Messerschmitt Bf 109

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a Fighter plan designed in the Années 1930, by the German Engineer Willy Messerschmitt, in answer to a request for offer of the Reichsluftfahrtministerium, for the design of a modern Chasseur having to equip the incipient Luftwaffe. Around the Driving most powerful available, Jumo with 12 Cylinder S out of V reversed, Messerschmitt drew the finest possible cell, taking again very innovative techniques which it had developed for the light plane Bf 108. The prototype Bf 109, higher than its competitors, was finally chosen, in spite of the enmity of the Minister for the Air, Erhard Milch, towards Messerschmitt.

Following its participation in the war of Spain, Bf 109 was remotorisé by an engine Daimler Benz, to practice in a way even more effective the new tactics of aerial combat than it had made it possible to develop. The first part of the Second world war, saw a domination without division of this plane and its doctrines of employment. Only the British Supermarine Spitfire, could then hold head at the time of the to him Bataille of England. Bf 109 was the hunter preferred of many German pilots, including aces such as Adolf Galland or Hans-Joachim Marseilles, and that even after the deployment of the Focke-Wulf 190, which in the absolute was a better machine. However the plane had arrived at the end of its potential of evolution. The following versions did not manage to maintain the advantage acquired and appeared of a more difficult piloting, reserved for experienced pilots of which Luftwaffe did not lay out any more but of limited number. There remained nevertheless a frightening adversary until the end with the hands of a pilot good. It was the principal German hunter with 33.000+ produced specimens.

Birth

Willy Messerschmitt had founded its company Messerschmitt Flugzeugbau GMBH in March 1926, partly financed by the government Bavarian. But following economic problems, this last required of him to integrate the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) of Ausburg, already existing, in September 1927, as principal originator. After many vexations, this association obtains finally a business success with the Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun, a light qaudriplace, conceived in haste to take part in the international Challenge of the private planes of 1934. This plane, very advances some over its time, makes it possible Messerschmitt to try out the solutions which will make the success of its future hunter: the formula monoplane with low wing cantilever, the returning landing gear, aluminum a light alloy semi-monocoque design being articulated around a single member of wing and a strong wall fire protection and high-lift devices combining of the automatic split burners on the leading edge and of the shutters on the trailing edge, allowing to take off and land in spite of a Wing load very high.

Bf 108, very popular, ensures Messerschmitt of an unconditional support of many officers and pilots of Luftwaffe. However it also was an enemy baited in the person of Erhard Milch, which has just taken the head of the new whole Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM). This antagonism was the result of died of the personal friend of Milch, Hans Hackman, during the tests of the Messerschmitt M20, but also of the disastrous exploitation of the plane thereafter, within Deutsche Lufthansa, whose Milch was then director. This enmity undoubtedly explains why Bayerische Flugzeugwerke is not initially invited to answer the program of single-seat hunter Rüstungsflugzeug IV , launched by Technisches Amt (the technical department) of the RLM in June 1934. Thanks to its popularity within the high authorities of Luftwaffe, finally at the beginning of 1935, Messerschmitt are finally invited to present a prototype, although Milch ensures that never it will not gain the contest.

The contest

The program RIVETS, although resulting from the RLM, combined in fact best characteristics obtained by the project on private funds of Heinkel and Arado, carried out during the year 1933. The required plane was a monoplane, single-engined aircraft, equipped with the new engine under development at Junkers, Jumo 210, and being armed with three machine-guns of 7,9 mm, supplied each one by thousand blows. The plane was to privilege in the order: level speed, then ascentionnelle speed, and finally maneuverability. The objective in term speed was of 400 km/h to 6000 meters which the plane was to be able to support during twenty minutes. The performances required are in fact rather reasonable, but Messerschmitt knows that, if he wants to carry it, he must design a plane which crushes competition by its performances. It thus takes the risk not to take account of the recommendation of the program not to exceed 100 kg/m ², as regards wing load, in order to be able to reach the highest speeds by decreasing to the maximum the trail. N the other hand, Messerschmitt studies high-lift devices to keep a minimal speed and an acceptable maneuverability. Thus, of the split burners of leading edge with automatic operation and large shutters allow the plane to remain controllable at low speed

