Generally the latter would already have quite a head start, and the additional better diving speed of the Messerschmitt Bf 109 would make it impossible to catch up. When it came to maximum speed at level flight there was little to choose between either model: Spitfire (365 mph, 587 km/h), Me 109 E-1 (354 mph, 570 km/h). Despite the pressures for ever-increasing production, the Bf 109 went through a long series of modifications, the last production version being the Bf 109K. The Supermarine Spitfire was a very serious rival to the German Messerschmitt Bf 109, abbreviated Me 109, and it developed during the Battle of Britain in 1940 into a very worthy opponent, although one with different flying qualities. The stories of these two aircraft are not just about technology and performance but about the people whose lives were touched by them. Bf 109 vs Spitfire. Subsequent versions carried much more fuel, increasing range to a respectable 2,000 miles. The prototype flew in 1935 as a rather angular, low-wing monoplane with a fully enclosed cockpit and narrow-track landing gear. As a fighter, the diminutive craft flew fast and maneuvered well, features that helped secure German air superiority at the start of World War II. Erst die spätere sogenannte Erla-Haube verbesserte die Sichtmöglichkeiten. The ability of the Spitfire’s airframe to accept progressively more powerful engines was a major factor in its continued success. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. It served in every theater during World War II and fought with distinction during the defense of Malta. Its superiority in the speed of climb in respect of the Spitfire, however, diminished more and more at altitudes of 20,000 feet and above. One of the most important trump cards of the German Messerschmitt Bf 109 E fighter compared to the British fighter aircraft of the years 1939-1940, the Hawker Hurricane Mark I and the Supermarine Spitfire Mark I and Mark II , was the former’s very powerful 1175 bhp (876 kW) Daimler-Benz-DB-601Aa V-12 injection engine. The slight difference at level flight was of scarcely any significance, but when climbing—at least at altitudes below 20,000 feet—and diving, an Me 109 pilot would be likely to leave any Supermarine Spitfire struggling in its wake. Twisting in my seat; my companions can’t have heard my order – I’m alone. Messerschmitt Bf 109: Pt. The Spitfire turns as tightly to the left as possible which is more tightly, than the German Me 109 is able to do. Churchill's words, 'never was so much owed by so many to so few', came to encapsulate how, in a few critical months, the entire fate of the British Empire, if not the war, hung in the balance, to be determined by a handful of pilots fighting tirelessly in the skies over Britain. Create New Topic. I'm probably mostly thinking about the Battle of Britain. Spitfire vs … At least 22,759 Spitfire and Spitfire variants (photo-reconnaissance aircraft and naval fighters) were built between March 1936 and March 1949 in 54 major marks (not counting variants in engine fit and prototypes). Post was not sent - check your email addresses! 3 Messerschmitt obtained 301 mph at sea level and 348 mph at 16,240 feet with ME 109 E-1 Wk.Nr. A truly remarkable machine.“ Note: according to the British test pilot Captain Eric Brown the P-51 B Mustang “had no difficulty in out-turning the Messerschmitt” Bf 109 G-6. In contrast the Spitfire and the Messerschmitt fighter were in this respect almost evenly matched and, therefore, during the war the Spitfire was to develop into its arch rival. It is the same problem again only this time more perilous for the German pilot. Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 Model G. The model F was followed in 1942 by the model G. After the attack they would immediately dive away only to pull out of the half loop and initiate a further attack. In summary, thus the German Messerschmitt Bf 109 E was faster in the climb and the dive compared to both the British Spitfire Mk. The Mk.II was fitted with a 1,140-bhp Merlin XII. SPITFIRE Vs 109. The final Bf 109’s begin in game with the Bf 109 G-6 and G-14 at rank IV and conclude with the G-10 and K-4. Bf 109G vs. Spitfire IX tough competition, Spitfire more maneuverable. Tactical comparisons with a captured Messerschmitt Bf 109E showed that the Spitfire had a much better turning circle, was generally more manoeuvrable (particularly at high speed), and that the Bf 109 had a slightly better climb below 20,000 feet and was able to accelerate faster in a dive. 5:49. = disengage where advantage of surprise lost Browse more videos. Similar to the case of the Hurricane the Spitfire was superior to the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter in a dogfight, since it had considerably better turning ability than its German arch rival. Willy Messerschmitt began developing his benchmark fighter in 1933 once the Luftwaffe desired to substitute its Arado Ar 68 and Heinkel He 51 biplanes. Consequently the British pilots would be reduced from a group that had strength in numbers to isolated, individual fighters. