Bf 109G-10 Black 2 + - of the Messerschmitt Museum

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was a German World War II fighter aircraft. It was one of the first true modern fighters of the era, including such features as an all-metal monocoque construction, a closed canopy, and retractable landing gear. The Bf 109 was the most produced fighter aircraft during World War II, with 30,573 examples built during the war, and the most produced fighter aircraft in history, with a total of 33,984 units produced up to April 1945.

Spain had signed licensing agreements with Messerschmitt in 1942 to produce the Bf 109G-2 and had received tooling and jigs in preparation for starting production, as well as 25 uncompleted fuselage and wing assemblies. Due to priority to the Luftwaffe, Messerschmitt was unable to oversee the start-up of the production line. In addition, Hispano Aviación was also unable to acquire the Daimler-Benz DB 605 engines due to wartime shortages. It was not until 1947 that the factory started to produce complete airframes. As a replacement engine comparable to the DB 605A the Hispano-Suiza 12Z-17 was fitted to these aircraft. Aircraft with this engine were designated HA-1109-K1L (65 being produced). In 1954 Hispano Aviación re-engineered the airframe to accept the Rolls-Royce Merlin 500-45 and produced the HA-1112-M1L. Production of the Hispano Aviación HA-1109 and HA-1112 Buchons ended in 1958;[1] however, Spain continued to use the HA-1112 operationally until late 1967.

In 1946 Czechoslovakia restarted the closed Messerschmitt production line at the Avia Company[2] in Prague using the original jigs and tooling along with a substantial number of uncompleted airframes. From 1946 to 1949 about 550 airframes were completed as Avia S-99s, resembling a Bf 109G-14, and Avia S-199s (Jumo engine, otherwise unchanged).[1] Due to a fire in a warehouse a substantial number of DB 605 engines were lost and as a substitute the Junkers Jumo 211 was found in substantial quantity. Unlike either the original DB 605 or the Rolls-Royce Merlin, the torque of this substitute engine was extremely high resulting in a high fatality rate from these aircraft.[citation needed] Production ended in 1948, and the Czechoslovak National Security Guard retired the last of the S-199s in 1957.

Post war, in addition to the Spanish and Czechoslovakian Air Forces, both Finland and Switzerland continued to use the Bf 109 operationally until the late 1950s. The then-new nation of Israel purchased 25 Avia S-199s (23 delivered) when, due to being embargoed, it was unable to acquire aircraft from other sources. The Israel Air Force retired its aircraft in early 1949.

Between 1945 & 1948, most Bf 109s were scrapped or destroyed. Some examples were kept for use as war trophies or technical examples for further studies. For the next 23 years, these were the first generation of Bf 109 survivors.

In 1967, the producers of the movie The Battle of Britain wanted a large and accurate group of aircraft for use onscreen. Fortunately, the Spanish Air Force was starting to retire its HA-1112s and an agreement was reached to use these aircraft. The Commemorative Air Force had also just purchased numerous examples of the HA-1112. These aircraft were also leased for the production of this movie. For the next 35 years, these Spanish Bf 109s were the mainstay for numerous World War II aviation movies and television work, including Hanover Street, Memphis Belle, The Tuskegee Airmen and Piece of Cake to name but a few.

Starting in late 1988, Bf 109s were among numerous crashed examples of World War II aircraft still extant in Russia that were being recovered for restoration. Other examples of the early models of the Bf 109 have been found in crash sites in France and Italy (as well as several aircraft recovered where they had been buried in Germany). These aircraft with known combat histories are the foundation of the current wave of recovered/restored Bf 109s with further discoveries anticipated. As of December 2016 there are 67 known existing Bf 109 airframes.

About twenty of the surviving Bf 109s existent in the 21st century served at one time with the Luftwaffe fighter wing Jagdgeschwader 5, more than with any other Axis military aviation unit of World War II.

Australia

Bf 109 G-6/U4 in the Australian War Memorial, Canberra
On display
Under restoration/stored

Austria

On display

Belgium

Airworthy

Brazil

Bf 109 G-2 Yellow 14 in the TAM Museum, Brazil
On display

Canada

On display

Czech Republic

Avia S-199 with Czechoslovakian markings
Avia CS-199; Letecké muzeum Kbely
On display

Finland

On display
Stored or under restoration

France

Stored or under restoration

Germany

Bf 109 E-3 790
Bf 109 G-4 19310 White 3 at the Technikmuseum Speyer
D-FWME (red 7) Force landed in a corn field on August 18th 2013 during an airshow display at Roskilde Airport, Denmark. The pilot was unharmed, and the aircraft sustained minor damage, including a completely broken propeller. Red 7 is now back to flying condition,[20][21] a Bf 109 G-4, at RIAT 2010.
Airworthy
On display
Stored or under restoration

Israel

S-199 782358 IAFM
On display

Netherlands

On display

New Zealand

Under restoration/stored

Norway

Stored or under restoration

Poland

Bf 109 G-6 163306 Red 3 at Fundacja Polskie Orły
On Display

Russia

On display
Stored or under restoration

Serbia

Bf 109 G-2 14792 at the Yugoslavian Aviation Museum
On display

Slovakia

South Africa

Bf 109 E-3, 1289
Bf 109 F-2 trop White 6 at the South African Museum
On display

Spain

Hispano Aviación HA-1112-M1L Buchon with the original paint of the Spanish Air Force, preserved in the Museo del Aire, near Cuatro Vientos Airport, Madrid
On display
Stored or under restoration

Switzerland

On display

United Kingdom

Airworthy
Bf 109 E-3 3579 at Thunder Over Michigan when owned by the Russell Group in Canada
On display
Stored or under restoration

United States

Bf 109 G-10 610824 Blue 4 at the USAF Museum
HA-1112 at the Air Zoo
Airworthy


On display
Stored or under restoration

See also

References

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  77. ^ 1190
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  79. ^ 4101 Black 12 (airliners photo collection)
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  96. ^ 610824
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  102. ^ 611943 Yellow 13
  103. ^ 611943
  104. ^ C.4K-100 71-9 (airliners photo collection)
  105. ^ HA-1112 392 (airliners photo collection)
  106. ^ C.4K-122
  107. ^ EAA Aviation Museum
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  109. ^ 8461 (preserved axis aircraft page)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Messerschmitt Bf 109 museum aircraft.
Messerschmitt Bf 109 family
Reich Air Ministry (RLM) aircraft designations (list)
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