German Fighter Messerschmitt Bf.109G-10/AS Returns from Combat Mission — April 1945

August 2, 2025 - Reading time: 7 minutes

Messerschmitt Bf.109G-10/AS returns to base after combat mission in April 1945, flown by Lieutenant Oddone Colonna of the Italian National Republican Air Force.

Messerschmitt Bf.109G-10/AS returning from a combat mission in April 1945, piloted by Lieutenant Oddone Colonna of the Italian National Republican Air Force.

This photograph captures a Messerschmitt Bf.109G-10/AS, a German fighter that flew in World War II with the Italian National Republican Air Force, returning to base after a combat mission in April 1945. This particular aircraft, WkN.491333, was piloted by Lieutenant Oddone Colonna of the 1st Fighter Group stationed in Lonate Pozzolo, northern Italy.

The Bf.109G-10/AS, a variant of the iconic Messerschmitt Bf.109, was one of the later models used by the Luftwaffe during the latter stages of WWII. Despite facing Allied air superiority, the Bf.109 remained a formidable adversary, and aircraft like this one continued to fly, even as the war drew to a close.

The emblem on the plane, the Ace of Clubs (Asso di Bastoni), symbolizes the fighter group’s distinctive insignia, a badge of honor and pride for the pilots who flew it. This aircraft was damaged in a dogfight in April 1945, a testament to the fierce aerial combat still taking place even as Germany was on the brink of defeat.

This image captures not only the technical beauty of one of the most iconic WWII fighter planes but also reflects the complexity of wartime alliances, as the Italian air force fought alongside Nazi Germany during the war’s final months.

Technical photo data:
📝 Source of information: Unknown
📍 Location: Unknown
📅 Date of photo: April 1945
📷 Photographer: Unknown