Profile
Messerschmitt
Bf 109
First flown in September 1935, few could have foreseen that the small Messerschmitt Bf 109 would become the standard German day-fighter of the war serving in all theaters with over 35,000 units produced, more than any other fighter in history. It's effectiveness was proved during the Spanish Civil War where it served with distinction in the Condor Legion while a year later it would lead the Luftwaffe's onslaught of 1939-40 where it swept aside the air forces of Western Europe until meeting its match in the Spitfire during the Battle of Britain. Like all great aircraft of its time, the Bf 109 went through various modifications in order to remain a potent fighter in North Africa, the Eastern Front, and defending the Reich after 1942. Not as capable as the Fw 190 (except at high altitude), it was nevertheless a mainstay of the Luftwaffe throughout the entire war ruining many bombing raids in the process and was never actually replaced by its more capable successor in large degree thanks to its massive production run which was second only to the Soviet Il-2, all the more impressive considering the effects of the Allied bombing campaign after 1943. It was also used to some extent by most Axis nations as well as Finland and Switzerland (serving well into the post-war years) and even license produced in Czechoslovakia (by Avia) and Spain (by Hispano). All in all, the Bf 109 remains one of the most enduring symbols of World War II and a lasting testament to the power of the Luftwaffe in the early years of the conflict.

Origins of the Bf 109 lay in a 1934 RLM requirement for a small lightweight fighter which first flew as the Bf 109V1 prototype on 28 May 1935 with a Rolls-Royce engine. Production models began with the Bf 109B, a number of which were sent to the Condor Legion for service in Spain along with the Bf 109C which had more powerful engines and armament (the similar Bf 109D was the last major pre-war variant). First of the major wartime variants was the Bf 109E 'Emil' which formed the backbone of Germany's fighter force when the war began and was far superior to anything that the early victims of the Luftwaffe could put up against it. Against the Spitfire it was evenly matched: less agile but with the edge in climb and dive rates. Early aces with the 'Emil' included Adolf Galland (104 kills) but it eventually outclassed by the Spitfire Mk. V until the appearance of the the substantially redesigned Bf 109F which retook the edge against the early 'Spits'. They were common in North Africa with tropical filters against the sand and dust: African ace Hans-Joachim Marseille (158 kills) flew Bf 109Fs which were considered by most pilots to be the finest version of this aircraft ever built on account of their superior handling. Fitted with a more powerful engine, the Bf 109G 'Gustav' emerged and was the most widely produced variant accoutning for approximately two-thirds of all units built. The war's highest scoring ace, Erich Hartmann (352 kills) mostly flew this type in the Eastern Front although it was generally less well-liked than its predecessor. Major sub-variants included the mass-produced Bf 109G-6 with two underwing cannon and the Bf 109G-10 which introduced the 'Gallant' hood for improved pilot visibility. Although the Bf 109's airframe all but reached its potential by the final years of the war, a number of late versions were introduced starting with the Bf 109K which attempted to standardize the many variable features of the 'Gustav', most notably the 'Gallant' hood. The last variant developed was the pressurized, high-altitude Bf 109H which was never put into production while a shipborne version, the Bf 109T, was designed for service on Germany's aborted Graf Zeppelin aircraft carrier.

Datafile
DesignBf 109C-1Bf 109E-4Bf 109F-4Bf 109G-6Bf 109K-4
Name-----
Code Name-----
TypeFighterFighterFighterFighterFighter
Year19371939194119421944
Crew11111
Speed470 km/h560 km/h624 km/h621 km/h727 km/h
Ceiling8,400 m10,500 m11,000 m11,550 m12,500 m
Range625 km660 km850 km563 - 998 km590 km
Engine1 x 544-kW
Junkers
Jumo 210Ga		1 x 876-kW
Daimler-Benz
DB 601A		1 x 1,007-kW
Daimler-Benz
DB 601N		1 x 1,342-kW
Daimler-Benz
DB 605A		1 x 1,491-kW
Daimler-Benz
DB 605L
Weight Empty1,600 kg1,900 kg2,353 kg2,700 kg2,116 kg
Weight Max2,300 kg2,665 kg3,066 kg3,400 kg3,600 kg
Wing Span9.87 m9.87 m9.92 m9.92 m9.92 m
Length8.55 m8.64 m8.90 m9.03 m9.03 m
Height2.45 m2.49 m2.59 m2.50 m2.50 m
Wing Area16.17 m²16.17 m²16.05 m²16.05 m²16.05 m²
Armament4 x 7.92-mm3 x 20-mm
2 x 7.92-mm		1 x 15-mm
2 x 7.92-mm		1 x 30-mm
2 x 13-mm		1 x 30-mm
2 x 13-mm
Payload--250 kg250 kg250 kg
Production4004,0002,20023,500750
Total 35,000
Gallery