When at the beginning, Bayerische Flugzeugwerke is finally allowed to take part in the competition, at the beginning of 1935, Willy Messerschmitt, already realized largest of the work of design of the Bf 109A or 8-109, according to the designation of the RLM, which allows the first prototype V1 (V for Versuchsflugzeug), to be ready dice May, however the German engines them are not it, and the plane must be modified to assemble one of the four there Rolls-Royce Kestrel VI of 695 cv, acquired by the RLM in the United Kingdom, in exchange of a Heinkel He 70 Blitz. The adaptation is finished in August, and finally V1 with civil registration, D-IABI, accomplishes its first flight in September, it is then sent to the center of test of Luftwaffe with Rechlin, to take part in the competition. V2, motorized by one of the first Jumo 210A, giving him 610 horses, available finally at the end of the summer, is him finished in October and joined V1. On the other hand V3, which is the first armed specimen, with its pair of MG 17 of 7,92 mm on the engine cowling, will have to wait until May 1936 to receive an engine and to join its two predecessors.

Very quickly, Arado and Focke-Wulf seeing their exceeded projects withdraw competition, and only Bf-109 and the Heinkel He 112 remain in string. In addition to the hostility of Milch, the plane meets a reception, first of all unfavourable pilots, who reproach him the narrow gauge railway of his landing gear and his raised slope when it rolls, which make the operations on the ground difficult even dangerous for little experienced pilots. The behavior in the air, on the other hand will end up carrying their votes, the plane appearing operating once in the air, and especially capable of an exceptional speed of 470 km/h, that is to say thirty of more than its competitor, and able to prick and climb more quickly. However, Heinkel still has the preference of the leading authorities and the RLM thus orders a preproduction of ten apparatuses of each type. Nevertheless, beginning March, the news that the Spitifire was put in production, obliges Luftwaffe, in the urgency to re-examine its decision, and finally the 12 appears a document which gives the priority to Bf-109 which is launched in production, whereas one asks Heinkel to re-examine his copy. The risky technological choices of Willy Messerschmitt, succeeded in making the difference, vis-a-vis Heinkel, privileged however by the authorities. As on Bf 108, it gathers all the efforts of the structure on only one element, the partition firebreak behind of the engine, and not of a frame. The fasteners of the engine mount, the members of wings, the fuselage tail section and the landing gear are connected to it. In the same way for the wing, it uses one member the front, in shape of I, sufficiently robust to box the bending stresses undergone by the aerofoil, instead of two in the traditional construction industry. Associated with a metal semi-monocoque design, these innovations, allow him to obtain an enough light structure to obtain a positive ratio weight power, in spite of the weakness of the engines then available. Other advantages, Bf 109 is definitely less expensive to produce than its competitor and it is possible to dismount its wings while keeping the landing gear, during maintenances and of transport by overland route. On the other hand, this choice particularly conditions the use of a train with narrow gauge railway, which makes more difficult the operations on the ground, when the engine output increases.

Beginnings of series

It seems that 22 Bf-109 A0 were delivered, they have based on V4, which steals September 23rd 1936 the first are motorized by Jumo 210B of 640 cv, which yield the place quickly, in Jumo 210D of 670 cv. These planes are not identical, with many differences, sometimes apparent, the air intakes of cooling of the armament and the oil radiator changed position on several occasions to avoid the phenomena of overheating. They are followed by the Bf 109 B-1 which result from this, but which goes them ^etre produced to 341 by Messerschmitt, Fieseler and Erla. In the course of production of B-1, two-bladed propeller fixes wood Schwarz yields the place to two-bladed to variable step VDM, copy under license of Hamilton Standard American, giving by modification or new construction, the Bf 109 B-2 . The planes are sometimes remotorisés with of two-speed Jumo 210Da and its compressor, and some seem to have received from Jumo 210G to direct injection, after the test in March 1937, on Bf 109 V7. Compared with the future British hunters armed with eight machine-guns, the armament of the east however considered to be insufficient with only, two MG-17 of 7,92 mm cap. Several tests are carried out to mount a third machine-gun, even a gun of 20 mm MG FF, installed between the two row of cylinders and drawing through the cone from propeller. But the vibrations and the heating caused by the shooting of those still pose too many problems and arm gone up through the engine remain experimental and the first planes of the series has and B will have to be satisfied with the armament of V3.

