Original German WWII Luftwaffe Vented Fuel Filler Cap Used on Messerschmidt Bf109 & Focke-Wulf Fw190

Original Item. Only One Available. This is a great piece of Luftwaffe history, the fuel filler cap off of a Messerschmidt Bf109 or Focke-Wulf Fw190.

Whilst the Messerschmitt Bf109 was arguably one of the most widely operated and iconic aircraft of WWII, its small streamlined frame and stubby wings provided little room for a sizeable fuel tank, rendering it relatively ineffective as a long-range patrol and bomber protection aircraft.

Manufactured by the German Deutche Benzin-Uhrin (DBU Works), the central Cap cast markings read 'KRASTSTOFF' or 'FUEL' with the wording 'Beluftungsventil' or ‘Ventilation Valve' in raised text around the cap at the base.

Made from an Electron magnesium, the DBU works produced two types of Fuel Caps, vented and unvented. 

Primary aircraft fuel tanks on both the Bf109 and the Focke-Wulf Fw190 required a ventilated fuel cap, so five small holes were drilled into the middle of the casting and a small spring-loaded padded washer pressed into the recessed housing beneath. 

Even though labeled as 'ventilated', fuel caps without the hole and valve modification had no ventilation and were installed at the top of the 300lt aluminium drop tanks carried by both the Bf109 and the Focke-Wulf Fw190. This was changed in later versions of the Bf 109 however, when an in-line ventilation outlet valve was installed enabling the 'sealed' DBU cap to be used on both primary and drop tanks. 

This is a great example, measuring 5 x 2¾ x 1⅝”. Comes ready for further research and display.