LW091 Erich Hartmann’s Messerschmitt Bf. 109

His winter-camouflaged Bf. 109 ‘Gustav’ is a fitting companion to our long-retired FW190 in ‘winter colours’ (see photo).
This particular winter ‘Gustav’ was painted in these colours while flying with Jagdgeschwader 53.  Each model comes in its own sturdy, full-colour, presentation box.

History has seen numerous outstanding aviators and specifically ‘ACE’ fighter pilots.  None however, comes close to the exceptionally gifted (and deadly) Erich Hartmann (1922-1993) who served and flew mainly on the Eastern Front during WW2.
Hartmann was the top-scoring fighter pilot of all the many Allied and Axis aces of WW2.  He flew a staggering 825 combat missions recording a grand total of 352 victories!
During the winter months of 1944 and into 1945 Hartmann flew a number of different Messerschmitt Bf.109 ‘Gustavs’ painted in the distinctive winter-colour scheme of snow white with faint grey colour camouflage.  On the nose of each aircraft was Hartmann’s own ‘Black Tulip’ design which became the last symbol many unfortunate Soviet aviators would ever see.  In addition Hartmann’s winter ‘Gustav’ would also carry a red heart under the cockpit on the port side bearing the name of his wife.
With Germany’s defeat, Erich Hartmann was handed over to the Russians and served 10 years in various brutal Soviet prison / labour camps before being freed and returning to Germany and his family.
Shortly afterwards he joined the new West German Bundeswehr air force rising to the rank of ‘Colonel’ and commanding the famous ‘Richtofen’ squadron which was then flying the deadly and dangerous U.S. made F104 ‘Starfighter’.   He passed away in 1993.