JG 3 was one of the Luftwaffe units that, together with JG 1, JG 4, JG 6, JG 11 and JG 77, was hastily transferred to the Eastern Front in early 1945. III./JG 3 left their base in Bad Lippspringe on 22 January with its 30 Bf 109s.

The missions flown in the East were primarily ground-attack sorties in support of the hard-pressed ground forces. The Gruppe also flew escort for the Fw 190 ground-attack and tank hunter units but also conducting pure fighter sweep missions.

They fought under a steady withdrawal to the west, first from Märkisch Friedland, next from Gabbert, then to Stettin, and finally to Pasewalk on 14 February. This base was situated 20 km west of Stettin where they stayed for two months for rest and refit.

During this time the unit members took their time to take photos of their pilot friends and crates. Thereafter on 14 April, they were relocated to Finow, 15 km northeast of Berlin. Due to the Soviet pressure on the capital, they were forced once more back to Pasewalk on 21 April.

During the period from 24 January to 16 April 1945, III./JG 3 would file claims for 54 VVS aircraft while losing 40 machines due to enemy action. Twenty-four of them were lost due to flak and another nine shot down by VVS fighters.

Of the total losses during this period were six pilots and their machines that voluntarily crashed into bridges over the River Oder. This action was called a "Selbstopferinsatz", a last desperate effort to delay the Soviet offensive against Berlin. During the last two weeks of the war, the unit relocated first to Demmin, then to Pütnitz, and finally to Leck close to the Danish border. This is where they surrendered to the British on 5 May 1945.

During the final fighting against the VVS the Gruppe claimed at least 84 enemy aircraft, with the unit's total score accumulated during the war being 2,273 victories while losing 223 pilots KIA with another 94 WIA.

This K-4 was camouflaged with RLM 75 and RLM 82 (Dunkelgrün version) with the undersides left unpained or in RLM 76. It probably belonged to the 332xxx block and checking the photo this profile is based on one could detect at least two of the last three numerals, the first is a number 5 followed probably by number 1 (hidden under the III gruppen bar) and and the final, numeral is showing another no 5.

Please note that I made two versions of this machine, one with a Blue numeral for the 12th Staffel, and a Yellow 4 of the 11th Staffel. My pick was the Blue version, what is your pick?