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Spitfire vs. Messerschmitt Bf 109. This engine had a specific, decisive advantage in relation to its British counterpart, the Rolls Royce Merlin II V-12 engine, which was installed in both the Spitfire as well as the Hurricane: its fuel injection. I am David Isby. Spitfire Vs Me109. Available now from Amazon . Bf 109K vs Spit XIV better high altitudes performance of the Bf, Spitfire better maneuverability and versatility in the fighter/bomber setup. The Destruction of Army Group Center, 1944. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. In such a case it would come down to individual flying expertise and in 1940 this was still in plentiful supply. It was armed with eight 0.303-inch Browning machine guns and played an important part in the Battle of Britain. Poll Choice: Votes: Poll Statistics: Messerschmitt Bf 109: 4 [33.33%] Supermarine Spitfire: 8 [66.67%] You can not vote in this poll: Author: Message Topic Search Topic Options. In fact it suffered no more accidents on landing or take of than any other contemporary airframe. The significance of this was that a Messerschmitt Bf 109 E fighter aircraft would be able to switch seamlessly from level flight to an immediate steep dive without creating any difficulties for the engine, since an uninterrupted fuel supply would be guaranteed by means of the injection pump. ( Log Out / The cockpit was cramped, with visibility limited by the heavy frames of the canopy. RANGECombat ranges were comparable. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Let's compare their individual stats. But is any of the airplanes better than the other? At cruising speeds, the Bf 109 was generally considered delightful to fly, but its controls became very heavy as speed increased. Ronnie Isom. Its only real fault was a relative lack of range on internal fuel (approximately 490 miles for a Mk.1, 660 miles for a Mk.VIII/IX with fuselage tank). Nevertheless, in the hands of a capable pilot it remained a dangerous weapon until the end of the war. fighter planes. Landing characteristics were also challenging, but a skilled pilot could land in a relatively short distance, using heavy braking once the tailwheel was firmly planted on the ground. The Supermarine Spitfire was a very serious rival to the German Messerschmitt Bf 109, abbreviated Me 109, and it developed during the Battle of Britain in 1940 into a very worthy opponent, although one with different flying qualities. Learn how your comment data is processed. An amazing performance of the warbirds. 1774 operating at 1.33 ata as recorded in Meßprotokoll vom 26.4.38. In the early months of the war, it reigned supreme over the battlefield until it met its match in the Supermarine Spitfire. Post Reply. The inflexible British formation with its section of three aircraft—the vic—was tailor-made for this kind of German attack strategy since a measured counter manoeuvre by the British was almost impossible. The Mk.II was fitted with a 1,140-bhp Merlin XII. The Bf-109 was a difficult plane on the ground and was renowned for being a killer of novices because of it's narrow track under carriage both on take off and landing. In der Spitfire saß er etwas weiter hinten über dem Flügel als in der Bf 109. Once he had successfully completed this manoeuvre the British pilot’s first task would be to try and ascertain where his German opponent might be. 334 158 used by Oblt. Photo-reconnaissance Spitfires were stripped of nonessential equipment and received a highly polished paint finish. Enemy fighters every-where. The Bf 109 first saw operational service in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War and was still in service at the dawn of the jet age at the end of World War II in 1945. MESSERSCHMITT BF-109. Der starke Haubenrahmen der Messerschmitt war in dieser Hinsicht nachteilig. I, A and B and the Bf 109 E3 and E4 in particular. Two race low overliead; four more on my right. From November 1940, all Spitfires were retrofitted with metal ailerons that increased the roll rate at high speed. Instead of diving, which would be the correct action, the German pilot turns to the left. I. Ernst-Georg Altnorthoff, at Achmer after suffering damage during the 21 March 1945 air raid. The most famous fighter of the German Luftwaffe, produced in greater numbers (in excess of 30,000) than any other fighter aircraft. As the war progressed and new Allied fighters such as the Soviet Yak-3 and U.S. North American P-51 were introduced, it became increasingly difficult for the Bf 109 to compete on equal terms. 