The first planes are assigned to Jagdgeschwader (squadron of hunting) JG-132 Richthoffen with an aim of testing their operational capacities and, at the beginning of its production, Bf 109 is engaged in the operations of the Guerre of Spain, where it steals to the hands of the German pilots voluntary of the Légion Condor. It seems probable on the other hand that of A0, were used in Spain with tactical markings from 6-1 to 6-16, the sending of the prototypes Bf 109 V4, V5 and V6, although often quoted, seems dubious. Their similar appearance, often made them nevertheless confuse with the B1 model, which succeeds to them. One of them, 6-15 the, constrained one with an emergency landing following a gasoline breakdown was captured by the republicans, on November 11th 1937, it was then provided to Soviet, for a more thorough study. Thereafter, at least about fifty Bf 109B and about thirty Bf 109C will be sent to fight, the sending of models D is not certain for him. The practice will last all along the conflict, until the sending of forty Bf 109E in 1939, the total of the planes provided to the nationalist forces being beyond 130. During combat in Spain, Bf 109 was opposed, in particular, to the Soviet Polikarpov I-15 and I-16, extremely handy and well armed hunters , which dominates the Spanish sky then. Incompetents to take the advantage fights some whirling, the German pilots, then develop tactics stressing the speed and the advantage of altitude. Grouped by four in Schwärme (" essaims"), which subdivides into two Rotten (" bandes"), Messerschmitts engageent and break the combat with their suitability because of their high speed. When they profit from the superiority in altitude, they plunge then on their adversaries to carry out a master key, grouped in formation, then go up with the speed acquired during piqué, remaining thus completely out of reach of the counter-attacks of their adversaries. This new method of combat, known like fights with energy, or Boom and Zoom , invented by pilots like Adolf Galland and Werner Mölders, became the style of combat thereafter dominating in the airs, at the time of the second world war. Bf 109 appears adapted to this use magnificiently, and more two hundred German pilots made their first weapons while passing by the Légion Condor, becoming thereafter the core of the future hunting of Luftwaffe, the Jagdwaffe.

Bf 109 V8 is first brought a satisfactory answer to the problem of the weakness of the armament, its wings were modified, to allow the assembly of two Mitrailleuse S additional, with the Emplanture S, V9 is armed still better because they are guns of 20 mm MG-FF that it embarks in the wings, but the structure of those proves too low then to support the retreat and the production aircraft Bf 109C will have to be satisfied with four machine-guns MG 17. The two prototypes and the series is motorized by Jumo 210 Ga, and for the first time radio operator FuG 7 embarks, which allows the connections with the terrestrial forces. For Willy Messerschmitt, the main issue of its hunter is that, in spite of the improvements of Jumo, it is not able to make him reach high speeds with 480 km/h. It is persuaded that the solution is in the adaptation of the Daimler Benz of series 600. Its first test, Bf 109 V10, the old prototype of the series C, remotorized with a dB 600A of 900 cv, is destroyed with the landing by Ernst Udet, at the time of an attempt at record in July 1937. V11 succeeds to him, always with a dB 600A, then both V12 and V13. The engine of Daimler Benz lack still of reliability and the dB 601 with injection having to be soon available, one thus decides to build a transitory series, Bf-109D, still equipped with Juno 210D and always armed with four MG 17. This version will be the first with being exported towards the Suisse and the Hungary.

Bf 109, arms with propaganda

The new plane is used in an intensive way by propaganda of the Third Reich, with an aim of impressing its future allies and adversaries. One handles many technical details and characteristic of the plane to bring the intelligence services and the foreign press to overestimate the apparatus. To this end one uses much the prototypes, of which some are transformed into machine of record, having little to do with the hunters of the series production. For example, Bf 109V13, which beat the world speed records with 610,5 km/h, in November 1937, employs a DB-601 especially prepared and deprived of any armament. The services of Luftwaffe then maintain a blur on these planes, by classifying them like prototypes of the hunter, leaving under hearing that the production would be based on these models. The influence of these measurements is still felt nowadays, some believing that Bf-109D were equipped with Daimler-Benz engines.

