List of surviving Messerschmitt Bf 109s explained

See main article: Messerschmitt Bf 109. The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was a German World War II fighter 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; 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[1] 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).[2] 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. 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.

Australia

On display
Under restoration/stored

Austria

On display

Belgium

Airworthy

Brazil

On display

Canada

On display

Czech Republic

On display

Finland

On display
Stored or under restoration

France

Stored or under restoration

Germany

Airworthy
On display
Stored or under restoration

Israel

On display

Netherlands

On display

New Zealand

Under restoration/stored

Norway

Stored or under restoration

Poland

On Display

Russia

On display
Stored or under restoration

Serbia

On display

Slovakia

South Africa

On display

Spain

On display
Stored or under restoration

Switzerland

On display

United Kingdom

Airworthy
On display
Stored or under restoration

United States

Airworthy
On display
Stored or under restoration

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. A division of the Škoda Works
  2. Nowarra 1993, p. 189.
  3. http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?s=25541c50f8444ddcaeeebd1e57ec579d&t=105793&page=2 "Forum thread,"
  4. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?cnsearch=784993 784993 White 13 (airliners photo collection)
  5. http://www.airliners.net/photo/Untitled/Messerschmitt-Bf-109G-2/0410098 C4K-131 White 1 (airliners photo collection)
  6. Web site: Museu TAM . 2008-03-17 . 2016-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192407/http://www.museutam.com.br/smt/jsp/default.jhtml?adPagina=445&adArtigo=8865 . dead .
  7. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=14256 14256 Yellow 14 (airliners photo collection)
  8. http://www.luftwaffe39-45.historia.nom.br/aero/bf109_tam.htm Yellow 14
  9. Web site: Canada Aviation Museum . 2008-03-17 . 2008-03-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080319073224/http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/collections/artifacts/aircraft/MesserschmittBf109F-4.shtml . dead .
  10. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=10132 10132 (airliners photo collection)
  11. http://home.arcor.de/f111raven/024_23c.html 199178 UC-25
  12. http://www.vhu.cz/en/stranka/letecke-muzeum/ Aviation Museum - Kbely
  13. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=UC-26 199565 UC-26 (airliners photo collection)
  14. http://home.arcor.de/f111raven/028_27e.html 199565 UC-26
  15. http://www.preservedaxisaircraft.com/Luftwaffe/messerschmitt/images/bf109f4wnr7108.jpg 7108 (Preserved Axis Aircraft Collection)
  16. http://www.suomenilmailumuseo.fi/en/planes.html Finnish Aviation Museum
  17. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=MT-507 MT-507 (airliners photo collectionj)
  18. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/luftregistry/bf109-wknr167271.html 167271
  19. Web site: AirVenture Report: Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-4 "rote 7".
  20. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=D-FWME HA-1112 139 "7" (airliners photo collection)
  21. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=D-FMBB C4K-87 (airliners photo collection)
  22. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=NX109GU C4K-172 <- (airliners photo collection)
  23. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=G-HUNN C4K-172 Black 14 (airliners photo collection)
  24. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/luftregistry/buchon-c4k169.html C.4K-169
  25. http://www.deutsches-museum.de/en/sammlungen/verkehr/aeronautics/propeller-planes/aeronautics-hall/messerschmitt-me-109{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  26. http://www.airliners.net/photo/Germany---Air/Messerschmitt-Bf-109E-3/1202879 790 <- + - (airliners photo collection)
  27. Web site: 790 (Paul Nann Collection) . 2008-03-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180101194728/http://www.paulnann.com/Make.asp?Make=Messerschmitt&Family=%20Me-109&ImageRef=pn_w3186.jpg . 2018-01-01 . dead .
  28. http://mitglied.lycos.de/thomas_genth/id61.htm 790
  29. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/luftregistry/bf109-wknr790.html 790
  30. Web site: 14753 "White 3" . 2008-03-17 . 2011-09-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927074718/http://www.luftwaffe39-45.historia.nom.br/aero/bf109_3branco.htm . dead .
  31. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?cnsearch=19310 19310 White 3 (airliners photo collection)
