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Germany's Messerschmitt Bf. 109 Fighter^1,2

Messerschmitt Bf 109 in a wind tunnel in 1940:	Messerschmitt Bf 109 in a wind tunnel in 1941:	Messerschmitt Bf. 109 fighter: U.S. Army in World War II - Pictorial Record, 1951	Messerschmitt Bf 109 Fighter:
Messerschmitt Bf 109 Fighter:	Messerschmitt Bf 109 Fighter:

Design

In 1934 the Reichluftfahrtministerium put out a requirement for a light and small fighter.²

The first prototype, the Bf 109V1, flew on May 28, 1935.² It had a Rolls-Royce Kestrel V engine that put out 695 HP.² The second prototype flew in January 1936 with a Junkers Jumo 210A engine that put out 610 HP.²

The Bf 109V1 went up against the Heinkel He 112, Arado Ar 80, and Focke-Wulf FW 159.²

Prototype

The Bf 109 prototype first flew in September 1935.⁴

Production

Production started with the Bf 109B-1 that had a Jumo 210Da engine and the first deliveries were in early 1937.²

Model	Production
Bf 109 B-D2	4002
Bf 109 E2	4,0002
Bf 109 F2	2,2002
Bf 109 G2	23,5002
Bf 109 K2	7502
Total	33,0004

• Bf 109D: Produced from 1937-1938.⁴
• Bf 109E: Produced during 1940.⁴

Variants

• Bf 109:
• Bf 109B: Had Junkers Jumo 210 engine.⁴ Joined Luftwaffe in 1937.⁴
• Bf 109C: Four MGs.⁴
• Bf 109D: Had Daimler-Benz DB 600 engine.⁴ Hub firing cannon.⁴
• Bf 109E: Had Daimler-Benz DB 601D engine with direct fuel injection.⁴
• Bf 109E Trop: Tropical version for use in North Africa.⁴
• Bf 109F: Had Daimler-Benz DB 601N engine initially and later had the Daimler-Benz DB 601E.⁴
• Bf 109F Trop: Tropical version for use in North Africa.⁴
• Bf 109G: Had Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine.⁴ In use from 1942 to 1945.⁴
• Bf 109G-10: Could go 429 mph / 690 kph.⁴
• Bf 109H: High altitude version.⁴
• Bf 109K: Had Daimler-Benz DB 605 boosted engine.⁴
• Bf 109T: Carrier fighter.⁴

Usage

Spanish Civil War

In late 1936 three prototypes were sent to Spain for evaluation.² In March 1937 45 more joined the Condor Legion.²

United Kingdom

The Royal Air Force used captured Bf 109s in mock combats with Hurricanes and Spitfires.³

	S-199	HA-1109	M1L
Type	Fighter1	Fighter1	Fighter1
Crew	11	11	11
Engine (Type)	Jumo 211F1	Hispano-Suiz 12Z-891	R-R Merlin 500-451
Cylinders	Inverted V-121	Upright V-121	Upright V-121
Cooling	Liquid1	Liquid1	Liquid1
Net HP	1,3501	1,3001	1,4001
Dimensions
Span	32' 6.5"1 9.92 m1	32' 6.5"1 9.92 m1	32' 6.5"1 9.92 m1
Length		29' 11"1
Height	8' 6"1 2.59 m1	8' 6"1 2.59 m1	8' 6"1 2.59 m1
Weight
Empty
Loaded
Performance
Speed
Climb
Service ceiling
Range	365-460 miles1	365-460 miles1	365-460 miles1
Armament
Rounds
Bombs
Quantity
Production

Sources:

1. The Illustrated Directory of Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Bill Gunston, 1998
2. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
3. Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
4. Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995

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