Another field where the Luftwaffe tries to mislead the experts, that of the armament. Handbooks are even published for planes which do not exist, or then in the form of prototype, without future. The various alternatives of armament of the models C and D, in addition to their experimental side, are surely to classify in these attempts at fraud, intended to mask the weakness of the armament of Bf 109 at its beginning. Are probably to classify in these efforts:

Bf 109 C-2 with five MG 17 of which a tie through the cone of propeller.
Bf 109 C-3 with two guns MG-FF of wing.
Bf 109 C-4 with a gun MG FF drawing through the cone from propeller.
Bf 109 D-2 with three MG-FF (two of wing and one of engine).
Bf 109 D-3 with two MG-17 of cap and two MG-FF in the wings.

The assemblies of weapons in the engine and gun in the wings appearing impracticable before the end of the year 1939, many these planes surely never existed differently than on paper, and this same if a documentation exists on their operational employment. These efforts bear their fruits, there still even nowadays, the first versions of the Emil being described like armies of a gun drawing through the engine, even of three guns. These processes will continue thereafter, presenting the plane of record Messerschmitt Bf 209 like a future evolution of Bf 109, by indicating it Me 109R , whereas it is impossible to arm it without its performances not crumbling.

The arrival of Daimler Benz, Bf 109E Emil

The experiments with Daimler Benz continue, V11 and V12 and their dB 600A. But the still young engine poses many problems, in particular on the level of its automatic overfeeding and the production, insufficient, is reserved firstly for the bombers Heinkel He 111. The dB 601 becomes finally available. Messerschmitt having gained an international reputation, the RLM suggests the name change of Bayerische Flugzeugwerke in Messerschmitt AG , the following planes will then take designation Me, instead of Bf.

Two prototypes, V14 and V15, at the beginning of the summer 1938, embark the new engine, cooling is not ensured more by a single radiator, under the nose, but by two placed under the wings and the driving compartment is deeply altered to embark Daimler Benz. The configurations of armament which they carry, two guns of wing and two machine-guns of cap, and a gun of engine and two machine-guns, will not be retained, because the E-0 preproduction, then the E-1 series, which follow them, have only four MG 17. In January 1939, first Bf 109 E-1 of series arrive in the units of the Luftwaffe, it are armed with four MG 17 and are propelled by one dB 601 A-1 of 990 cv; they will be produced with 1183 specimens.

The prototypes V16 and V17 are used to improve still the formula in particular by the reinforcement of the structure, which finally makes it possible to assemble in a satisfactory way a heavier armament. From this work will rise, at the end of the year, a new version of series, the Bf 109 E-3 with two guns of wings MG FF, E-2 with a gun of engine is not him not produced. An alternative of export of E-3, E-3a is carried out private sensitive equipment for Luftwaffe, and is sold with more than three hundred specimens, in other with the Suisse (80), the Bulgaria (19), the Spain, the Hungary (40), the the USSR (5), the Romania (69), the Yugoslavia (73) and the Japan (2). E-3, is used also basic for the development of Bf-109T, intended for employment on the future Porte-avions Graf Zeppelin of the Kriegsmarine. The next summer, the E-4 introduces the modified guns MG FF/M, equipped with a system of delayed-action of the retreat, which makes it possible to fire the shells mines with high content of explosive, to the devastators effects.

In September 1939, with the declaration of war against the Poland, the Luftwaffe, had approximately 850 Bf 109E and 235 Bf 109D, in its squadrons of hunting, which little more than two hundreds took part in the lightning war, against this country. Sixty seven of them were cut down but mainly by shootings of the ground. It reigns indeed as an absolute master in the airs. After the operations in the east, one of largest the air battles, was the annihilation of a raid of twenty four Vickers Wellington of RAF against Wilhelmshaven. On this occasion, Bf 109 got out twelve of the bombers for the loss of two of them, which marked the turn of the Bomber Command towards the raids of night.

