Close up detail of the tail section of a German Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 (Werknummer [serial ...

Close up detail of the tail section of a German Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 (Werknummer [serial number] 163824), single engined fighter, on public display at Bankstown airport, New South Wales (NSW). This aircraft was captured by the allied forces towards the end of the Second World War and in 1946 it was located at an RAF Maintenance Unit, in Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (UK). Soon after, this aircraft (and a rocket powered Messerschmitt 163 Komet) were sent to Australia, but no information or documentation accompanied either aircraft. It was presumed that they were a gift from Britain in recognition to Australia's contribution to the air war in Europe during the Second World War. Upon arrival in Australia this aircraft was stored (still crated, for at least eight years) at RAAF Laverton, Victoria, and was transferred and stored at RAAF Tocumwal for a further year until it was finally transferred to the Australian War Memorial (AWM) in 1955. In 1963 it was sold by the AWM to a private vendor, who subsequently re-sold it to Marshall Airways at Bankstown airport, where it was part of an open air display (pictured here) with other aircraft for some years. Later, the aircraft was sold to a private aircraft collector in the United Kingdom (UK) for a substantial sum and in 1979, whilst the new owner attempted to export the aircraft from Australia to the UK, the aircraft was impounded and confiscated by Australian Customs because of recent Australian legislation governing the export of historic aircraft and also, because the aircraft was fraudulently labelled as Mustang aircraft parts. During the ensuing court case to have the aircraft released to the UK it was stored at No 2 Stores Depot, RAAF, Regents Park, NSW. After a successful judgement, the AWM reacquired the aircraft in 1988 where it has remained as part of the National Collection ever since. The wartime service history of this aircraft is fairly hazy and nothing conclusive is known. However unconfirmed reports state that it was probably manufactured in April 1944 and was damaged in May and again later in 1944 during a ferry flight. A small painted inscription below the canopy indicates that it was refurbished in December 1944 (possibly at Munster) with the starboard wing and the fuselage stern frame being replaced. Non standard fuselage cowls possibly indicate a change of engine type. Somewhere between 33,000 and 35,000 Me Bf 109s of all types were produced by Nazi Germany and despite this aircraft's vague origins, it is believed to be the most complete example of the dozen or so still in existence around the world. It is probably the only surviving example still wearing the original paintwork which was applied by the Luftwaffe in 1944.