Messerschmitt Bf 109
German single-seat fighter plane

Messerschmitt Bf 109
Bf 109 B,C,D,E,F,G,H and K-Series, S-99 and 199, Ha-1109-1112
Origin: Bayerische Flugzeugwerke, later (1938) renamed Messerschmitt AG; very widely subcontracted throughout German-controlled territory and built under licence by Dornier-Werke, Switzerland, and Hispano-Aviacion, Spain (post-war, Avia, Czechoslovakia).
Type: Single-seat fighter plane (many, fighter bomber).
History: During WW2 the general public in the Allied nations at first regarded the Messerschmitt Bf 109 as an inferior weapon compared with the Spitfire and other Allied fighters. Only in the fullness of time was it possible to appreciate that the Messerschmitt Bf 109 was one of the greatest combat aircraft in history. First flown in 1935, it was a major participant in the Spanish Civil War and a thoroughly proven combat aircraft by the time of Munich (September 1938). Early versions were the Bf 109 B, C and D, all of lower power than the definitive 109E. The Messerschmitt Bf 109 E ('Emil') was in service in great quantity by the end of August 1939 when the invasion of Poland began. From then until 1941 it was by far the most important fighter in the Luftwaffe, and it was also supplied in quantity to numerous other countries (which are listed at the end).

During the first year of World War 2 the "Emil", as the various E sub-types were called, made mincemeat of the many and varied types of fighter against which it was opposed, with the single exception of the Spitfire (which it greatly outnumbered). Its good points were small size, fast and cheap production, high acceleration, fast climb and dive, and good power of manoeuvre. Nearly all Bf 109 Es were also fitted with two or three 20mm cannon, with range and striking power greater than battery of eight rifle-calibre guns.

Drawbacks were the narrow landing gear, severe swing on take-off or landing, extremely poor lateral control at' high speeds, and the fact that in combat the slats on the wings often opened in fight turns; while this prevented a stall, it snatched at the ailerons and threw the pilot off his aim. After 1942 the dominant version was the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G ("Gustav") which made up over 70 per cent of the total received by the Luftwaffe.

This Bf 109 G model example carries on its nose the Ace of Spades badge of Jagdgeschwader 53; the vertical bar on the rear fuselage indicated that the aircraft belonged to the III.Gruppe, and the white band just to the rear of the fuselage cross indicated that the unit was serving in the Mediterranean theatre.

Though formidably armed and equipped, the vast swarms of "Gustavs" were nothing like such good machines as the lighter E and Bf 109 F, demanding constant pilot attention, constant high power settings, and having landing characteristics described as "malicious". Only a few of the extended-span high-altitude H-series were built, but from October 1944 the standard production series was the K with clear-view "Galland hood", revised wooden tail and minor structural changes.

After World War 2 the Czech Avia firm found their Bf 109 plant intact and began building the S-99; running out of DB 605 engines they installed the slow-revving Jumo, producing the S-199 with even worse torque and swing than the German versions (pilots called it "Mezek" meaning mule), but in 1948 managed to sell same to Israel. The Spanish Hispano Aviacion flew its first licence-built 1109 in March 1945 and in 1953 switched to the Merlin engine to produce the 1109-M1 L Buchon (Pigeon). Several Hispano and Merlin versions were built in Spain, same being tandem-seat trainers. When the last HA-1112 flew out of Seville in late 1956 it closed out 21 years of manufacture of this classic fighter, during which total output approached 35,000.

Messerschmitt Bf109s of the Swiss Air Force: with these fighters Switzerland was defending it's borders and they were shooting down a number of German, British and American planes during the war.

Users: Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, Germany (Luftwaffe). Hungary, Italy (ARSI), Japan, Jugoslavia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovak (CB Insurgent), Soviet Union (1940), Spain, Switzerland; (post-war) Czechoslovakia, Israel.

Pictures of the Messerschmitt BF 109 K-4 are rare. Here a snowed-up K-4 fighter of the Luftflotte Reich in the winter of 1944-1945.

3d model Messerschmitt Bf 109 G with additional guns under the wings.

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