After the evaluation of Bf 109E posed by error in France, the British concluded that only the Spitfire Mk.I, equipped with three-bladed propeller, managed to have the top, and this only at great altitude. The countryside of France confirmed this irrefutable fact, although German started to perceive the defects of the plane, in particular the weakness of its operating range and its absence of superiority against Spitfire, that it met with the top of Dunkirk. Nevertheless, the beginning of the Bataille of England, is still clearly with its advantage, it is only following the order to protect the bombers with more close, which deprives it of its natural advantages, that it is really beaten by Spitfire. It has, however, of many advantages on its adversary, like the possibility of pricking in G negative, because of its fuel injection engine, whereas Merlin with carburettor of Spitfire would have fixed with the same operation. This dodging often made it possible to the German pilots to sow their prosecutors rather easily. It climbs also more quickly with average altitudes and its armament is much more fatal, the shells mines of 20 mm of MG FF/M having a devastator effect on the British planes, whereas the machine-guns of 7,7 mm, in spite of their number and their great rate of shooting required longer pulls. The Bf 109E , during the Battle of England, was responsible for most of the losses of RAF, that is to say 403 Spitfires, 631 Huricanes and 115 Blenheims. But 610 Bf 109 are lost, and much killed pilots or fact prisoners, whereas the majority of the British pilots can take again the combat. The ace Werner Mölders passes on this occasion the course of the fifty victories, it quickly will be joined and exceeded by many others pilot German.

The engagements with the top of British Isles see also the use of the first hunters bombers based on Bf 109, able to carry bombs of 250 and 50 kg. They conduct fast attacks, in small formation on objectives in the south of the England, starting from the end 1940. The experimentation of bomb thrower leads to the transformation of E-1 into 110 E-1/B and of the Bf 109 E-4 in Bf 109 E-4/B , while mounting a lance bend ETC-250 under the fuselage. It are thus able to embark a bomb of two hundred and fifty Kilogram S or four of fifty. More generally, to keep a suitable autonomy, one reduced the load to only one of fifty Kilogram S. Of the units of hunting bombardment (Jagdbomber) or Jabo, are then create and equipped with these planes. They will carry out fast and specific raids, at the time of the second part of the Bataille of England. Although it is not equipped with specific sight of bombardment, the plane appears effective for the dive bombings, which are carried out thanks to the standard sight Revi and of the lines painted on the windshield to determine the angles.

At the beginning 1941, the E-4/N introduces engine dB 601N, more powerful in altitude, thanks to the use of C3 fuel of variable speed and octane number 100 and of a compressor with hydraulic drive. Two versions of recognition are born also: E-5 and E-6, lightened their guns and with a camera with the back of the fuselage; they are respectively motorized by one dB 601Aa and a dB 601N. The Bf 109 E-7 , him, attacks the problem of operating range thanks to the possibility of taking along a releasable reserve of 300 liters under the fuselage, it gives rise to many derivatives: the E-7N with a DB-601N and the E-7/U1 equipped with an armor-plated cooling system, the E-7/U2 employed in North Africa for raids at low altitude and whose engine is protected by an armor-plate bolted on the lower part and finally U3, an alternative of photographic recognition. A modification even more powerful in altitude is created, Bf 109 E-7/NZ, with a system of overpower GM-1, functioning by the injection of Protoxyde of nitrogen which is used as oxidant with the engine; the system however, heavy and badly placed, causes an imbalance of the apparatus leading sometimes to dangerous gimlets. With the operations on the African face appear also E-4/Trop, E-5/Trop and E-7/Trop, versions tropicalized by the addition of more powerful air filters and necessary of survival in desert medium.

To re-use the cells of Bf 109 E-1, Fiesler and Arado, rebuild 60 Bf 109 E-8, with a reserve of 300 liters and some E-9, where the machine-guns of wing are exchanged against a camera. They will be last the version of Emil, which started to show its limits against the Spitfire. The Luftwaffe needs a hunter much more powerful and an important revision of Bf 109 proves to be necessary. Approximately 4000 Bf 109E were produced, mainly of the E-3 version.

