Bf 109E-3 Specifications
Crew: Pilot only
Powerplant: One 1,175 hp (876 kW) Daimler-Benz DB 601Aa twelve-cylinder liquid-cooled engine
Span: 32 ft 4.5 in (9.87 m)
Length: 28 ft (8.55 m)
Max Speed: 348 mph (560 km/h) at 12,300 ft (3,749 m)
Armament: Two synchronized 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 17 machine guns mounted on top of the engine cowling, firing through the propeller arc and two 20 mm MG-FF/M cannons mounted in the wings
Image: Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 (W.Nr. 972 “Yellow 9”) of 9./JG 54 in France, 9 September 1940
Introduction
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was a German single-seat monoplane fighter that became the mainstay of the Luftwaffe’s fighter force during the Second World War. Compact, fast and heavily armed, it embodied many of the qualities demanded of a new generation of combat aircraft during the 1930s. Its speed, climb performance, fuel-injected engine and powerful armament made it a formidable opponent, although its short range, demanding handling characteristics and confined cockpit imposed significant limitations.
Development began in response to Tactical Requirements for Fighter Aircraft (Land), issued by the Reichsluftfahrtministerium on 6 July 1933. The specification called for a single-seat day fighter armed with either two fixed machine guns carrying 1,000 rounds or one fixed cannon with 100 rounds. It was also required to carry a radio, safety harness, oxygen equipment, parachute and pilot heating.
The new fighter had to maintain 400 km/h (249 mph) for up to 20 minutes at 6,000 m (19,685 ft), remain airborne for at least one hour and reach that altitude within 17 minutes. It also needed a service ceiling of 10,000 m (32,808 ft), the ability to dive and turn without losing altitude, straightforward spin recovery and sufficient compactness to be transported by rail.
Although Messerschmitt entered the competition as an outsider, the Bf 109 defeated rival designs and developed into one of the defining fighters of the Second World War. During the Battle of Britain, the Bf 109E was the Luftwaffe’s principal single-seat fighter and the closest German counterpart to the RAF’s Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane.
Development and Design
The Bf 109 was developed at Bayerische Flugzeugwerke under the direction of Willy Messerschmitt, with Robert Lusser playing a central role in translating Messerschmitt’s philosophy of combining the lightest practical airframe with the most powerful available inline engine into a compact, high-performance fighter. Arado, Heinkel and Focke-Wulf were initially regarded as the favourites for the fighter contract because they had already produced aircraft for the Luftwaffe. Messerschmitt, by contrast, had no previous experience of designing fighters. Its series of fast sports aircraft had, however, culminated in the advanced Bf 108 touring aircraft, and several of that design’s features were incorporated into the new fighter.
These included flush-riveted stressed-skin construction, cantilever monoplane wings and a narrow-track undercarriage attached to the fuselage and retracting outwards into wells ahead of the main spar. The light-alloy monocoque fuselage had a roughly oval cross-section and was constructed in two halves joined along the centreline.
Messerschmitt intended the lightweight fighter to use one of the new inverted-V12 engines then being developed by Junkers and Daimler-Benz. The 680 hp Junkers Jumo 210 was selected because it was further advanced than the 960 hp Daimler-Benz DB 600Aa, but delays to the Junkers engine meant that the first prototype, Bf 109 V1, had to be fitted with a 695 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel VI.
Construction of the V1 was completed in early May 1935. Following taxiing trials, Messerschmitt’s senior test pilot, Hans-Dietrich “Bubi” Knoetzsch, made the aircraft’s maiden flight from Augsburg-Haunstetten airfield on 28 May 1935. After initial factory testing, the prototype was sent to the Erprobungsstelle at Rechlin for service trials.
The Bf 109 soon proved considerably faster and more manoeuvrable than its principal rival, the Heinkel He 112 V1. The Jumo 210A-powered Bf 109 V2 first flew in October 1935 and joined the trials programme three months later. It was armed with two 7.9 mm MG 17 machine guns mounted in the upper fuselage decking. The V3, which first flew in June 1936, included provision for a 20 mm MG FF/M cannon mounted in the engine and firing through the propeller hub.
In the autumn of 1936, the official evaluation culminated in a series of tests at Travemünde. During an exceptional flight demonstration, the Bf 109 performed tailslides, flick rolls, a 21-turn spin, tight turns and terminal dives. Its superior level speed and rate of climb over the Heinkel design made the Messerschmitt the clear choice, and it was declared the winner of the competition.
Entry Into Luftwaffe Service and the Second World War
Production-standard Bf 109B-1 fighters began entering Luftwaffe service in February 1937. Five months later, the type demonstrated its combat potential during the Spanish Civil War. The campaign also gave Luftwaffe fighter pilots valuable operational experience and provided an opportunity to refine the formations and tactics that would later be employed over Britain.
