The first Bf-109G “Gustav” entered service in March 1942. New features were a pressurized
cockpit with three larger guns mounted on the nose and none on the wings but could be field
mounted. The Bf-109G could overheat causing oil leaks; starting a fire forcing the pilot to bail out.
The Gustav was produced in many variants including long-range fighters, recon fighters and
bomber destroyers. The Bf-109G-6 lacked a pressurized cockpit but was the most numerous
Bf-109 produced and the first to carry 13mm machine guns; equivalent to the American 50 caliber
Browning.

Ofw. Alfred Surau scored his first victory on February 28, 1943 while flying Bf-109G-6 “Yellow 6”
over the Eastern Front. In mid 1943 JG. 3 “Udet” units returned to Germany to defend against
Allied bomber attacks. Surau’s first Western Front kill was a B-17 on September 3, 1943. In only 6
months Surau managed to increase his victory total to 41. He is one of the Luftwaffe’s most
effective but shortest lived aces because on October 14, 1943 he was shot down and died while
destroying a B-17, his 45th victory.

Messerschmitt Bf-109G-6 specifications

Production timeline – February 1943 – October 1943

Number produced – 5,000+

Dimensions
Length – 9.04m   (29ft   (8in)
Wingspan – 9.92m   (32ft 6.5in)
Height – 2.5m   (8ft 2.25in)

Weight
Empty – 2,700kg   (5,900lb)
Operational – 3,400kg   (7,500lb)

Performance
Powerplant – Daimler-Benz DB605A-1, 12 cylinder inverted vee, liquid cooled, 1,475hp
Maximum speed – 640km/h   (398mph)
Range – 850km   (528miles)
Service ceiling – 12,000m   (39,370ft)

Armament
2 X 13mm (.51in) synchronized MG 131 machine guns with 300 rounds each
1 X 20mm   (.78in) MG 151/20 cannon as centerline Motorkanone firing through propeller hub
with 200 rounds
Or
1 X 30mm   (1.18in) MK 108 cannon as centerline Motorkanone with 65 round per gun (G-6/U4
variant)
2 X 20mm MG 151/20 under-wing cannon pods with 135 round per gun (Rustsatz V option)
Rockets - 2 X 21 cm (8 in) Wfr. Gr. 21 rockets (G-6 with BR21)
Bombs
1 X 250 kg   (551 lb) bomb
Or
4 X 50 kg   (110 lb) bombs
Or
1 X 300 litre   (79 US gal) drop tank

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