Reaction to Spitfire, Bf 109F Friedrich

Although the version E, is most known of this apparatus and G the most produced, the version F, correspond to the apogee of the career of the hunter of Messerschmitt. With approximately 2200 products on the whole, this version was the apparatus of the beginnings, of the large German aces, like Erich Hartmann with its 352 victories, Gerhard Barkhorn with her 301, Guenther Rall with its 275 and Hans-Joachim Marseilles with its 158. Werner Moelders reaches the first the figure symbolic system of 101, the July 16th 1941, but recalled in Germany to supervise the training of the new pilots. It committed suicide in an air crash, little time afterwards. The majority of these great series of success had as a framework the face of the east, where vis-a-vis planes obsolete in great numbers and badly used, the victories were relatively easy . But it remains that Bf 109F, employed according to the adequate tactics, with raftered pilots, dominated the skies even in the west, as the example of Marseilles proves it.

Work to adapt more powerful engines to the plane, started at the beginning of the year 1940. The result of these studies, Bf 109F, is well better shaped than its predecessor, it has an imposing spinner, followed by a very adjusted engine cowling giving him a little, an aspect of flying cigar. On the level of the wings, the radiators are also redrawn in a more aerodynamic way and the salmons were rounded. With the back the caster of tail becomes semi-retractable and the amounts of the plan of external depths disappear. The first prototype, V21 has an engine dB 601Aa, but the three following V22, 23 and 24 embarks the dB 601E. The setting in production of that Ci delaying, one returns to the dB 601N for the ten Bf 109 F-0 which follow. Despite everything, because of aerodynamic improvement, the performances make a step ahead. The deliveries of the version of series Bf 109 F-1, start at the beginning of 1941. They suffer initially, of mysterious losses of control, giving place to accidents fatal. They are then interdict of flight, while engineers de Messerschmitt, carry out their survey. The cause is quickly discovered, the private plan of depth of its amounts, starts to vibrate with certain modes engine, making the plane ungovernable.

A provisional solution is applied, by the addition of plate stiffeners to the back structure. This problem solved the plane appears excellent with a top speed of 628 km/h. Its armament not very powerful, but is well grouped with a gun MG FF/M which draws through the propeller and two MG 17 of cap. The F-2 series, introduced a new model of gun the MG 151/15 of 15 mm, this weapon although less powerful at a better initial speed and thus is more precise, moreover it is ordered electrically and supplied with two hundred blows instead of sixty. The Bf 109 F-2 is declined in tropicalized version, the Bf 109 F-2/Trop . The Bf 109 F-3 , would have being finally motorized by the dB 601E, but it is quickly replaced by the Bf 109 F-4 , is armed with the MG 151/20 with 200 blows, but protected also better by additional shieldings and improved car-sealing tanks, which is delivered as from June 1941. The oddment of F-4, sees the problem of vibration regulated in a more final way by the adoption of an entirely reconsidered empennage. There still, of the specialized versions are produced, respectively, the F-4/Trop and F-4/Z . The Bf 109 F-5 and the Bf 109 F-6 are derivatives of recognition, differing only by their cameras, and produced with only some specimens.

Last efforts, Bf 109G Gustav and Bf 109K Kurfürst

Starting from 1942, the new apparatuses started to threaten this absolute superiority, the appearance of the Spitfire Mk.IX in the west and the La-5FN in the east. What obliged with a new increase in the power on the cell of Messerschmitt, to try to preserve the advantage. The new model, Bf 109G, although difficult to take in hand for the young pilots, nevertheless will constitute large Jagdwaffe, charged to defend Reich against the bombers combined, during the years 1943 and 1944. It derives in right-hand side line from Bf 109F, by the assembly of the engines of series dB 605. The latter, in fact of the dB 601 inflated by a reboring and the increase in the Ratio compression, are more powerful with 1475 cv on takeoff, but have also a more important couple and the airframe had to be reinforced. The Focke-Wulf FW 190 started to equip with many units, but its production being insufficient, the Luftwaffe is found forced to make last Bf 109 which starts to become obsolete. This surmotorisation has a price, Bf 109, although manoeuvrable, forever be a plane easy to control because of the efforts to apply to the control surfaces. With the increase in power and speed, it becomes a dangerous plane for the inexperienced pilots. On the ground, already little practices because of its landing gear, it becomes also very pointed for the beginners. In hands tested on the other hand, there remains nevertheless a formidable adversary, and it will be the most produced version of Bf 109 with approximately 24000 products.

