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Me109
Manufacturer : Messerschmitt
Willy Messerschmitt designed the BF109 during the early 1930s. The Bf109 was one of the first all metal monocoque construction fighters with a closed canopy and retractable undercarriage. The engine of the Me109 was a V12 aero engine which was liquid-cooled. The Bf109 first saw operational service during the Spanish Civil War and flew to the end of World War II, during which time it was the backbone of the Luftwaffe fighter squadrons. During the Battle of Britian the Bf109 was used in the role of an escort fighter, a role for which it was not designed for, and it was also used as a fighter bomber. During the last days of May 1940 Robert Stanford-Tuck, the RAF ace, got the chance to fly an Me109 which they had rebuilt after it had crash landed. Stanford-Tuck found out that the Me109 was a wonderful little plane, it was slightly faster than the Spitfire, but lacked the Spitfire manoeuvrability. By testing the Me109, Tuck could put himself inside the Me109 when fighting them, knowing its weak and strong points. With the introduction of the improved Bf109F in the spring of 1941, the type again proved to be an effective fighter during the invasion of Yugoslavia and during the Battle of Crete and the invasion of Russia and it was used during the Siege of the Mediteranean island of Malta. The Bf109 was the main fighter for the Luftwaffe until 1942 when the Fw190 entered service and shared this position, and was partially replaced in Western Europe, but the Me109 continued to serve on the Eastern Front and during the defence of the Reich against the allied bombers. It was also used to good effect in the Mediterranean and North Africa in support of The Africa Korps. The Me109 was also supplied to several German allies, including Finland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovakia. The Bf109 scored more kills than any other fighter of any country during the war and was built in greater numbers with a total of over 31,000 aircraft being built. The Bf109 was flown by the three top German aces of the war war. Erich Hartmann with 352 victories, Gerhard Barkhorn with 301 victories and Gunther Rall with 275 kills. Bf109 pilots were credited with the destruction of 100 or more enemy aircraft. Thirteen Luftwaffe Aces scored more than 200 kills. Altogether this group of pilots were credited with a total of nearly 15,000 kills, of which the Messerschmitt Bf109 was credited with over 10,000 of these victories. The Bf109 was the most produced warplane 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. Bf109s remained in foreign service for many years after World War II. The Swiss used their Bf109Gs well into the 1950s. The Finnish Air Force did not retire their Bf109Gs until March 1954. Romania used its Bf109s until 1955. The Spanish Hispanos flew even longer. Some were still in service in the late 1960s. |
Me109
  Tribute to Generalleutnant Adolf Galland by Ivan Berryman. |   Tribute to Leutnant Cvitan Galic by Ivan Berryman. |   Tribute to Gunther Seeger by Ivan Berryman. |   Tribute to Peter Düttmann by Ivan Berryman. |
Me109 Artwork Collection |
  One to One by Ivan Berryman. |  Eastern Med 1943 by Richard Ward |   Greenheart Warrior by Ivan Berryman. |
  Bf109Es of JG52 by Ivan Berryman. |   JG52 - Summer 1940 by Ivan Berryman. |   Bf109E of III./JG2 - Summer 1940 by Ivan Berryman. |
  In Defence of the Homeland by Graeme Lothian. (P) |   Spitfires of No.54 squadron during the Battle of Britain by Graeme Lothian. (P) |   Hawker Hurricane - War Horse by Graeme Lothian. (P) |
  Gunther Rall by Ivan Berryman. |   Gunther Rall - Black 13 by Ivan Berryman. |   JG2 - Gunther Rall and his Wingman by Ivan Berryman. |
  Gunther Rall - on the Tail of a Yak by Ivan Berryman. |   Gunther Rall - 274th Victory by Ivan Berryman. |   Tribute to the Blenheim Crews by Ivan Berryman. |
  Billy Drake - First of Many by Ivan Berryman. |   Avro Anson by Ivan Berryman. |   Coastal Command - Avro Anson Mk.I by Ivan Berryman. |
  Fairey Battle Mk.I by Ivan Berryman. |   Adolf Galland by Ivan Berryman. |   First Victory by Ivan Berryman. |
