Luftwaffe History: Visiting the widow of Lt. Manfred Dieterle

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 (?).

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.

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.