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Messerschmitt Bf 109G, Luftwaffe
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Scale 1:24 Length 14.5" Wingspan 16"
Photography by Action Asia Photo |
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 began as an entry by the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke in a Luftwaffe (German Air Force) fighter competition in the early 1930's. Willy Messerschmitt's creation incorporated one of the most advanced aerodynamic designs at the time, with retractable landing gear, an enclosed cockpit, automatic flaps, cantilever wings, and stressed skin construction. During the trials, the Bf 109 clearly outperformed the larger and heavier favorite - Heinkel's He 112. The first production model - the Bf 109B- began coming off the lines in 1936. The re-designation of the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG to the Messerschmitt AG in 1938 led many to call it the Me109, although the official Luftwaffe designation of the aircraft remained the Bf 109 throughout the war. The Bf 109B first entered combat with German-manned Condor Legion units during the Spanish Civil War and they were a welcome replacement for the obsolete Heinkel He51 biplane fighter. The Bf 109C, introduced in 1938, retained the twin 7.9mm MG 17 machine guns mounted above the engine but replaced the single MG 17 firing through the propeller spinner with two MG 17s in the wings. After less than 200 Bf 109Ds were built, the Bf 109E entered production with the Daimler Benz in early 1939. Early in World War II, the Bf 109E completely dominated against Polish PZLs, French MS 406s and British Hawker Hurricanes. However, in the air battles over the English Channel (and later during the Battle of Britain) the Bf 109E not only exposed its Achilles heel - its short range - but also met its equal, the Supermarine Spitfire. The short range of the Bf 109E prevented it from escorting Luftwaffe bombers past London, leaving the greater part of the British Isles free from enemy attack on sites used for training and production. This problem was a significant contribution to the Luftwaffe's defeat in the Battle of Britain. The Bf 109F began to replace the E series in late 1940. Intended to counter the Spitfire, the F had an engine with increased horsepower and a more streamlined airframe and cooling system. More than half of the Luftwaffe single-engine fighter units involved in the invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941 flew the Bf 109F. The F model also enjoyed considerable superiority over the RAF Kittyhawks (P-40) and Hurricanes it met over the skies of North Africa. The limits of the Bf 109 design appeared with the appearance of the Bf 109G series, which began production in early 1942. The Bf 109G had a higher top speed, but was less maneuverable than earlier versions. Some later G's had bulges in front of the cockpit caused by the larger 13mm MG 131 machine guns, which added further weight and drag. Pilots of the Bf 109G found it increasingly difficult to fly against more capable aircraft such as the P-51D Mustang. Despite its limitations, the G series was the most numerous of the Bf 109 types and remained in production into 1945. The last major series was the Bf 109K, which was very similar to the Bf 109G-10 series. Development problems aggravated by Allied bombing and the rapidly deteriorating war situation limited production of this type to less than 2,000. During World War II, the Bf 109 was the backbone of the Luftwaffe fighter force, serving on all fronts and also in the air forces of its European allies. Even though the superior Fw 190 began to replace the Bf 109 in some units as early as the summer of 1941, production of the Bf 109 actually rose until the closing months of the war and it remained the most numerous Luftwaffe fighter. By war's end, Germany had built over 30,000 Bf 109's. Production of the Bf 109 continued on after the war in Czechoslovakia until 1949 and in Spain until 1958. It remains to this day the most produced fighter in history. Crew:
Pilot only
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