Bf109G-4/R6 Wr.N 1499729

• Text on print reads… Messerschmitt Bf109G-4/R6 Wr.N 1499729 | 7./JG52 | Kuban region, Ukraine 28 May 1943 | an early personal aircraft of Luftwaffe ace Eric Hartmann

• Illustration depicts the aircraft as it appeared immediately after capture with bullet holes in tail and rear fuselage, prop blades bent back and dropped flaps

• An account of this aircraft’s forced landing and capture by fighter pilots of the Soviet 812 IAP is given in the “War Prize: Eric Hartmann’s Bf109!” section of the book Dragons on Bird Wings vol.1(Vlad Antipov and Igor Utkin, Aviaeology 2006). This profile and 5 photos support the narrative.

• This particular “Kanonboote Messerschmitt” was the personal mount of Hartmann’s immediately prior to being captured together with its pilot, Herbert Meissler. Hartmann had scored his 15th victory in this aircraft.