Bf 109E-1 (from Eduard BF109E-3)
I./JG 53 Oberleutnant Wilfried Balfanz

I./JG 53
Oberleutnant Wilfried Balfanz, Kirchberd im Hunsrük, May 1941

Messerschmitt BF109E-1 Stab, JG 53 Pilot: Oberleutnant Wilfried Balfanz Kirchberg im Hunstück, Germany, Autumn 1939 (May, 10 1940 - May, 17 1940)
Kirchberg is about 10km away of the small village of Dudenroth, where I lived from 1990 to 2012.

This 109E-1 of JG.53 is from that period between the invasion of Poland and France when the German fighter units were experimenting with alternative camouflage schemes to the original RLM70/71 upper surface colours which had proved too dark in the Polish campaign - hence it has a very unusual splinter pattern of RLM70 Schwarzgrün, RLM02 Grau and RLM62 Grrün on top with the usual early wartime RLM65 Hellblau underneath. The fuselage cross is still the early narrow outlined type and the swastika is in the original position over the fin/rudder hinge line. Note that there is one victory symbol on the fin, just above the forward tailplane. The "Pik-As" badge of JG.53 on the nose is well-known. What seems a little unusual is that the aircraft carries the markings of the Major beim Stab and yet the pilot is only of Oberleutnant rank; perhaps it was not his regular aircraft? The triangle markings in red and yellow are, of course, the usual ones for oil and fuel filling points, and also as a general rule with all German fighters the trim-tabs on the control surfaces are painted red as a warning to prevent accidental damage.

"Die I. Gruppe des Jagdgeschwaders 53 entstand am 1. Mai 1939 in Wiesbaden-Erbenheim durch die Umbenennung der I. Gruppe des Jagdgeschwaders 133. Ausgestattet war die Gruppe mit der Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1 und E-3. Auftrag der Gruppe war die Überwachung der deutsch-französischen Grenze zwischen Trier und Saarbrücken. Noch im September 1939 gab die Gruppe Personal in Stärke einer Staffel für die Aufstellung der III. Gruppe / JG 53 ab, das durch Neuzuweisungen ersetzt wurde. Außerdem wurde die Gruppe nach Kirchberg verlegt 10. Mai - 17. Mai 1940."

Kirchberg liegt etwa 10km von Dudenroth entfernt, einem kleinen Ort in dem ich von 1990 - 2012 wohnte.

The E-1 production version kept two 7.92 mm MG 17s above the engine and two more in the wings. Later, many were modified to the E-3 armament standard. The E-3 was armed with the two MG 17s above the engine and one MG FF cannon in each wing.
At the Moment I don't know wich armement was carried on this 109E-1. As was used in May 1940 i think 4x MG 17s?