Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 of Feldwebel Fritz Dinger

Image size: 1600 x 958 pixel. 389 KB
Date: October 1941
Place: Sologubowka, Leningrad, Soviet Union
Photographer: Unknown

Both photos on this page show the Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 “Weiss 4” Werknummer 7187 of Feldwebel Fritz Dinger of 4.Staffel / Jagdgeschwader 53 (Ritterkreuz 23 December 1942, KIA 27 July 1943 by shrapnel). On October 5th 1941, after sustaining damage in aerial combat, Feldwebel Dinger belly landed his aircraft near Sologubowka, 40 kilometres south-east of Leningrad, not far from Mga. This happened before the first snow had fallen. Because the aircraft was not recovered fast enough, it was covered with snow when the winter set in mid October. This was of course a welcome sight for troops passing by and therefore several pictures exist of Feldwebel Dinger’s belly landed aircraft. Interesting is that, due to lack of direct sunlight, the picture above doesn’t clearly show the yellow engine cowling and fuselage band. The picture below, taken with sunlight, clearly shows these details. Notice also the unusual shape of the aircraft’s tactical number. On the rudder the 10 victory bars (fliegerabschüsse) can be seen which Feldwebel Dinger had accumulated since the beginning of the Russian campaign.

Source:
Luftwaffe im Focus - Edition No.1 2002