Bf 109G-10 Black 2 + - of the Messerschmitt Museum
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was a GermanWorld War IIfighter 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.
Bf 109 G-6/U4 in the Australian War Memorial, Canberra
On display
Bf 109 G-6/U4 163824NF + FY; Luftwaffe unit unknown. Held by the Australian War Memorial (AWM), Canberra. The last Bf 109 in the world still displaying its original camouflage and markings: a 1944 day-fighter scheme, with variations resulting from service repairs (possibly including its Erla Haube canopy) and replacements (e.g. one wing was replaced). Ex-post-war UK registration of G-SMIT, 163824 has twice been owned by the AWM: according to historian Michael Nelmes, the AWM disposed of it for £100 in 1963, to a member of the Illawarra Flying Club at Bankstown Airport in Sydney. It was later acquired by collector Sid Marshall, who had the aircraft suspended from the ceiling of his personal hangar. In 1979, an Australian owner of 163824 attempted to export it, for a reputed price of $10,000, to British collector Doug Arnold. However, any such export would have been illegal under Australian law and the aircraft was confiscated by Australian Customs and subsequently re-acquired by the AWM. It has been claimed that the seller temporarily covered the Bf 109 in a silver plastic protective film, supposedly in attempt to pass it off as a P-51 Mustang.[3]
Under restoration/stored
Bf 109 G-2 14798GJ+QP, ex 8./JG 5 "Black 10"; Wayne Dawson New South Wales.
Bf 109 E-3 790Bf 109 G-4 19310White 3 at the Technikmuseum SpeyerD-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,[19][20] a Bf 109 G-4, at RIAT 2010.
Airworthy
HA-1112-M1L c/n 139 C4K-75 (D-FWME), movie: Battle of Britain "Yellow 11", Red 7 + - , Messerschmitt Air Company. Belly landed in a corn field on August 18, 2013, during an airshow display at Roskilde Airport, Denmark. The pilot was unharmed, and the aircraft sustained only minor damage, including a completely broken propeller. Re-engined with DB605.[21][22]
HA-1112-M1L c/n 156 C.4K-87 (D-FMBB), FM+BB , EADS / Messerschmitt Foundation, rebuilt with a DB605 engine.[23]
HA-1112-M1L c/n 234 C.4K-169 (D-FMGZ), Yellow 27 , Hangar 10 Air Fighter Collection GmbH. Restored to Bf 109 G-12 (two-seat trainer) status with DB605
HA-1112-M1L c/n 194 C.4K-134, movie: Battle of Britain, ex-Victory Air Museum, On limited display at Wittmundhafen AB, marked as Black 12) has been rebuilt with DB 605 engine
HA-1112-M1L c/n 228 C.4K-170 (N170BG), movie: Battle of Britain "Yellow <", movie: Patton (as P-51B) "743652", Yellow 4 + - , Auto und Technik Museum, Sinsheim, has been rebuilt with DB605 engine.[36][37]
HA-1112-M1L c/n 213 C.4K-1?? (D-FEHD), Black 15 , Messerschmitt Foundation.[38]
Stored or under restoration
Bf 109B/V10a 1010 (D-IAKO), Oberschleißheim, Munich — only surviving Bf 109 prototype airframe known to exist
Bf 109 G-2 13605 (G-JIMP),[40] Yellow 12 registered to Mark R. Oliver, Altrincham, UK.
Bf 109 G-10 w/n unknown (D-FDME), Black 2 + - , EADS / Messerschmitt Foundation. This aircraft is widely regarded to be an HA-1112-M1L rebuilt as a Bf 109 G-10. It has since been repainted as Yellow 3 + -
Bf 109 G, sub type and w/n as yet unknown. Believed to have previously been in Australia, it was understood to be imported for a private owner who intends to restore it to airworthy.[43]
Bf 109 G-2 trop 10639 (G-USTV), ex-PG + QJ, ex-III./JG 77 "Black 6", ex-3 Sdn RAAF "CV-V", ex-RAF RN228 No.1426 Flight (Enemy Aircraft), Black 6 , Royal Air Force Museum Cosford.[81] The aircraft was then the world's only airworthy example until 12 October 1997 when the plane flipped during landing after encountering an engine problem. Pilot Sir John Allison was uninjured in the incident. The plane was salvaged and restored to static display condition.Bf 109 G-2 trop 10639Black 6 at the RAF Museum - Hendon
Bf 109 E-3 4034 (G-CDTI), ex-1/JG 77, ex-8/JG 53 "Black 5", "Black 6" - crashed 11 February 1940, Rare Aero Ltd, Jersey[82] This plane, gifted to the Nizam of Hyderabad by the RAF, disappeared under mysterious circumstances from India in 2002.[83] In response to these reports Rare Aero issued a statement it had obtained the aircraft legally[84]
Bf 109 G-6 410077 (NX42109), ex-RK + FY, ex-IV./JG 54 "<+". Restored to airworthy by Midwest Aero Restorations for Dr Bruce Winter,[87] DB 605 engine restored by Vintage Aero Engines.
HA-1112-M1L c/n 193 C.4K-130 (N90602), movie: Battle of Britain "<", Erickson Aircraft Collection, Madras, Oregon. Restored to fly with a lowered Allison V-1710 and fitted with genuine Bf 109 G-10 cowling and reconfigured tail unit
HA-1112-M1L c/n 220 C.4K-152 (N109TS), movie: Battle of Britain "White 5", Condor, LLC., St Augustine Florida.
HA-1112-M1L c/n 133 C.4K-64 (N109FF), ex-USAFM, <<+- , Military Aviation Museum, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Engined with DB605 and restored to Bf 109 G-2 condition
HA-1112-M1L c/n 186 C.4K-122 (N109J), movie: Battle of Britain "Yellow 7", << + |, Museum of Flight, Seattle, Washington, rebuilt as a Bf 109E with DB601 engine.[104][105]
Bf 109 E-3 2023, ex-Bf 109E-7, ex-8./JG 5 "Black 9" (pilot Ofw. Walter Sommer) - crashed 27 May 1943, Military Aviation Museum[107] Virginia Beach, Virginia.
HA-1112-M1L c/n unknown C.4K-30, ex-471 Sq "471-26", movie: Battle of Britain, Edwards Collection, Wilson Edwards, Big Spring, Texas.
HA-1112-M1L c/n 120 C.4K-77 (N700E), Yellow 3 , Planes of Fame, Chino, California. Under restoration to fly with Merlin 228 and reconfigured 109G-style cowling.
HA-1112-M1L c/n 129 C.4K-61 (G-AWHE), movie: Battle of Britain, Edwards Collection, Wilson Edwards, Big Spring, Texas
HA-1112-M1L c/n 223 C.4K-154, movie: Battle of Britain, Edwards Collection, Wilson Edwards, Big Spring, Texas.
HA-1112-M1L c/n 178 C.4K-178, movie: Battle of Britain, ex-Victory Air Museum, The 1941 Historical Aircraft Group, Geneseo, New York, rebuilt with DB601N engine.
HA-1112-M4L c/n unknown C.4K-112, Accepted: Spanish AF, Assigned: 7 Sqd (codes:7 - 92), Assigned: 40 Sqd (codes: 40 - 2), Movie: 1969 Battle of Britain (markings: Red 11), Sold: 1970 Wilson Edwards (N1109G) currently in storage with the Edwards Collection, Wilson Edwards, Big Spring, Texas marked as Red 11)