  32. Web site: 19310 White 3 . 2008-03-17 . 2008-03-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080308233749/http://www.luftwaffe39-45.historia.nom.br/aero/bf109_3brancojg52.htm . dead .
  33. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=10575 C4J-?? <<< Yellow 4 (airliners photo collection)
  34. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/luftregistry/buchon-c4k170.html C.4K-170
  35. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=G-AWHS C4K-170 Yellow 4 (airliners photo collection)
  36. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=D-FEHD C4K-1?? Black 15 (airliners photo collection)
  37. http://www.preservedaxisaircraft.com/Luftwaffe/messerschmitt/images/Me-109F%20wnr8993.jpg 8993 Yellow 3 (preserved axis aircraft page)
  38. Web site: Aircraft register (G-INFO) | Civil Aviation Authority.
  39. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?cnsearch=782358 782358 112D (airliners photo collection)
  40. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?cnsearch=15343 15343 (airliners photo collection)
  41. Web site: Classic Wings and a 109! | Wings over New Zealand.
  42. http://www.flymuseum-sola.no/museum-exhibition-details.php?category=3&id=14 Flyhistorisk Museum
  43. http://luftfart.museum.no/aircrafts/aircrafts-in-restoration/project-messerschmitt-bf-109-g-2-yellow-3/ Norwegian Aviation Museum
  44. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?cnsearch=163306 163306 Red 3 (airliners photo collection)
  45. http://www.yumodel.in.rs/batajnica_air_show/poland/red3.htm 163306 Red 3 (Yugoslavian Modlers)
  46. Web site: 163306 "Red 3" . 2008-03-17 . 2008-03-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080308232322/http://www.luftwaffe39-45.historia.nom.br/aero/bf109_3vermelho.htm . dead .
  47. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/luftregistry/bf109-163306.html 163306
  48. http://fundacjapolskieorly.pl/index/doc/Messerschmitt_Bf-109 Fundacja Polskie Orły
  49. http://www.airliners.net/photo/Germany---Air/Messerschmitt-Bf-109G-6/1336172 411768 "Black 1 (airliners phto collection)
  50. http://www.preservedaxisaircraft.com/Luftwaffe/messerschmitt/images/Bf109F4%20wnr7504.jpg 7504 (preserved axis aircraft page)
  51. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=9663 14792 (airliners photo collection)
  52. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/luftregistry/bf109-wknr14792.html 14792
  53. http://www.yumodel.in.rs/batajnica_air_show/yugoslav_aeronautical_museum.htm Yugoslavian Aviation Museum
  54. Web site: Messerschmitt projekt.
  55. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/luftregistry/luftregistry.html?bf109-wknr1289.html&2 1289
  56. https://web.archive.org/web/20010309214721/http://www.militarymuseum.co.za/main.htm South African Museum of Military History
  57. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=C4J-10 C4J-10 94-28 (airliners photo collection)
  58. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=C4K-158 C4K-158 (airliners photo collection)
  59. http://www.preservedaxisaircraft.com/Luftwaffe/messerschmitt/images/Bf109F%20Belgium.jpg White 4 (preserved axis aircraft page)
  60. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=J-355 2242 J-355 (airliners photo collection)
  61. Web site: 2242 (Paul Mann Collection) . 2008-03-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180101194620/http://www.paulnann.com/Make.asp?Make=Messerschmitt&Family=%20Me-109&ImageRef=pn_w1768.jpg . 2018-01-01 . dead .
  62. Web site: Swiss Air Force Museum . 2008-03-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060115123412/http://www.airsceneuk.org.uk/hangar/museums/Flieger-web/hall1d.htm . 2006-01-15 . dead .
  63. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/luftregistry/bf109-wknr2242.html 2242
  64. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=CF-EML "3579 White 14".
  65. Web site: Luftwaffe Registry - A Warbirds Resource Group Site . 2023-09-13 . www.warbirdregistry.org.
  66. Web site: Buchon airleasing.co.uk . 2023-04-30 . en-GB.
  67. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=N109ME HA-1112 67 Yellow 14 (airliners photo collection)
  68. http://www.courtesyaircraft.com/N109ME%20Spec.htm HA-1112 67 (Courtesy Aircraft)
  69. Web site: HA-1112 M1L&dataindex=0 G-AWHE. Civil Aviation Authority. 26 June 2013.
  70. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=G-BWUE C4K-102 Red 1 (airliners photo collection)
  71. Web site: Warbird & Classic Aircraft Sales | www.platinumfighters.com . 2018-09-01 . 2018-09-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180901182709/http://www.platinumfighters.com/buchon402 . dead .
  72. Web site: Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 (Me 109E). 23 April 2013. Imperial War Museum. IWM Collections Search. Imperial War Museum.
  73. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=1190 1190 (airliners photo collection)
