Drop tanks for the 109

thank’s again mate, most interesting

Hi QldSpitty,

With reference to “T. A. Gardner’s” statement on the forum you linked.

In order for the Bf 109 to carry drop tanks it required additional pipe work, controls and a larger capacity oil tank to be installed. None of which were reported on any crashed Bf 109 intelligence reports until 30 November 1940 and they had quite a few specimens to analyse up to this point. If they had found a Bf 109 with external fuel tank capabilities prior to this date it would have been big news and we would know as it would have been meticulously recorded in the intelligence reports. We also have a lot of information from the German side which informs us of the standard capabilities of each Bf 109 version, their delivery dates, etc, etc.

The report (A.I.1(G) Report No.107 (105/2) on Fw. Hermann Schmid’s Bf 109 E-1/B, WNr. 4900, White 11+- of 6./JG 53 states:

“Air frame made by Arado F.W. Warnemunde in 1940. Accepteance date 15.8.40. Works No.4900. Engine: DB.601”

“Me.109.E.1. Crashed 30.11.40 at 1100 hours at WHEELSTEAD FARM, OLD ROMNEY.”

“This aircraft is fitted with additional petrol tankage and also an extra 9 litre oil tank. There is a notice in the cockpit to this effect and instructions to pump over petrol after one and ahalf hour’s flying. This inscription is hanging on an oil c o c k and may refer to oil. The situation and capacity of the extra fuel tank is not clear and the aircraft will be further examined after lifting.”

A further report (A.I.1.(g), report No.120 was made after additional evaluation of the wreck:

“Me.109 crashed on 30.11.40 at OLD ROMNEY. This aircraft was fitted with extra oil tank of two gallons capacity, and pipe lines for extra fuel tankage.

The aircraft has now been examined, but no extra petrol tank was found. The fuel line however, runs down to the bottom of the fuselage near the external bomb rack, and it is assumed that a jettisonable auxiliary tank had been carried. This assumption is strengthened by the fact that a metal, streamlined petrol tank was found in the country which could be slung to the bomb rack of a Me.109. The capacity of this tank is approximately 90 gallons (the tank is damaged, and the capacity cannot be definitely ascertained.) This would give an extra range to the aircraft of about 450 miles at normal cruising speed, or rather more than double the usual range. A further report will be issued if and when a tank is found in situ.”

We know that the Arado Warnemünde factory WNr. block for this aircraft was: WNr.4801 – WNr.4975 which was a mixed block of E-1/B, E-6/N, E-7 and E-8 variants. The report states that this aircraft was fitted with 4 x MG 17s and just a standard “DB 601 A” which would rule out all other variants except the E-1/B or E-8. So from this we can ascertain that the Bf 109 E that crashed was carrying an ETC 500 bomb rack with both the capabilities to carry either 1 x Junkers 300 Ltr jettisonable fuel tank or 1 x 500kg or 250kg bomb. It is not known which it carried on this fateful mission as the fuel tank found in the countryside could have realistically come from another aircraft, but we can be sure that the aircraft did have the capabilites of carrying an extra fuel tank as the equipment was fitted for such an installation as described in the reports.

A couple showed up on FaceBook a few days ago. They were dragging a lake & pulled them out, along with some odd looking aluminum structures they couldn’t ID.
Lost the link…

Must have misinterpreted it.:very_drunk:
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=94771

Thanks flying pencil, we all find something new everyday. It’s why we do what we do. 🙂

Sorry, QldSpitty, but those statements are completely inaccurate. 🙂

The BoB 109s were equipped for drop tanks from the factory I think.During the Spanish Civil war they used plywood moulded droptanks but due to temperature and climate these leaked badly so were not very favorable.The PR version of the 109 definately used the metal ones early on.

…and I suspect used exclusively for long range recon from Norway?

Always new facts being found. +1
Thanks for setting me straight.

It wasn’t rapidly replaced because many still used them throughout 1940 into 41. There are photos that show evidence of the Dackelbauch having been removed, but there are also many photos of them in use. The Dackelbauch actually had a longer range than the 2 x drop tanks (+150 litres). We have a photo of the aircraft in its unit code with dackelbauch in place.

Aviart: “The Bf110D was undoubtedly NOT a failure. It was in widespread use during 1940.”

I am corrected, it was used, but I read it greatly affected performance and was very much disliked.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]256722[/ATTACH]

…
Actually, are you sure the reported 110 had the belly tank?
The belly tank was rapidly replaced with wing drop tanks, R2 kit.
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_bf_110D.html
Illustration of 110D with wing tanks
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thank you all

Also to confirm that drop tank capable Bf109E-7s were delivered to LG2 in late August/early September 1940 and all other units from mid September 1940. Source: Gerhard Stemmer.

So they were around, whether or not they carried drop tanks or a 250kg bomb on JaBo missions during the BoB is anyones guess. We start to see the drop tanks in use in October/November onwards…

It seems that during the later stages of the Battle of Britain it was deemed more useful for the Bf109E-7s to carry the 250kg bomb than the drop tank for longer range. With such small numbers of E-7s being available it was likely deemed to not be wise for a few long range fighters to hang around after all of the other short-range fighters had returned to base.

The Bf110D was undoubtedly NOT a failure. It was in widespread use during 1940. Anything that could extend the range of the Bf110 for reconnaissance, heavy fighter or escort missions was a great advantage and was utilised with the units that had them on strength. The Bf110D-0 “Dakelbauch” version with the large fairing under the belly was in use from June 1940 (I./ZG76, operating from Norway/Denmark). August 1940 a Dackelbauch D-1 was lost with 3.(F)/AufklGr.Ob.d.L., L2+OS being shot down into the sea during a recon sortie to Sheerness. In October NJG1 were using them on nightfighters… All of these examples have photographic proof of them being installed and in use.

If they where used in BoB, I doubt it.
Never read of any usage of ExTanks, even when the 109 really needed it.
110 tank (D version) was failure, not used. Later made the teardrop shaped types.

They used them in the Norway campaign..

The drop tank was late to the party in the BoB. It was only when small amounts of the E-7 started to reach units in late September. So I would say yes, but very rare and only specific units that are known to have been the first to take deliveries of the new type.