I visited the widow of Manfred Dieterle, a former pilot of 3./ JG300 piloting Bf-109G-6/R6 yellow "1", in a Seniorenheim near Stuttgart in 2004 for a short visit.
She showed me some items originating of Manfred´s Luftwaffe carrier. The two most interesting items were his Flugbuch (flight log) and a contemporary wooden scale model of „his“ Gustav of approx. 1/50 scale. This model was obviously finished in the wartime Luftwaffe lacquers as they were used on his real Gustav.
Description of the wooden Bf-109 model
Spinner: semi gloss black (probably RLM 7160.22) with pale yellow (probably is RLM 27) spiral.
Upper surfaces: close to RAL 7031 Blue grey (RAL-K5 color swatch). Finish shows a slight sheen typical to nitro-cellulose lacquers. The blue grey color does not fit a standard RLM color and was probably a mix of available colors at the unit level, probably based on lacquers RLM 7121 or 7122.
Lower surfaces: semi-gloss black, probably RLM 7160.22 with a less dull finish than the blue grey color.
Rumpfband (fuselage band): close to RAL 3005 Wine red (RAL-K5 color swatch) but different to RLM 28(!).
Tactical markings: pale yellow “1” with white outline. The pale yellow shade is probably RLM 27.
National insignias: white outline only Balkenkreuze on fuselage and upper wings. No swastika, probably it was too delicate to be applied by brush (?).
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Wooden
wartime model of Gelbe
"1" flown by Staffelkapitän
Lt. Manfred Dieterle
with a blue grey camouflage scheme suitable for nightfighters. The
lower surfaces and the the wing root area are semi-gloss black with
no national insignia – Balkenkreuze.
The upper surfaces are a non-RLM blue grey color. The spinner is
semi-gloss black with a pale yellow spiral and the Rumpfband
is wine red.
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The Messerschmitt Bf-109G/AS
Frau Dieterle also showed Manfred´s Flugbuch and one entry was of particular interest for me: this entry was of a a sortie flown in a Bf-109G/AS with a remark reading as follows: “Geht ab wie eine Rakete!” which translates to “goes like a rocket!”. High altidude performans of the AS version must have been noticeably better than of the stand Gustav powered by the DB605A.
