Eastern Front Greeks: Bf 109 F-2/B

[comrade harps]

Hellenic State Aircraft Factory-assembled Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2/B
Black 10, 102nd Mira Dioxeos (Fighter Squadron), Northern Expeditionary Group, Hellenic Air Force
Morozovskaya-Öst, Axis-occupied Socialist Union, November 1942



Hitler didn't often play the role of peacemaker. Yet, that was precisely the role he played with regards to the threat of an Italian invasion of Greece. Although inclined to let Italy's dictator, Mussolini, have his own way in the Balkans, German intelligence indicated that Greece would be able to withstand an Italian invasion. Hitler saw that this would lead to the unpalatable situation where German forces would have to finish the job for their Italian allies; and this at a time when Germany was preparing to invade the Moscow Pact nations. As an alternative, Hitler recognised that here was an opportunity to carrot and stick the conservative, anti-Communist  Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas into an ally. Through a combination of German diplomacy and intimidation, Mussolini's threat of invasion could be used as a means to draw Greece away from a likely alliance with the British and into the Tripartite (Axis) Pact. From there, Greece could function as a defensive bulwark on the Axis' southern-eastern flank and would likely contribute forces to the up-coming anti-Communist crusade of Operation Barbarossa. By playing the role of a geopolitical statesman (bully), Hitler persuaded the Metaxas regime to sign-on to the Tripartite Pact, which it did on 25 March 1941 (the same day as Bulgaria), thereby thwarting Mussolini's invasion plans. Greece declared war on the Moscow Pact nations on 24 June 1941 (two days after Operation Barbarossa's commencement) and the all-volunteer Greek I Army Corps entered battle on the Eastern Front on  23 August 1941, fighting in Ukraine.




The I Army Corps was supported in the air by the Northern Expeditionary Group (NEG) of the Hellenic Air Force, which included Ju 52/3mg3e transport planes, PZL.23G reconnaissance bombers, PZL.37H bombers (licence-built by the Hellenic State Aircraft Factory) and PZL.24 fighters. Meanwhile, the domestic Hellenic Air Force was rapidly re-equipping with modern German types and by the end of 1941 was receiving (second-hand) Bf 109Es, (new and used) He 111H-6 bombers and the Hellenic State Aircraft Factory was establishing a Bf 109 F-2 assembly line (which would later build F-4 and G-6 models of the Bf 109). More German planes would follow, including Fw 189As, Fw 190A-4s and A-8s and Hs 129B-2s.




Greek-assembled Bf 109 F-2 fighters and F-2/B fighter-bombers assigned to the Northern Expeditionary Group saw combat on the Eastern Front from March 1942. Although the NEG had pulled back to rest and re-equip during the winter of 1941-42, it remained on the frontline during the winter of 1942-43, seeing action during the Battle of Volgograd and the subsequent Axis retreat.



During the Battle of Volgograd, the Nothern Expeditionary Group's three fighter squadrons were equipped with a combination of BF 109 F-2 and F-2/Bs, with increasing numbers of Greek-built F-4 and F-4/Bs on strength as attrition replacements. Painted with full or partial winter camouflages, they conducted air defence, close air support, interdiction bombing, fighter sweep and escort missions throughout the campaign. With their compatriots of the I Army Corps positioned to the north (along the Don River), the NEG pilots operating from their base at Morozovskaya-Öst often deployed to more northerly and eastern airstrips to reduce range and make more frequent and timely interventions over the front; however, it should be noted that the NEG also operated in direct support of German activities in and around Volgograd, including contributing to the bombing of the city and flying in support of the airlift effort. Operating in such conditions, during winter, it was common for the Greeks to remove the undercarriage covers from their Messerschmitts in order to reduce the hazards associated with the build-up of snow, ice and mud around the wheels.



The 102nd Mira Dioxeos of the Northern Expeditionary Group was primarily a fighter-bomber unit and during the Volgograd campaign flew both the F-2/B and F-4/B models of the Bf 109. Their standard offensive loadout at the time was a single SC 250 bomb, although the carriage of four SC 50 bombs was common when operating from short or damaged airstrips. Both types of bombs were used with and without the Stabo (spike) fuse extender.



Unit histories associate this aircraft, Black 10, with being flown by Flight Lieutenant Nikolaos "Nikos" Anastopoulos and Flying Officer Georgios "Giorgos" Karagounis at around this time, November 1942. Flt. Lt. Anastopoulos was shot down in Black 10 on 22 November 1942 during a bombing mission against the advancing Red Army's Operation Uranus. He was badly injured and taken prisoner, dying of his wounds on the 25th.

[Old Wombat]

Really lovely camo scheme on the Bf.109, comrade!

[PR19_Kit]

Now that's nicely different, it almost makes me like the Bf 109.............

[NARSES2]

That's really nice. I particularly like your use of the national flag as the fuselage marking  .

[zenrat]

Love the camo.

[dumaniac]

yes - love the cam0