Expansion of the Jagdwaffe continued rapidly. By 19 September 1938, 583 Bf 109B, C and D fighters were on strength. Plans to introduce the more capable Bf 109E had nevertheless been delayed by the limited availability of Daimler-Benz engines. German bomber production received priority during the late 1930s, and most DB 600 engines were allocated to the twin-engined Heinkel He 111.
By 1938, attention had shifted towards fighter production and the Daimler-Benz DB 601A was approaching maturity. Although similar to the earlier DB 600, the new engine used direct fuel injection instead of a float carburettor. This allowed the Bf 109 to perform negative-G manoeuvres without interrupting fuel flow and also increased its range.
Powered by a DB 601A rated at 1,175 hp for take-off, the Bf 109E-1 entered series production in December 1938. The “Emil” offered outstanding take-off and climbing performance, but its higher wing loading increased both its turning circle and stall speed. It was therefore a demanding aircraft that rewarded skilled handling.
The E-1 carried two 7.9 mm MG 17 machine guns in the upper fuselage decking and another two in the wings. Each wing gun carried 500 rounds, while the fuselage-mounted weapons carried 1,000 rounds apiece. The aircraft was also equipped with a Revi C/12C gunsight and a FuG 7 radio with a range of approximately 40 miles (64 km).
The first Bf 109E-3s began leaving the production lines in early 1939. On this version, the two wing-mounted MG 17s were replaced by 20 mm MG FF cannon, each supplied with 60 rounds. The E-3’s cannon gave it exceptional destructive power, and pilots regarded the Kanonenmaschine as the finest of the early Messerschmitt variants.
Between 1 January and 1 September 1939, 1,091 Bf 109Es were delivered. Four engine factories supported DB 601 production, while Bf 109 airframes were built by Messerschmitt at Regensburg, Erla, Fieseler and Wiener-Neustadt Flugzeugbau in Austria. When German forces invaded Poland on 1 September 1939, twelve Gruppen were operating a mixture of Bf 109B, C, D and E fighters. The Messerschmitt was now positioned to play a central role in the Luftwaffe’s campaigns across Europe.
The Bf 109 in the Battle of Britain
After achieving considerable success during the German campaigns in Europe, the Luftwaffe concentrated its Bf 109E units along the French Channel coast for the assault on Fighter Command. By August 1940, the number of Bf 109E-equipped Gruppen had risen to twenty-three.
The principal variants used during the summer of 1940 were the E-1, E-3 and E-7. The E-7 was commonly employed as a fighter-bomber, carrying a single 250 kg (551 lb) bomb on a mounting beneath the centre fuselage.
The Luftwaffe entered the campaign with a cadre of combat-tested fighter leaders whose experience in Spain had helped establish highly effective formations. The basic two-aircraft Rotte and four-aircraft Schwarm, commonly known as the finger-four, allowed pilots to cover one another’s blind spots behind and below while retaining considerable tactical flexibility.
The Luftwaffe also made extensive use of Freie Jagd, or free-hunting fighter sweeps. Exploiting the Bf 109E’s strong high-altitude performance, German pilots could gain the initiative by diving upon aircraft that had not seen them approach. These tactics could be devastating when surprise and an altitude advantage were achieved.
In combat, the respective strengths and weaknesses of the Bf 109E, Spitfire and Hurricane tended to offset one another. Surprise, altitude, formation tactics and pilot judgement therefore became decisive. The Bf 109 and Spitfire were closely matched between 12,000 and 17,000 ft (3,658–5,182 m), while above 20,000 ft (6,096 m) the Messerschmitt held the advantage.
The Bf 109’s limited range became especially serious when its pilots were ordered to provide close escort for Luftwaffe bomber formations. Close escort restricted their freedom to exploit the aircraft’s advantages in altitude, speed and surprise, reducing the effectiveness of the aggressive fighter tactics developed before the campaign. On numerous occasions, Bf 109 pilots were forced to turn for France before the bombers had reached their targets.
By the end of the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe had lost 1,792 aircraft on operations, including 610 Bf 109s. Fighter Command lost 1,023 Spitfires and Hurricanes, of which approximately 770 were claimed by Bf 109 pilots.
Strengths and Limitations
The Bf 109E combined excellent climb, acceleration and diving performance with formidable firepower. Its fuel-injected Daimler-Benz engine allowed a pilot to bunt directly into a dive, whereas the carburettor-fed Rolls-Royce Merlin fitted to RAF fighters could lose power under negative-G forces. German pilots could exploit this advantage to break away rapidly or convert altitude into speed when entering combat.
The Messerschmitt was a stable gun platform, and its cannon gave it greater destructive power than the rifle-calibre machine guns carried by the Spitfire and Hurricane. Its compact airframe also responded well in the vertical plane, favouring pilots who fought through climbing, diving and high-speed attacks. In experienced hands, the Bf 109 was therefore at its best when it could preserve energy and dictate the terms of an engagement.
