Germany's Messerschmitt Bf. 109 E Fighter1,2, "Emil"2
Germany's Messerschmitt Bf 109 E fighter:
Was the primary Luftwaffe fighter the first two years of the war.2 Production stopped in early 1942.2
Prototype
The prototype was designated the 109V10, had a carbureted DB 600Aa engine and first flew in June 1937.2 It was followed by the 109V14 and 109V15 that were flown in the middle of 1938.2 These had the fuel injected DB 601A engine.2
Variants
- The E-1 had 4 MGs.
- The E-3, which appeared in late 1939 had some with a canon firing through the propeller.2
- The E-4 had 4 guns and a better 20mm cannon.2
- The E-5 and E-6 were reconnaissance fighters that had less armament.2
- Those that had a /B suffix (example 109E-1/B) were fighter bombers.2 The E-4/N and E-7 had a DB 601N engine.2
- The E-7/Z had a nitrous oxide boost.2
- The E-8 had a DB 601E 2
- The E-9 was a reconnaissance fighter.2
- Those that had a /Trop suffix (example 109E-4/Trop) were tropical versions.2
- The 109T was developed for the Graf Zeppelin aircraft carrier.2 Around 60 were built in 1941.2
Usage
Used by Bulgaria (19), Croatia, Germany, Romania (69), Slovakia (14), Spain (20), Switzerland (80), and Yugoslavia (73).2
2/3s of the 1,000 Bf 109s in service at the time of the Polish invasion were Emils.2
| Bf 109 E | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fighter1, Fighter-bomber2 |
| Crew | 11,2 |
| Engine (Type) | Daimler-Benz DB 601A, DB 601N, or DB 601E1 Daimler-Benz DB 601Aa2 E-4/N, E-7: Daimler-Benz DB 601N2 E-8: Daimler-Benz DB 601E2 |
| Cylinders | Inverted V-121,2 |
| Cooling | Liquid1 |
| Net HP | 1,1752, 1,3001 E-4/N, E-7: 1,2002 E-8: 1,3502 |
| Propeller | 3-blade2 |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 32' 4.5"1,2 9.87 m1,2 |
| Length | 28'2, 28' 4"1 8.64 m1,2 |
| Height | 7' 5.5"1, 8' 2"2 2.28 m1, 2.49 m2 |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 4,189 lb - 4,421 lb1 E-3: 4,189 lb2 E-3: 1,900 kg2 |
| Loaded | 5,523 - 5,875 lb1 2,505 - 2,665 kg1 E-3: 5,875 lb2 E-3: 2,665 kg2 |
| Performance | |
| Speed @ sea level | E-3: 290 mph2 E-3: 466 kph2 |
| Speed @ 14,560' / 4440 m | E-3: 348 mph2 E-3: 560 kph2 |
| Climb | 3,100 - 3,280'/min1 3,100'/min2 945 m/min2 |
| Service ceiling | 34,450'1,2 10,500 m1,2 |
| Range | 365-460 miles1, 410 miles2 660 km2 |
| Armament | Early: 4: Rheinmetall-Borsig MG 17 MGs1 E-1: 4 MGs2 |
| Above engine | Later: 2: Rheinmetall-Borsig MG 17 MGs1 E-3, E-4: 2: 7.9 mm MG2 |
| Rounds | Later: 1,000 each1 OR 500 each |
| Wings | Later: 2: MG FF1 E-3, E-4: 20 mm2 |
| Rounds | 60 each1 |
| Propeller hub | Later: if 500 round MGs then 1: 20 mm MG FF1 E-3: 20 mm (some models)2 |
| Rounds | |
| Bombs | Early 4 50 kg or 250 kg1 551 lb2 250 kg2 |
| Quantity | 1 |
| Production | 4002 |
Sources:
- The Illustrated Directory of Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Bill Gunston, 1998
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
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