The F-6A Mustang is in the can, the Spit is close to being completed, the nose for the Bf-110 is still missing, so why not do a Bf-109? Had this kit in the stash and want to finish her as flown by 1Lt Hans-Joachim Marseille with JG-27. Apparently known as the "Star of Africa" Marseille was killed when a gear in his engine shattered in the newly issued G model 109. When jumping from the aircraft his chest hit the rudder knocking him unconscious and he fell to earth never opening his chute.

Looks like a decent little kit with a cockpit upgrade so this should be a fun build. Next step find some decals that depict his aircraft.

4 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Looks like another nice project to look forward to!

Most sources agree that HJM died on Sept. 30, 1942 while flying a Bf-109 G-2, wr. nr. 14256 licenced in Erla Machinenwerke, Leipzig . The engine was a DB 605 A-1 wr. nr. 77411. The plane was very new - one of the first shipped - in this case via Bari. The mechanical failure that ultimately killed him was down to a reduction gear physical breakdown and a loss of gear lubricant which then smoked and burned filling the cockpit and causing him to bail out. Apart from the crash site photos - which are not discernible as much more than debris, I don't think any pictures of Marseille's last plane exist.

There may well have been Bf 109 E variants still operational throughout the western hemisphere during 1942/43, particularly within the Bllack Sea states. I would hesitate to depict one flown by HJM in the Kasserine Pass timescale. His Staffel was sent back to Germany at the end of 1941 to convert to the Bf 109 F-4 Trop after which Marseille gradually shrugged off his disaster-prone earlier career which had marked him as almost undesirable in most units, improving his technique and eventually achieving a high rate of kills. By the time of the Kasserine Pass episode, he had already been lost. Parhaps that's irrelevant in the logic of this topic but it perhaps needs taking into account.

Great that you have a Friedrich in your stash Tom - roll on the BF109! Can't wait!

Good news Tom ! Like everyone else says... we need a 109 or more. Looking forward to seeing your progress.

I've seen some HJM decals made by Peddinghaus on ebay if it helps. There have been some criticisms of decals from this maker but I haven't any experience with them. these suggested that the decals were somewhat thick. Lots of luck. There must be other decals out there unrelated to HJM but relevant to pilots that would have been active during the Kasserine episode. Paul

After some more research I'm going to do White 12 as flown by 2Lt Franz Stigler with JG-27. Franz survived the war and had his life story told in a book titled "A Higher Calling" The book details his war experiences and a particular meeting between his Bf-109 and very battle damaged B-17 named Ye Olde Pub . Rather than get an easy kill Franz let the bomber go and always wondered if they ever made it home. Suggest you read the book to learn about what was termed "the most incredible encounter between enemies in WW II." Next step get some decals for JG-27 in Africa. And David my major in college was history with a minor in government. And Paul thanks for the information and your input.