It was less effective in a sustained turning fight. Its comparatively high wing loading produced a wider turning circle and less forgiving low-speed behaviour, allowing the more manoeuvrable British fighters to gain an advantage if the German pilot surrendered speed. The narrow cockpit and heavily framed canopy also restricted visibility, making it more difficult to maintain situational awareness in a confused combat.
The aircraft’s greatest operational weakness during the Battle of Britain was its limited range. Once over southern England, pilots had little time available for combat before fuel considerations forced them to disengage. This restricted the depth and duration of German fighter operations and often tied the Bf 109s to close escort, preventing them from using altitude, speed and tactical freedom to best effect.
The narrow-track undercarriage created further difficulties on the ground. Poor forward visibility required pilots to weave while taxiing, and the widely splayed undercarriage legs were vulnerable to side loads during take-off and landing. Accidents were especially common among inexperienced pilots, giving the Bf 109 a demanding reputation despite its exceptional performance in the air.
Legacy
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 earned its place as one of the most important fighter aircraft of the Second World War through a combination of outstanding performance and continuous development. The Battle of Britain represented only one stage in its long combat career. From the Bf 109E “Emil”, the aircraft evolved into the refined Bf 109F Friedrich, the widely produced Bf 109G Gustav and the final wartime Bf 109K Kurfürst.
Successive improvements to the engine, armament and airframe allowed the Bf 109 to remain the mainstay of the Luftwaffe’s Jagdwaffe throughout the conflict. Its wartime importance consequently extended far beyond the campaign over Britain, while the aircraft was also operated by Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and Yugoslavia.
More than 33,000 Bf 109s were built, making it the most-produced fighter aircraft in history. The type was credited with destroying more enemy aircraft and producing more fighter aces than any other single fighter, securing its enduring place as one of the most consequential combat aircraft in the history of aerial warfare.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Messerschmitt Bf 109?
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was a German single-seat monoplane fighter and the mainstay of the Luftwaffe’s fighter force. The Bf 109E, known as the “Emil”, was the principal German single-seat fighter used during the Battle of Britain.
Why was the Bf 109 developed?
The Bf 109 was developed in response to Tactical Requirements for Fighter Aircraft (Land), issued by the Reichsluftfahrtministerium on 6 July 1933. The specification called for a modern single-seat day fighter capable of reaching 400 km/h at 6,000 m and carrying either two fixed machine guns or one cannon.
When did the Bf 109 first fly?
The Bf 109 V1 made its maiden flight from Augsburg-Haunstetten airfield on 28 May 1935. Messerschmitt senior test pilot Hans-Dietrich “Bubi” Knoetzsch was at the controls, and the prototype was powered by a 695 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel VI engine.
When did the Bf 109 enter Luftwaffe service?
Production-standard Bf 109B-1 fighters began entering Luftwaffe service in February 1937. Five months later, the type saw combat during the Spanish Civil War, where Luftwaffe pilots gained experience that influenced their later tactics.
What engine powered the Bf 109E?
The Bf 109E used the fuel-injected Daimler-Benz DB 601A engine, rated at 1,175 hp for take-off. Direct fuel injection allowed the fighter to perform negative-G manoeuvres without the fuel-flow interruption experienced by carburettor-fed engines.
What armament did the Bf 109E carry?
The Bf 109E-1 carried four 7.9 mm MG 17 machine guns, with two mounted in the upper fuselage and two in the wings. The E-3 replaced the wing machine guns with two 20 mm MG FF cannon, each carrying 60 rounds.
How many Bf 109 units fought in the Battle of Britain?
By August 1940, twenty-three Luftwaffe Gruppen were equipped with the Bf 109E. The principal variants used during the campaign were the E-1, E-3 and E-7.
Was the Bf 109 better than the Spitfire?
The Bf 109E and Spitfire were closely matched between 12,000 and 17,000 ft, and neither held a decisive advantage in every combat situation. Above 20,000 ft, the Bf 109E held the advantage, while surprise, altitude, tactics and pilot judgement often determined the outcome of an engagement.
What was the Bf 109’s advantage over the Hurricane?
The Bf 109 had better acceleration than the Hurricane and could bunt directly into a dive because of its fuel-injected engine. The Hurricane offset these advantages through its exceptional manoeuvrability and structural strength.
What was the Bf 109’s greatest weakness during the Battle of Britain?
The Bf 109E’s greatest strategic weakness was its short range. It could not remain north of the Thames for long, and pilots assigned to close bomber escort were sometimes forced to return to France before the bombers reached their targets.
How fast was the Bf 109E?
The Bf 109E-3 had a maximum speed of 348 mph (560 km/h). It had a range of 410 miles (660 km) and was powered by a 1,175 hp Daimler-Benz DB 601Aa engine.
How many Bf 109Es were built?
Approximately 4,000 Bf 109E aircraft were produced. Between 1 January and 1 September 1939 alone, 1,091 “Emils” were delivered as Germany expanded fighter production before the outbreak of the Second World War.