On 20 January 1945, JG 301 was ordered to transfer to the Eastern Front to undertake the role of fighter-bombers (Jabos). The pilots considered this order as a "Paukenschlaug", a great blow.

Having been established in late 1944, IV./JG 301 was by this time equipped with the Bf 109 G-10 and based at Gardelegen. As a consequence, the IV. Gruppe's first large-scale operation on the Eastern Front to combat the ever-advancing Soviet Red Army was flown on 4 February 1945.

In this operation, they not only flew Jabo missions raiding Soviet positions, but also encountered VVS fighter and ground-attack aircraft, thereby being engaged in air-combat. This was a type of mission that the Gruppe pilots had only rudimentary training for.

During the day's fighting I. and II./JG 301 flying from their bases at Finsterwalde and Wenzow were involved in strafing missions in the same area as the IV. Gruppe.

Since documentation is lacking it is impossible to determent the individual 'success' of each Gruppen involved this day. However, as loss lists exist for the Gruppen we know that JG 301 lost seven machines this day, two of them including their pilots from IV./JG 301.

During February 1945, JG 301 lost a total of 25 pilots killed in action and another six wounded, writing off 32 fighters as total losses, 23 of them in air-combat against the Soviet Air Force. It is obvious that by this time JG 301 did not bother to report any of their damaged machines.

This "Rote 3" was an Erla-built G-10 featuring JG 301's red-yellow recognition bands and the blue horizontal fuselage bar denoting the IV. Gruppe. As an earlier Erla-produced G-10 from the 150000 block its fuselage had an overall segmented camouflage consisting of RLM 74 and RLM 75 that thereafter had an overspray of RLM 76 on the fuselage sides.

The engine cowling was delivered to Erla pre-painted in RLM 74/75/76 that harmonizes perfectly with the rest of the fuselage camouflage.

Note that this machine has its gear covers removed in an effort to not clog with mud in a spring-soaked and muddy Gardelegen airfield, it also was equipped with the long tailwheel.

This profile is one of six new profiles made during thie week. This G-10 "Rote 3" would be included in one of my upcoming Profile Books No 17 to 20, who knows which?