aircraft, only that Galea [whom I had the chance and honour to meet personally, who also paid a visit in my home in Budapest] is standing near the aircraft. From here the decal maker made a huge lap, without consulting me, of course...

Gen. Dénes

P.S. It's nice to see that the books I wrote are not only read, but also used as reference (by modellers, not by decal makers)...

Hi, Gen. Dénes.

It’s a great honor speak with you. I congratulate him on his superb books.

Thanks a lot for yours your explanations.

Your books and other similar books are great help form me like a modeller and an enthusiast of East Europa's aviation themes.

Regards.

Miguez Sánchez – Spain (España)

P.S.: I don’t find any decals company who make a sheet for this particular plane. I prefer make myself painting mask for roundels, numbers,…

Below two pictures with "red 1" ( left side and right side). Courtesy G-ral Dobran Ion.
You can see the roundels wing position, also the white painted wing tips. The Wnr could be 165548 or 165540, from the batch received in july '44 by 7th FG and 9th FG.

Hi, Mr. Cantacuzino.

Thank you and thank to Gen. Ion Dobran for these superb photos!

About roundels position under wings, I think they are painter over King Michael Cross (they are painter over Balkenkretz). But after I see this photo… while areas of wing tips don’t extend to where I thought. Can anyone tell me what alternative is more probable (see photo below)?

http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/8326/whitewingsme109mu0.jpg

And wing tips of upper wings are white too or white areas were painted only under wings?

About this photo (you send me):

http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/3650/1rosuvx42he9.jpg


1.- White wing tips. See above

2.- Painting hard and waved edges not like Bogdan Patrascu profile. ¿Both photos you send me are of the same plane (Red 1), truth? There are some planes parked in this airfield.

3.- Front engine cowl have different colour than the rest, true?

4.- Lower engine cowl is white or RLM-76?

Thanks in advance.

Miguel Sánchez - Spain (España)

1. White wing tips - the short lenght version.
2. Use pictures first as reference and only second the color profiles. Both pictures are from same plane red 1 ( the same negative) with the same persons Lt Galea, Lt Greceanu, Lt Dobran, Galea's wife (hungarian) and his sister. It is unlikely that all 5 persons moved from one plane to another to make pictures. They just change the position from left side to right side.
3. Front engine cowl looks more dark painted (probably a replacement) but the waved edges continued on it.
4. Lower engine cowl should be white (west front I.D. markings).

This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on November 21, 2008 01:11 pm

1. White wing tips - the short lenght version.
2. Use pictures first as reference and only second the color profiles. Both pictures are from same plane red 1 ( the same negative) with the same persons Lt Galea, Lt Greceanu, Lt Dobran, Galea's wife (hungarian) and his sister. It is unlikely that all 5 persons moved from one plane to another to make pictures. They just change the position from left side to right side.
3. Front engine cowl looks more dark painted (probably a replacement) but the waved edges continued on it.
4. Lower engine should be white (west front I.D. markings).

Hi, Mr. Cantacuzino.

I agree with you. Photos are mainly reference for me.

Last question (I think...): Wing tips of upper wings are white too or white areas were painted only under wings?

Thanks in advance.

Miguel Sánchez - Spain (España)

White painted on both upper and under wing tips.