The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was a German single-seat military fighter that remained a central Luftwaffe aircraft throughout the Second World War. First flown in 1935, it evolved through successive engine and armament changes and also served Germany's allies. Production and derivative development continued abroad after the war.[1]Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10National Museum of the United States Air Force · nationalmuseum.af.mil · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details[2]Messerschmitt Bf109G-2/TropRoyal Air Force Museum · rafmuseum.org.uk · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
A modern fighter design
Willy Messerschmitt's team designed the aircraft at Bayerische Flugzeugwerke for a fighter competition. Retractable landing gear, an enclosed cockpit, cantilever wings, automatic leading-edge slats and stressed-skin construction formed a compact, modern airframe. The official Bf designation remained even after the company became Messerschmitt in 1938.[1]Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10National Museum of the United States Air Force · nationalmuseum.af.mil · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Early Bf 109s fought with the German Condor Legion in Spain. The E-series introduced the Daimler-Benz DB 601 engine and became a principal German fighter during the opening campaigns of the Second World War, including the Battle of Britain.[1]Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10National Museum of the United States Air Force · nationalmuseum.af.mil · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Successive wartime versions
The F-series refined the airframe and cooling installation. The later G-series used the DB 605 and became the most numerous branch of the family. Increasing power and armament raised speed and firepower but also increased weight and affected handling.[1]Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10National Museum of the United States Air Force · nationalmuseum.af.mil · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details[2]Messerschmitt Bf109G-2/TropRoyal Air Force Museum · rafmuseum.org.uk · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
G-models became closely associated with defending Germany against American bombers. Their pilots confronted heavily armed B-17 and B-24 formations and, increasingly, long-range escort fighters. The demands of bomber interception shaped equipment and armament choices during the later war.[2]Messerschmitt Bf109G-2/TropRoyal Air Force Museum · rafmuseum.org.uk · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Continued manufacture and postwar use
The Bf 109 remained in German production until the final months of fighting, alongside the Fw 190. Postwar aircraft derived from it were built in Czechoslovakia and Spain. Spanish examples eventually used Rolls-Royce Merlin engines and survived long enough to represent German fighters in the film Battle of Britain, giving the design a further public life beyond military service.[1]Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10National Museum of the United States Air Force · nationalmuseum.af.mil · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details[2]Messerschmitt Bf109G-2/TropRoyal Air Force Museum · rafmuseum.org.uk · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details