Our visitor Phil from New Zealand sent us the photo this aircraft relic. The item is a small access hatch of a Messerschmitt Bf 109. According to Phil, it came off a Battle of Britain casualty, and the paint, looking remarkably fresh judging from the picture, is still original.
The owner seeks anyone wanting to part with a piece of genuine Bf 109 skin for use to display the access hatch onto. Any further information with regard to placement of this item on the aircraft etc. would also be appreciated.
From the shape it appears to be the access panel below the tailplane, which from a cutaway in ‘ Aircraft from the Battle of Britain ‘ ( Scale Models, 1982 ) gives access to the rudder cable fairleads. I make no claim to being a German linguist, but might the lettering translate as something like ‘ do not use oil or grease on cables ‘?
It means “Keep free from oil and grease”.
This piece is indeed in a reamrkably good state which made me doubt if it really is 70 years old.