  Hans-Ekkehard Bob, Bf109F by Ivan Berryman. |   Bf109G of Hans-Ekkehard Bob by Ivan Berryman. |   Hans-Ekkehard Bob - No.2 by Ivan Berryman. |
  High Five by Ivan Berryman. |   Collision Course by Ivan Berryman. |   Terminal Morane by Ivan Berryman. |
  Lost Over Dunkirk by Ivan Berryman. |   Erich Hartmann by Ivan Berryman. |   Me109 - Adolf Galland by Jason Askew. (P) |
  Schweinfurt Thunderbolts by Jason Askew. (P) |   Victory over Africa by Ivan Berryman. |   Star of Africa by Ivan Berryman. |
  Snow Warriors by Ivan Berryman. |   Gunther Rall - Me109 Ace by Ivan Berryman. |   Black 13 - Gunther Rall by Ivan Berryman. |
  Lucky 13 - Gunther Rall by Ivan Berryman. (P) |   Tribute to Gunther Rall by Ivan Berryman. (P) |   Battle of Britain - Tribute to the Luftwaffe Aces by Graeme Lothian. (P) |
  Combat over the Russian Front by Jason Askew. (P) |   Me109s on the Russian Front by Jason Askew. (P) |   First to Fall by Ivan Berryman. |
  Desert Defence by Jason Askew. (P) |   Erich Hartmann - Me109 Ace by Jason Askew. (P) |   In Defence of the Reich by Jason Askew. (P) |
 Messerschmitt 109 by D A Lande. |   Clipped Signature - Adolf Galland. |   Clipped Signature - Gunther Rall. |
  Clipped Signature - Hans-Ekkehard Bob. |   Clipped Signature - Gunther Seeger. |   Clipped Signature - Ernst Scheufele. |
  Clipped Signature - Heinz Radlauer. |   Clipped Signature - Siegfried Bethke. |   Clipped Signature - Julius Meimberg. |
  Clipped Signature - Rudolf Miese. |   Clipped Signature - Hannes Trautloft. |   Clipped Signature - Eino Juutilainen. |
  Clipped Signature - Paul Egger. |   Clipped Signature - Wendelin Trenkle. |  Horrido! Rall by Les Carter. |
  Merlin Roar by Anthony Saunders. |   No Escape by David Pentland. |   The Last Patrol by David Pentland. |
  Zemke's First Fan by David Pentland. |   Combat Over Normandy by Graeme Lothian. |   Fighter General by Graeme Lothian. |
  Eagles Over the Steppe by Graeme Lothian. |   Caucasus Dawn by Graeme Lothian. |   The Right of the Line by Graeme Lothian. |
  The Battle for the Skies Over Dieppe, 19th August 1942 by Graeme Lothian. |   Adolf Galland / Messerschmitt Bf109 E-4 by Ivan Berryman |   Bf109 K-4 by Randall Wilson. (GL) |
  Voyage into Destiny by Robert Taylor. |   Arctic Hunters by Richard Taylor. |   Green Hearts by Ivan Berryman. |
  Homeward Bound by Anthony Saunders. |   High Summer by Anthony Saunders. |   Open Assault by Robert Taylor. |
  Tribute to Erich Hartmann by Graeme Lothian. |   Tribute to Johannes Steinhoff by Graeme Lothian. |   Clash of Eagles by Anthony Saunders. |
  Tribute to Hermann Graf by Graeme Lothian. |   Dawn Eagles Rising by Robert Taylor. |   Flt Lt Walter Lawson by Ivan Berryman. |
  Adversaries by Ivan Berryman. |   Victory Above Dover by Ivan Berryman. |  Feeling the Wolves Bite by Brian Bateman. |
  A Day for Heroes by Ivan Berryman. |   Break Out by Anthony Saunders. |   Anton Hafner by Ivan Berryman. |
  Ltn. Hans-Ekkehard Bob of JG21 Becomes an Ace by Ivan Berryman. |   Fear Nothing by Anthony Saunders. |   Into the Fray by Richard Taylor. |
  Evening Reflection by Richard Taylor. |   Air Armada by Robert Taylor. |   Valiant Response by Robert Taylor. |
  Deadly Pursuit by Richard Taylor. |   Close Call by Robert Taylor. |   Stormclouds Gather by Nicolas Trudgian |
  Tigers in Normandy by Nicolas Trudgian. |   Most Memorable Day by Robert Taylor. |   Head on Attack by Robert Taylor |
  Angels Three Zero by Robert Taylor |   Combat Over Beachy Head by Nicolas Trudgian. |   Dragons of Colombert by Nicolas Trudgian |
  Fighter Legend - Adolf Galland by Nicolas Trudgian. |   First Flap of the Day by Nicolas Trudgian. |   Assault on the Capital by Robert Taylor |
  Head to Head by Nicolas Trudgian |   Combat Over London by Robert Taylor |   Special Duties by Robert Taylor. |
  Russian Roulette by Robert Taylor. |   Steinhoff Tribute by Robert Taylor. |  Three Hundred Club by Nicolas Trudgian |
  Kursk - Clash of Steel by Nicolas Trudgian. |   Looking for Trouble by Philip West. |   The Battle for Britain by Robert Taylor. |
  Foes Now Friends by Alan S Holt |   Knight's Move by Robert Taylor |   Messerschmitt BF109E-3 by Keith Woodcock. |
