Bf-109G used as a transport plane?

[F19_Haddock]

I was re-reading Osprey's Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front, and I stumbled upon this crazy passage, when the German troops started to evacuate Crimea:

 

In May 1944 II/JG52 had withdrawn, retiring to Kherson, joined by III Gruppe brought back from Poland. At Kherson the two Gruppen were subjected to near-constant bombing raids and Russian artillery, but III Gruppe had prepared for this contingency: Having removed the armour plating and radio equipment , there was room in each Gustav (exact type not mentioned) for two extra bodies. Every pilot took off Zarnesti, in Romania, with two mechanics on board!

 

Surely it would be a real issue with control cables and lack of flooring? Have you guys heard of this or similar stories? I just can't find more info, but I'd love to know more about it. Thanks!

[Cybermat47]

In A Higher Call, it’s said that JG 77 evacuated from Tunisia to Sicily with their mechanics shoved into the fuselages of their 109s.

 

Our very own @MilAvHistory made a great video following III./SG 4 on D-Day. It turns out that the grille was urgently transferred to new bases on the day of the invasion, and the mechanics were shoved into the fuselages of the Fw-190s so that they would be able to get to work on the aircraft as soon as they landed.

 

 

He starts talking about the mechanics at 11:54.

[Irishratticus72]

5 hours ago, [Pb]Cybermat47 said:

In A Higher Call, it’s said that JG 77 evacuated from Tunisia to Sicily with their mechanics shoved into the fuselages of their 109s.

 

Our very own @MilAvHistory made a great video following III./SG 4 on D-Day. It turns out that the grille was urgently transferred to new bases on the day of the invasion, and the mechanics were shoved into the fuselages of the Fw-190s so that they would be able to get to work on the aircraft as soon as they landed.

 

 

He starts talking about the mechanics at 11:54.

Little known fact; Oompa Loompas were widely used as mechanics by the Luftwaffe. 

Edited April 2, 2021 by Irishratticus72

[F19_Haddock]

I finally had some time to see Military Aviations History's vídeo. Brilliant as always. The list of mechanics lost in transport at the back on those FW-190s makes for sobering reading... It would have been absoletely terrifying for those guys.

 

I also did a small experiment in VR: Once you are on the 109 cockpit you can just stand up and walk towards the back until you go through the 3D model and find the space behind the fuel tank. The radios and control cables are missing (for obvious reasons) but the 3D model is still textured from the inside, and you get a pretty good idea of the space available. Surprisingly roomy for such a small aeroplane!

[Juri_JS]

On 4/2/2021 at 3:00 PM, F19_Haddock said:

Have you guys heard of this or similar stories? I just can't find more info, but I'd love to know more about it. Thanks!

The same was done when JG 54 left Courland in the last days of the war. On this flight Gerhard Thyben even shot down a Pe-2 while carrying his chief mechanic in the fuselage.

 

In Stuka units it was common that the chief mechanic had to sit in the rear cockpit together with the gunner when transfering to a new airfield, so the aircraft could be serviced immediately. This was necessary because it would often take days before all the ground crews had arrived at the new field.

Edited April 4, 2021 by Juri_JS