RECOVERED: Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4
Wrk. Nmr. 10256 was built in 1942 in Leipzig, Germany. Records show that on July 22nd 1942, Stab II/JG5 had to undertake an emergency landing due to engine trouble, this time at Murowskij. Horst Carganico, Gruppenkommandeur of II/JG5 (he also crashed W.Nr.10132) was the pilot. Carganico was the son of Gen. Victor Carganico of WW-I fame. On 26 March 1944 Hauptmann Carganico was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 5 participating in the Reichsverteidigung. Following aerial combat with USAAF B-17 four-engined bombers on 27 May 1944, he was killed when Bf 109 G-5 (W.Nr. 110087) crashed into the ground after hitting high tension cables while Carganico was attempting to make a forced landing near Chevry, France. Horst Carganico shot down 60 enemy aircraft in about 600 missions. He recorded six victories over the Western front.
The aircraft remained where it came to rest in Northern Russia until it was recovered by Warbird Recovery in the winter of 1994. It took a Jet engine on the back of a truck to melt the remains out of the ice of the frozen lake where the aircraft was found. All remaining pieces were shipped to the Warbird Recovery facility in Broomfield, Colorado.
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 aircraft was so successful that when production of the Bf 109 ceased in 1956, over 35,000 had been built. The performance of the Bf 109 was equal to the Spitfire and superior to the Hurricane.
Warbird Recovery has begun restoring this aircraft to original flying condition.
Crew-One
Construction-All metal stressed-skin
Engine-One 1,475hp Daimler-Benz DB605A liquid cooled inverted V12
Armament-One 20mm MG151 engine mounted cannon with 150 rounds Two 7.9mm MG17 fuselage mounted machine guns with 500 rounds per gun
Performance-Maximum speed 398mph (640kph)
Service ceiling 39,370 (12,000m)
Range 340 miles (540km)
Wingspan-32ft. 6 1/2 in.
Length-29ft 7 1/2in.
Height-8ft 2 1/2in.
Weight empty-5,687lb.
Weight loaded-6,834lb.
Photo above- Commander II./JG 5 Hauptmann Horst Carganico is sitting on engine cowling of his Bf 109F-4 trop. Note Caranico`s personal emblem – Mickey Mouse