A line-up of Bf 109 G-6/AS fighters of 5./JG 27 seen in early summer 1944 at Fels am Wagram. ‘Black 14’ has the WNr. 412x29 (‘x’ is probably an '8' or even a '3'). The finish comprises an unusual 'snake' mottle along the fuselage sides extending to below the exhaust stacks. Note the curved 'shield' above the exhaust stack on the port side of the engine - designed primarily to prevent hot gases from being ingested into the supercharger intake, a feature of most Gustavs. Click on the image to view large..'Black 14' is illustrated by Claes Sundin in his 'Luftwaffe Fighter aircraft - Profile book no. 12'
Leaving Wiesbaden at the end of May 1944 for Unterschlauersbach (near Munich) II./JG 27 was briefly subordinated to the JG z.b.V before going to Eisenstadt for rest and refit on 3 June. Just three days later D-Day brought this period to a swift end and the Gruppe was sent to Fels am Wagram as part of a Sammelgruppe for Western front fighter and fighter pilot replacements. A host of new machines was assigned to the Gruppe including their first G-6/AS fighters, with which they were due to be re-equipped. This period came to an end on 1 July. Assigned to 8 JD the Gruppe was scrambled against 15th AF raids heading for the south of the Reich and Hungary on no fewer than 13 occasions during the month and on a further four days was directed against 8th AF incursions over the Reich. During July the Gruppe claimed five bombers shot down for the loss of 33 Bf 109s - 19 pilots were killed and 7 wounded. A further (approx) 20 Messerschmitts were lost in accidents!
" ..after one month of operations following refit [during the summer of 1944], combat readiness [of II./JG 27] had already shrunk to Staffel strength level.."
(adapted from Jochen Prien's JfV Teil 13/V p283-284)