The specimens of préproduction, the 12 Bf 109 G-0 , fly during the summer 1941, but it are still equipped with dB 601E. The series Bf 109 G-1 arrives in March 1942, they are propelled by dB 605A-1, kit GM-1 is assembled out of standard and the cockpit is pressurized. The derivative deprived of pressurized cockpit and system GM-1, the Bf 109 G-2 , are in parallel manufactured, but in greater number. One sees the introduction, systematic at that time, of the kits machines U for Umrüst-Bausatz and assembled in unit, R for Rüststand . The G-3 and G-4 respectively replace G-1 and G-2, and are different from it by the replacement from radio operator FuG 7A by FuG 16Z. G-4 has in addition to the tires of largeer diameter which cause a small outgrowth under each wing. The G-6 will be more produced of Gustav; derived from G-4, it returns final the adoption of the MG 131 of cap and introduced, in the course of production, various improvements like, for example, the connection series of a radio compass, a caster of tail lengthened to facilitate rolling, of an increased rudder and canopy known as " Galland" who improves the visibility. G-5 is similar but continues him to it series of the pressurized hunters of high-altitude. The G-8 is the version of recognition of G-6 with a camera with the back.

It is adapted for hunting to the American four-engined planes by the assembly of additional guns. On G-6 for example, appeared the kit R6, with two additional guns MG 151/20 in gondole under the wings and the kit U4 with a gun of 30 mm MK 108 which replaced the MG 151/20 of the engine. The kit BR21 which made it possible to embark rocket S WGr-210 " Dodel" , that one used to break the formations of bombers. Kits allowed also better performance in stratosphere where the formations of allied bombers flew. Systems were employed, like the injections Eau - Méthanol MW-50 and the injection of Peroxyde of nitrogen GM-1. Hunting against the bombers of night of RAF, when those are reflected to make use of jamming by metal spangles (window), depended only on hunters operating at sight according to the tactics known as of Wilde Sau . This technique although effective, on the other hand caused many accidents even in the pilots experienced because of the night flight without real equipment of assistance.

The number of kits of modification in factory and units, even if it allows a great versatility Bf-109G, soon singularly complicates its maintenance and its provisioning. The Bf G-10 constitutes a first attempt to rationalize the production. It generalizes certain modifications which from now on are delivered in series, moreover it is motorized by one dB 605DB with an injection water and methanol MW-50. The Bf G-12 , was to him a conversion of ground of G-1, G-2 and G-4, in the two-seat trainers. Thereafter, the engines dB 605AM or ACES, assembled on the Bf G-14 , with their improved compressors, made useless the systems of overpower.

Like all the German planes of the same time, Bf 109 profited from many kits of conversions, coming to be added to the various produced versions. Some of these kits, which allowed the addition of machine-guns or guns in the wings for the versions which were deprived by it, were very appreciated pilots. Others on the other hand, allowing the addition of additional fuel tanks in moulded wood agglomerate, were appreciated.

One of the consequences of this great number of versions and under-versions was the lack of interchangeability of the parts, sometimes even within a version. On standby to avoid a too great unavailability of apparatuses of parts, one of the firms manufacturing Messerschmitt 109, Erla maschinenwerk, started to recover the damaged apparatuses, and to use them to rebuild apparatuses " neuf". The 109 rebuilt were modified to allow the use of the parts available on the most recent versions. Some of these apparatuses thus had performances higher than the new versions leaving to Messerschmitt!

