Messerschmitt Bf 109

Like a lot of air forces during the 1930s the Luftwaffe were using biplanes but with monoplanes showing more potential the Reichsluftfahrtministerium issued Tactical Requirements for a Fighter Aircraft (Land) on the 6th July 1933. This called for a fighter able to fly at 248 mph, armed with a pair of machine-guns or a single cannon and able to fly for a minimum of an hour. Messerschmitt were given a development contract and during March 1934 Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser began work on project Number P.1054. By May 1934 they had finished a basic mock up with January 1935 seeing a more advanced mock-up appear.

This new aircraft would feature a number of ideas that had appeared on the Messerschmitt Bf 108, such as narrow track undercarriage and flush-riveted stressed-skin construction. It was intended for this new type to be powered by either the 680-hp Junkers Jumo 210 or the 960-hp Daimler Benz DB 600Aa engine. As the Junkers engine was further along in its development this would be chosen to power the prototype. However delivery issues meant that a 695-hp Rolls Royce Kestrel VI engine would be fitted instead.

The prototype known as the Bf 109 V1 made its maiden flight on the 29th May 1935 flying from Haunstetten, Germany. The second prototype made its first flight during October 1935 and was fitted with a Junkers Jumo 210A engine and was known as the Bf 109 V2. The following four months saw the aircraft undergo a range of tests. The next phase for the aircraft was a competition at Rechlin, Germany during February and March 1936. Here the Bf 109 V2 would be up against the Arado Ar 80 V3, Focke-Wulf Fw 159 V3 and the Heinkel He 112 V4. Of the four aircraft only Heinkels and Messerschmitts would progress further with 10 prototypes of each being ordered. Eight months later during November 1936 the He 112 and Bf 109 would compete again with the Messerschmitt design coming out on top.

It was the next Bf 109 prototype, the V3, which would form the basis for the A series aircraft. Although these would be built in limited numbers, with the next seven prototypes forming the basis for the B series aircraft which were the first to enter combat service.

Powered by the 661-hp Junkers Jumo 210D engine the Bf 109B-1 had a top speed of 292 mph, a range of 279 miles with a service ceiling of 26,575 ft. Armament consisted of three 7.92mm MG 17 machine-guns. These would serve with the Luftwaffe's Condor Legion, which supported the Nationalists, during the Spanish Civil War (1936 – 1939). The first three Bf 109B-1s arrived in Spain on the 14th March 1937 and were soon in action. The following month on the 6th April 1937 the Bf 109 scored its first aerial victory when a Polikarpov I-15 was shot down. The Bf 109B-2 was the next aircraft in the B series and these would also serve with the Condor Legion.

1937 would also see five of Messerschmitt's new aircraft go to Zurich, Switzerland to take part in an international flying meeting. The aircraft showed its potential winning a number of events including the dive and speed competitions. Although there was a set back when one of the aircraft flown by Ernst Udet was destroyed in a landing accident as a result of engine failure. November that year also saw a new landplane record set when on the 11th a Bf 109 V13 fitted with a 1,650-hp Daimler Benz DB 601 engine flew at 379.63 mph at Augsburg, Germany.

The next variant was the Bf 109C-1 and like the A and B series this would also serve with the Condor Legion in Spain. Powered by the 675-hp Junkers Jumo 210G engine its top speed was 292 mph, range 405 miles with a service ceiling of 27,560 ft. Armament consisted of four 7.92mm MG 17 machine-guns.

It was to be the Bf 109D 'Dora' that would be the first of the type to enter mass production. It was planned that the Junkers Jumo engine would be replaced by the Daimler Benz DB 600 engine but a lack of supply, the engine being needed for the Heinkel He 111, put paid to these plans so a Junkers Jumo 210D engine was used. This gave the aircraft a top speed of 360 mph, range of 279 miles and a service ceiling of 32,800 ft. Armament was four 7.92mm MG 17 machine-guns. These would also be used during the Spanish Civil War and would be in Luftwaffe service when the Second World War (1939 - 1945) broke out in September 1939.

The Bf 109E 'Emil' was next and would be powered by the 1,150-hp Daimler Benz DB 601Aa engine which gave the aircraft a top speed of 357 mph, a range of 412 miles and a service ceiling of 36,000 ft. Armament would be two 20mm cannons, two 7.92mm MG 17 machine-guns and the ability to carry 550lb bombs. It was this version that would take part in the early part of the war, including the Battle of Britain (10th July 1940 - 31st October 1940).

The next in the lineage was the Bf 109F 'Friedrick' which featured a redesigned airframe. Powered by the 1,300-hp Daimler Benz DB 601E engine it had a top speed of 390 mph, a range of 440 miles with a service ceiling of 37,000 ft. Armament was one 15mm cannon, which fired through the propeller shaft, and two 7.92mm MG 17 machine-guns. The F series also comprised two reconnaissance variants, the Bf 109F-5 which was armed and the Bf 109F-6 which was unarmed.

The Bf 109G 'Gustav' would be the last variant to be mass produced and would enter service during 1942. Fitted with a 1,475-hp Daimler Benz DB 605A-1 engine giving the aircraft a top speed of 400 mph, a range of 550 miles and a service ceiling of 38,000 ft. Armament was one 30mm MG 108 cannon and two 13mm MG 131 machine-guns.

One more final variant would enter service and this was the Bf 109K 'Kurfurst' which was powered by a 1,550-hp Daimler-Benz 605 engine. This gave the aircraft a top speed of 452 mph, range of 365 miles with a service ceiling of 41,000 ft. Armament was one 30mm MK 103 cannon and two 15mm MG 151 cannons.

A Bf 109T to serve aboard the Graf Zeppelin-class aircraft carriers was proposed, but as the aircraft carriers were cancelled only a small number were built. Perhaps the most unusual version was the Bf 109Z 'Zwilling' which would see a pair of Bf 109Fs fused together side by side.

During its eight year service with the Luftwaffe the Messerschmitt Bf 109 served in many different theatres of war. Over Western Europe and the Eastern Front from Operation Barbarossa onwards, with special tropical versions also serving over the Western Desert. They would also be involved in the Siege of Malta (11th June 1940 - 20th November 1942), undertaking their first mission on the 12th February 1941. A number would also serve with the Swiss Air Force, which were painted with red and white neutrality bands, and the Finnish Air Force during the Continuation War (1941 – 1944).

Post-war a number of licence built aircraft were produced. Spain built 239 examples and these were known as the Hispano Buchon and some of these would be powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine and remained in service until 1965. Czechoslovakia also built a few examples which were known as Avia S-99 and S-199.

In total 33,984 Messerschmitt Bf 109s were built.