Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1, WNr. 3523
History
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1 with Werknummer (W.Nr.) 3523, known by its Luftwaffe codes CS+AJ and later Red 6, holds a significant place in aviation history. Constructed in 1939 by Arado GmbH at Warnemünde, Germany, it initially served in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain. In early 1942, it was converted to an E-7 variant, equipped to carry drop tanks or bombs, enhancing its operational versatility. This modification was part of the Luftwaffe's adaptation to the evolving demands of the Eastern Front.
In March 1942, Bf 109 E-7 W.Nr. 3523 was assigned to II./JG 5 "Eismeer" and deployed to Petsamo, Finland. On April 4, 1942, while piloted by Leutnant Wulf-Dietrich Widowitz, a 36-victory ace, the aircraft was shot down during a mission escorting a Bf 110. The assailant was a Soviet pilot flying a Hurricane Mk IIb from the Soviet 2nd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (2 GIAP). Widowitz executed a controlled wheels-up landing on a frozen lake near Petsamo. Although the aircraft eventually sank through the ice, Widowitz managed to return to German lines and survived the incident.Tragically, he was killed in another forced landing on July 28, 1943, while piloting a Go-145A from Kirkenes to Petsamo.
In August 2003, aviation historian and warbird recovery specialist Jim Pearce recovered the wreckage of Bf 109 E-7 W.Nr. 3523 from the lakebed. The aircraft was subsequently acquired by the Friedkin Family Warbirds Collection and is currently on display at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California. Restoration efforts are underway to return the aircraft to flying condition at Fighter Rebuilders in Chino, California. The recovery and ongoing restoration of this aircraft provide valuable insights into the engineering and operational history of the Bf 109 series, as well as the personal stories of the Luftwaffe pilots who flew them.