  74. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/luftregistry/bf109-wknr1190.html 1190
  75. Web site: Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 airplane pictures & aircraft photos - RAF Museums . 2008-03-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080220024841/http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/collections/aircraft/messerschmitt-bf-109e-3.cfm . 2008-02-20 .
  76. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=4101 4101 Black 12 (airliners photo collection)
  77. http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/collections/aircraft/aircraft_histories/78-AF-624%20%20Bf109E%204101.pdf 4101
  78. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/luftregistry/bf109-wknr4101.html 4101
  79. Web site: Messerschmitt BF109G-2/Trop.
  80. http://109lair.hobbyvista.com/walkaround/4034/4034.htm 4034
  81. Web site: A mystery behind the history plane - Indian Express . 2022-07-25 . archive.indianexpress.com.
  82. Web site: 2017-10-09 . Warbirds of India - Gulbarga Me-109's presence in UK acknowledged . 2022-07-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171009041413/http://warbirdsofindia.com/news/319-gulbarga-me-109s-presence-in-uk-acknowledged.html . 2017-10-09 .
  83. http://www.flyingheritage.com/TemplateHome.aspx?planeId=8 Flying Heritage Collection
  84. http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=109GY FAA Registry N-Number Inquiry
  85. Web site: FFJournal.net | Midwest Aero Restorations is in a quest to restore rare Messerschmitt. 2019-11-24. 2020-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20200803090755/https://www.ffjournal.net/item/15145-midwest-aero-restorations-is-in-a-quest-to-restore-rare-messerschmitt.html. dead.
  86. Web site: Messerschmitt Bf 109E-7 'Emil' | Planes of Fame Air Museum.
  87. http://www.warbirdrecovery.com/wb_recovered.php# 5975 (Warbird Recovery)
  88. Web site: 160163 "White 2" . 2008-03-17 . 2011-09-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927074752/http://www.luftwaffe39-45.historia.nom.br/aero/bf109_2branco.htm . dead .
  89. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/luftregistry/bf109-wknr160163.html 160163
  90. Web site: National Air & Space Museum . 2008-03-17 . 2008-03-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080317024308/http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/gal205/#ME109 . dead .
  91. http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=505 National Museum of the United States Air Force
  92. Web site: 610824 Blue 4 . 2008-03-17 . 2008-03-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080308233754/http://www.luftwaffe39-45.historia.nom.br/aero/bf109_4azul.htm . dead .
  93. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/luftregistry/bf109-wknr610824.html 610824
  94. Web site: Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-10 Gustav . Evergreen Aviation Museum . https://web.archive.org/web/20061231124849/http://www.sprucegoose.org/pdfs/planes/Fighters/Messerschmitt.pdf . 31 December 2006.
  95. Web site: Messerschmitt Bf-109G-10/U4 . Airliners.net . 19 January 2019.
  96. Web site: Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10 . Luftwaffe 39-45 . 20 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161013122208/http://www.luftwaffe39-45.historia.nom.br/aero/bf109_hartmann.htm . 13 October 2016.
  97. Web site: Bf-109G-10/WkNr. 610937 . Warbird Registry . 20 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181216004009/http://www.warbirdregistry.org/luftregistry/bf109-wknr610937.html . 16 December 2018 . 2002.
  98. Web site: Great News From the Collings Foundation . The Warbird Watcher . 20 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161210181139/https://warbirdwatcher.com/2015/08/11/great-news-from-the-collings-foundation/ . 10 December 2016 . 11 August 2015.
  99. Web site: 611943 Yellow 13 . 2008-03-17 . 2008-03-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080308233720/http://www.luftwaffe39-45.historia.nom.br/aero/bf109_13amarelo.htm . dead .
  100. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/luftregistry/bf109-wknr611943.html 611943
  101. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=C4K-19 C.4K-100 71-9 (airliners photo collection)
  102. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=NX109J HA-1112 392 (airliners photo collection)
  103. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/luftregistry/buchon-c4k122.html C.4K-122
  104. http://www.airventuremuseum.org/collection/aircraft/Messerschmitt_Hispano%20HA112-M1L.asp EAA Aviation Museum
  105. http://www.fighterfactory.com/restoration/messerschmitt-bf-109.php Fighter Factory
  106. http://www.preservedaxisaircraft.com/Luftwaffe/messerschmitt/images/Bf%20109F-4%20wnr%208461.jpg 8461 (preserved axis aircraft page)