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Germany's Messerschmitt Bf. 109 E Fighter, "Emil"

Photos

Messerschmitt Bf 109 E fighter:
Germany's Messerschmitt Bf 109 E fighter

Messerschmitt Bf 109 E fighter:
Germany's Messerschmitt Bf 109 E fighter

Messerschmitt Bf 109 E fighter:
Germany's Messerschmitt Bf 109 E fighter
Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook

Messerschmitt Bf 109 E fighter:
Germany's Messerschmitt Bf 109 E fighter
Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook

Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3 fighter with the Japanese, allied code name "Mike":
Germany's Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3 fighter with the Japanese, allied code name

Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4 fighter:
Germany's Messerschmitt Bf 109 e-4 fighter

Design

Was the primary Luftwaffe fighter the first two years of the war.2 Production stopped in early 1942.2

The Bf 109E series had struts under the wings which were deleted in the Bf 109F series and on.3

Prototype

The prototype was designated the 109V10, had a carbureted DB 600Aa engine and first flew in June 1937.2 It was followed by the 109V14 and 109V15 that were flown in the middle of 1938.2 These had the fuel injected DB 601A engine.2

Production

  • Messerschmitt Bf 109 E: 4002

Variants

  • Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1: Had 4 machine guns.
  • Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3: Appeared in late 1939 had some with a canon firing through the propeller.2
  • Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4: Had 4 guns and a better 20mm cannon.2
  • Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-5, Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-6: Were reconnaissance fighters that had less armament.2
  • Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-7: Introduced a 300 liter drop tank.3
  • Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-7/Z: Had a nitrous oxide boost.2
  • Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-8: Had a DB 601E 2
  • Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-9: Was a reconnaissance fighter.2
  • Messerschmitt Bf 109 T: Was developed for the Graf Zeppelin aircraft carrier.2 Around 60 were built in 1941.2

 

  • Those that had a /B suffix (example 109E-1/B) were fighter bombers.2 The E-4/N and E-7 had a DB 601N engine.2
  • Those that had a /Trop suffix (example 109E-4/Trop) were tropical versions.2

Usage

Used by Bulgaria (19), Croatia, Germany, Romania (69), Slovakia (14), Spain (20), Switzerland (80), and Yugoslavia (73).2

Spain

Early models of the Bf 109E were shipped to Spain towards the end of 1938.3

Invasion of Poland

2/3s of the 1,000 Bf 109s in service at the time of the Polish invasion were Emils.2

France

France captured a Bf 109E, but it was lost in a collision with a Hawk 75A.3

Bf 109E-4 Pilot Escapes

Pilot Franz von Werra was the only German to escape a western Allied prison camp and get back to Germany.3

Specifications

  Messerschmitt Bf 109E
Type Fighter1,5, Fighter-bomber2
Crew 11,2
Engine (Type) Daimler-Benz DB 601A1,5
Daimler-Benz DB 601Aa2
OR Daimler-Benz DB 601E1
OR Daimler-Benz DB 601N1
Cylinders Inverted V-121,2
Cooling Liquid1,5
Net HP 1,1505, 1,1752, 1,3001
Propeller 3-blade2
Dimensions  
Span 32' 3"5, 32' 4.5"1,2
9.87 m1,2
Length 28'2, 28' 4"1, 28' 8"5
8.64 m1,2
Height 7' 5.5"1, 7' 6"5, 8' 2"2
2.28 m1, 2.49 m2
Wing area  
Weight  
Empty 4,189 lb - 4,421 lb1
Loaded 5,523 - 5,875 lb1, 5,600 lb5
2,505 - 2,665 kg1
Performance  
Speed 350 mph5
Climb 3,100 - 3,280'/minute1
3,100'/minute2
945 m/minute2
Service ceiling 34,450'1,2
10,500 m1,2
Range 365-460 miles1, 410 miles2, 560 miles5
660 km2
Armament Early: 4: Rheinmetall-Borsig MG 17 MGs1
Above engine 4: MG5
Later: 2: Rheinmetall-Borsig MG 17 MGs1
Rounds Later: 1,000 each1 OR 500 each
Wings 2: 20 mm5
Later: 2: MG FF1
Rounds 60 each1
Propeller hub Later: if 500 round MGs then 1: 20 mm MG FF1
Bombs Early 4 50 kg or 250 kg1
551 lb2
250 kg2
Quantity 1
  Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1
Type Fighter4
Crew 14
Engine (Type) Daimler Benz DB 601A4
Cylinders V-124
Cooling Liquid4
Net HP 1,0504
Propeller  
Dimensions  
Span 32' 4"4
Length 28' 5"4
Height 8' 2"4
Wing area  
Weight  
Empty  
Loaded 4,431 lb4
Performance  
Speed  
Speed @ 13,120' 342 mph4
Climb  
Service ceiling 34,450'4
Range 410 miles4
Armament 2: MGs4
4: MGs2
2: 20 mm4
  Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3
Type Fighter1,3
Crew 13
Engine (Type) Daimler-Benz DB 601A3
Cylinders Inverted V-123
Cooling Liquid3
Net HP 1,1753
Propeller  
Dimensions  
Span 32' 4"3
9.87 m3
Length 28' 4"3
8.64 m3
Height 8' 3"3
2.5 m3
Wing area 176 ft2 3
16.4 m2 3
Weight  
Empty 4,180 lb3, 4,189 lb2
1,900 kg2,3
Loaded 5,863 lb3, 5,875 lb2
2,665 kg2,3
Performance  
Speed @ sea level 290 mph2
466 kph2
Speed @ 14,560' / 4440 m 347 mph3, 348 mph2
560 kph2,3
Climb 3,300'/minute3
1,000 m/minute3
Service ceiling 34,400'3
10,500 m3
Range 410 miles3
660 km3
Armament 4: 7.9 mm MG 173
Above engine 2: 7.9 mm MG2
Wings 20 mm2
Propeller hub 20 mm (some models)2
20 mm MG FF3
  Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4
Type  
Crew  
Engine (Type) /N: Daimler-Benz DB 601N2
Cylinders  
Cooling  
Net HP /N: 1,2002
Propeller  
Dimensions  
Span  
Length  
Height  
Wing area  
Weight  
Empty  
Loaded  
Performance  
Speed  
Climb  
Service ceiling  
Range  
Armament  
Above engine 2: 7.9 mm MG2
Wings 20 mm2
  Messerschmitt Bf 109E-7
Type  
Crew  
Engine (Type) Daimler-Benz DB 601N2
Cylinders  
Cooling  
Net HP 1,2002
Propeller  
Dimensions  
Span  
Length  
Height  
Wing area  
Weight  
Empty  
Loaded  
Performance  
Speed  
Climb  
Service ceiling  
Range  
Armament  
  Messerschmitt Bf 109E-8
Type  
Crew  
Engine (Type) Daimler-Benz DB 601E2
Cylinders  
Cooling  
Net HP 1,3502
Propeller  
Dimensions  
Span  
Length  
Height  
Wing area  
Weight  
Empty  
Loaded  
Performance  
Speed  
Climb  
Service ceiling  
Range  
Armament  

Sources:

  1. The Illustrated Directory of Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Bill Gunston, 1998
  2. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
  3. Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
  4. World War II Airplanes Volume 1, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, 1976
  5. Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook, Ensign L. C. Guthman, 1943
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