German Fighter Messerschmitt Bf 109G of JG 54 “Grünherz” on the Leningrad Front, 1942

August 26, 2025 - Reading time: 3 minutes

German Messerschmitt Bf 109G fighter of JG 54 “Grünherz” after landing on the Leningrad Front, winter 1942–1943.

This photograph shows a German Messerschmitt Bf 109G fighter aircraft of Jagdgeschwader 54 “Grünherz” (“Green Hearts”) after landing on the Leningrad Front during the winter of 1942–1943.

The aircraft was flown by Feldwebel Siegfried Müller, credited with 27 victories as of January 4, 1943. Jagdgeschwader 54 was one of the most renowned Luftwaffe fighter wings, known for its emblem of a green heart painted on the fuselage. Despite being considered among the best German units, JG 54 suffered heavy losses in combat against Soviet pilots. Even top aces such as Max-Helmut Ostermann, who had 102 victories, were killed in action.

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was the backbone of the German fighter force throughout the war, evolving through numerous versions. The “Gustav” variant (Bf 109G) was widely used on the Eastern Front, where it faced tough opposition from Soviet aircraft such as the Yakovlev and Lavochkin fighters. This image reflects both the prestige and the high cost of Luftwaffe operations on the Eastern Front.

Technical photo data:
📝 Source of information: Luftwaffe unit records / Eastern Front archives
📍 Location: Leningrad region, USSR
📅 Date of photo: Winter 1942–1943
📷 Photographer: Unknown German war correspondent

Messerschmitt Bf 109G Gustav fighter
JG 54 Green Hearts Luftwaffe unit
Leningrad Front Luftwaffe operations
German fighter pilots Eastern Front
Siegfried Müller Luftwaffe ace
Bf 109G service in World War II
Luftwaffe losses on Eastern Front
Max-Helmut Ostermann German ace
German aviation 1942–1943
WWII Luftwaffe fighter photo