The great ‘Black 6’

Twenty years after its last flight, the Ministry of Defence-owned, IWM-operated Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2/Trop ‘Black 6’ remains among the most revered warbirds to have appeared on the UK circuit. The leader of the team that restored it to flying condition, Russ Snadden, passed away earlier this year; here, his son recalls the operation of this remarkable aeroplane

Bf 109G ‘BLACK 6’

John Allison flying Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2/Trop Werknummer 10639/G-USTV ‘Black 6’ on its first air-to-air sortie in 1991.
RAF

When Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2/Trop Werknummer 10639 arrived at RAF Lyneham by Hercules after a short flight from RAF Wattisham in 1972, I was the grand age of three. The project took some time to gain momentum, particularly with my father — then flying the Comet 4C with No 216 Squadron — being away for many weeks on end. The disbandment of 216 and retirement of the Comet fleet meant Russ being posted to RAF Northolt in Middlesex with the 109 duly following. It is to there that my earliest memories of the restoration extend.

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