  Final Victory by Simon Atack. |  Black Devil by Nicolas Trudgian. (B) |   Hot Pursuit by Nicolas Trudgian. (B) |
  Morning Chorus by Gerald Coulson. |   Horrido! by Robert Taylor. |   Desert Victory by Nicolas Trudgian. |
  JG-52 by Robert Taylor. |   Bitter Engagement by Robert Taylor. |   Low Level Encounter by Gerald Coulson. |
  Knight of the Sky by Gerald Coulson. |   Me109 of JG26 by Graeme Lothian. (P) |   Hunters in the Desert by Robert Taylor (AP). |
  Tribute to Capitano Ugo Drago by Ivan Berryman. |   The Eagles Divide by Robert Taylor. |   Tribute to Oberleutnant Heinrich Ehrler by Ivan Berryman. |
  Eagle's Rest by Ivan Berryman. |   The Long Short Days by Robert Taylor. |   Knight of the Reich by Robert Taylor. |
  Eye of the Sun by Robert Taylor. |   Hunters at Dawn by Robert Taylor. |   The Blond Knight by Robert Taylor. |
  Messerschmitt Bf109E-7/Bs by Jerry Boucher. |   Erich Hartmann - The Ace of Aces by Ivan Berryman. |   Walter Wolfrum by Ivan Berryman. (P) |
  Gunther Rall by Ivan Berryman. (P) |   Tribute to Alfred Grislawski by Ivan Berryman. |   Tribute to Heinz Lange by Ivan Berryman. |
  Tribute to Franz Schieß by Ivan Berryman. |   Tribute to Dieter Hrabak by Ivan Berryman. |   Tribute to Walter Krupinski by Ivan Berryman. |
Tribute to Peter Düttmann by Ivan Berryman. | Tribute to Gunther Seeger by Ivan Berryman. | Tribute to Leutnant Cvitan Galic by Ivan Berryman. |
Tribute to Generalleutnant Adolf Galland by Ivan Berryman. |   The Last Eagle, Innsbruck, Austria, May 1945 by David Pentland. |   Target ahead, Kursk, Central Russia, July 1943 by David Pentland. |
  The Frozen North, Petsamo, Finland, January 1943 by David Pentland. |   Eagle in the Snow, Petsamo, Finland, January 1943 by David Pentland. |   Above the Cauldron by David Pentland. |
  Taran over the Kuban by David Pentland. |   Early Risers by David Pentland. |   Jagers by David Pentland. |
  Kannonenboot by David Pentland. |   Stabsschwarm by David Pentland. |   First Combat by David Pentland. |
  Messerschmitt versus Messerschmitt by David Pentland. |   Ikarus Downed by David Pentland. |   New Enemy by David Pentland. |
  Bomber's Bane by David Pentland. |   A Nimble Foe by David Pentland. |   Breaking the Ring by David Pentland. |
  Tip of the Spear by David Pentland. |   Hand of Fate by David Pentland. |   Assi and Julius by David Pentland. |
  Battle of the Bight by David Pentland. (P) |   Victory Flypast by David Pentland. (P) |   The Count by David Pentland. (P) |
  Hande Hoch! by Michael Turner. |   Achtung - Indianer, Rechts by Iain Wyllie. |  High Summer by James Dietz. |
  Duel Below Zero by Keith Woodcock. |   Defence of the Realm by Adrian Rigby. |  Final Encounter (Spitfire v Messerchmitt) by Michael Turner. |
  Eagle Attack by Nicolas Trudgian |   Desert Sharks and Eagles by Nicolas Trudgian. |  Spitfire Country by Nicolas Trudgian. |
  Messerschmitt Country by Nicolas Trudgian |  Bf109 Aces of North Africa and the Mediterranean. |  Bf109D/E Aces 1939-41. |
 Bf109F/G/K Aces of the Western Front. |  Bf109 Aces of the Russian Front. |  Bf109 Defence of the Reich Aces. |
 More Bf109 Aces of the Russian Front. |  The Messerschmitt BF 109. |   Abbeville Boys by Robert Taylor. |
  Ace of Aces by Robert Taylor. |   Aces on the Western Front by Robert Taylor. |   Birth of a Legend by Robert Taylor. |
  Duel of Eagles by Robert Taylor. |   Eagle Attack by Robert Taylor. |   Eagles High by Robert Taylor. |
  Eagles out of the Sun by Robert Taylor. |   Hartmann Tribute by Robert Taylor. |   JG52 by Robert Taylor. |
  Knights on the Eastern Front by Robert Taylor. |   Sting of the Black Tulip by Robert Taylor. |   Struggle for Supremacy by Robert Taylor. |
  The Channel Dash by Robert Taylor. |   Eagles at Dawn by Robert Taylor. |   Eagles on the Channel Front by Robert Taylor. |
  Malta - George Cross by Robert Taylor. |   Eagle Strike by Simon Atack. |   A Pistol Whipping by Stan Stokes. |
  A Costly Victory by Stan Stokes. |   Black Devil of the Ukraine by Stan Stokes. |   Canadian Heroes by Stan Stokes. |
  Defiant but Doomed by Stan Stokes. |   Yellow 14 by Stan Stokes. |   Hunter of the Arctic Sea by Timothy OBrien. |