One of the most famous modifications remains the panoramic canopy Galland, of the name of the pilot who imagined it. The Erla firm adopted it for some of its models, from where its other name of Erla-Haube (Erla canopy). The G-10 version was carried out by Erla, starting from fuselages of versions G-6 and G-14.

The standardization remains in spite of very insufficient, always complicating the supply and repair in the units of combat. The RLM, thus orders in Messerschmitt AG, to provide an extra effort in this field. The result based on Bf 109 G-10, is Bf 109K. the K-0 preproduction, strongly resembles the Gustav last, but the cap is raised, canopée is of the Galland type, the spinner is lengthened and the caster becomes entirely retractable. The initial series, Bf 109K-4 (pressurized cockpit) arrives in units in October 1944. Motorized by a DB-605DM, cd. or ASC, with an injection MW-50 and an armament including/understanding a MK 108 of 30 mm in the hub of propeller and two MG 131 on the cap. K-6, is a version with heavy armament for the fight against the four-engined planes combined, with three MK 108, one through the propeller and two of wing, and two MG 131 on the cap. K-8 of recognition, is drift of K6 with a camera in the back of the fuselage, K-10 is similar to K-4, but with one dB 605D and MK 103M driving gun. K-14 embarks a DB-605L with compressor two stages and an injection methanol, it is able to reach 725 km/h.

The arrival of American hunters of escort to long operating range, like the P-51 Mustang, put pilots of the Luftwaffe in front of a dilemma starting from the beginning 1944: to carry enough armament to be able to be effective against the bombers, but by weighing down their planes being thus vulnerable to the hunters of escort, or not to overload their planes and to be unable to destroy the bombers. The found solution was to specialize the planes in two roles, some armed very heavily generally with the Focke-Wulf FW 190, were caught some with the bombers, while others with the standard armament fought against the escort. This allocation of the functions, combined with the use of tactics, based on frontal master keys in formation, on the boxes of Boeing B-17 appeared very effective, but the number of American and British hunters, and soon the lack of experienced pilots and gasoline, made impossible an effective defense of the territory German. In the east, the lack of manpower and the appearance of new Soviet hunters like the Yakovlev Yak-3 and the Lavochkine La-7, made the cover total of the troops terrestrial completely unrealistic, Luftwaffe being satisfied to try to obtain a local air superiority, at the time of the important operations.

After war

The end of the war marked a little everywhere the end of the production of Messerschmitt 109. The majority of the machines in service in the nonGerman air forces, primarily of Gustav, were used until beginning of the year 50, even the Sixties in certain countries.

But the history of the 109 was not finished…

At the time of the conflict, the occupied Czechoslovakia manufactured of Bf-109-G under license, under the denomination Avia S-99. After the end of the war, stocks of becoming exhausted Daimler-Benz engines, Avia undertaken to graft engines Junkers JuMo 211 on cell of " Gustav". The plane thus created accepted the denomination of Avia S-199, and equipped Czechoslovakian Aviation. But the new apparatus appeared of a very difficult piloting, for poor performances. Hated pilots, who called it " Mezek" (mule), it had only one short marked out career of many accidents. In 1955, S199 survivors were sold with incipient Israeli aviation.

During the war, the Spaniards had also signed an license agreement with the firm of Messerschmitt to be able to manufacture under license Bf-109-G. The end of the war involved that of the contract. Several fuselages, their wings and some machine tools had already been delivered to Spain, but the Daimler-Benz engines were never dispatched. The Spaniards then decided remotoriser their cells with Hispano-Suiza engines of Suisse production. The aircraft obtained flew under designation HA-1112, and appeared a good machine, though slightly under-motorized. The later versions then accepted an engine Rolls-Royce Merlin, which strongly modified the initial aspect of the 109 (Merlin one 12 cylinders out of V was not reversed contrary to Daimler-Benz 601 and 605). Very pleasant to control, the HA-1112, affectionately called Buchon (a local species of pigeon) by its pilots, was produced until 1961, and remained in service until 1965.

Messerschmitt observers in the film " The battle of Angleterre" , turned in 1967, were in fact of Buchons…

Evolution of the characteristics and the performances

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