0 0. If you're asking about the Battle of Britain, you are talking about the Spitfire Mk. Playing next. Tactical comparisons with a captured Messerschmitt Bf 109E showed that the Spitfire had a much better turning circle, was generally more manoeuvrable (particularly at high speed), and that the Bf 109 had a slightly better climb below 20,000 feet and was able to accelerate faster in a dive. The Bf109F also spearheaded the German invasion of the Soviet Union. This would later change since the British would of course examine German fighter aircraft that had made emergency landings, and evaluate the findings for development purposes. They carried two F.24 cameras and were 10–15 mph faster than standard Spitfires. Change ). The only option available then to the British pilot would be to half roll the aircraft onto its back, and pull it downwards, rolling upright again once he had reached his desired dive angle. The Rolls Royce Merlin was a powerful 1,030 bhp (768 kW) carburetted engine, the float chambers of which were liable momentarily to interrupt the fuel supply when the aircraft was subject to negative G-force, thereby causing the engine to misfire. Spitfire vs Bf 109 and F-14 vs Su-27: the difference is always the pilot. Battle of Britain Tribute / Spitfire & Messerschmitt Bf 109 - RIAT 2015, RAF Fairford. Example: The British Supermarine Spitfire and the German Messerschmitt Bf 109 shaped the course of the Second World War. If a Spitfire pilot were to attempt to perform the same manoeuvre, the negative centrifugal force would cause fuel starvation of the engine. Versions of the Bf 109 were produced in Czechoslovakia and Spain, and it fought again in the 1948 Israeli War of Independence. 0 0. okon. I have written THE DECISIVE DUEL as a “dual biography” of the British Supermarine Spitfire and German Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter aircraft of the Second World War. A German Me 109 E is in pursuit of a British Spitfire Mk. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account.
S/L D. I. Benham, Combat Report, 23 January, 1945. In 1940, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Supermarine Spitfire were similar fighters in terms of range, max speed, climb rate, service ceiling and weight [1] . The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a German World War II fighter aircraft that was, along with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, the backbone of the Luftwaffe's fighter force. Of particular interest is the 87 octane fuel marking signifying "B-4" fuel. By 1939 the first production model, the Bf 109E, was introduced, featuring a bigger engine and heavier armament. The Jumo-powered Bf 109B, armed with four 7.92-mm (0.3-inch) machine guns, entered service in 1937 and was immediately tested in combat in the Spanish Civil War. Zu den wichtigen Kriterien eines Jägers gehören die Sichtverhältnisse für den Piloten. From the beginning to the end, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 was ever willing and able. The Suomen Ilmavoimat (Finnish Air Force). The quality of the training of German pilots including the new generation, was excellent. Nice article, but the landing gear “myth” of the 109 has been busted so many times. The Spitfire was designed by Reginald Mitchell of The Supermarine Aviation Works and is arguably the most elegant but deadly aircraft of World War 2. ( Log Out / Im Geg… If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Source(s): https://shrinke.im/a8y52. The Spitfire modifications started with the Mk I and followed by Mk V, Mk IXC, Mk IX, Mk XII, and Mk XIV,. The most notorious aspect of the Bf 109 was its appalling takeoff characteristics. At level flight the Me 109 with its maximum speed of 354 mph was more than a match for the slower Hurricane with 324 mph. 4 years ago. Power System - Rubber Free Flight; Wingspan - 18" (460mm) Approximate AUW - 25g; Difficulty - Beginner; SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE - THE ONE AND ONLY. Simply put, Bf 109s annihilated all their outdated opposition until encountering Supermarine Spitfires during the 1940 Battle of Britain. Consequently that was why the British fighters had twice as many weapons on board as the German Me 109, although in the case of the almost exclusively installed A-wing model, these were without exception only ever machine guns, Detailed images of aircraft, maps and scenarios, Technical data of all notable types of aircraft. Although speedier than its British opponent, Bf 109Es turned somewhat slower and never achieved superiority. Christa. Supermarine Spitfire versus Messerschmitt Bf 109: Airplane: Supermarine Spitfire: Messerschmitt Bf 109: Country: United Kingdom: Germany: Type of aircraft Created by Willy Messerschmitt and his chief engineer, Walter Rethel, the Bf 109 was the world’s most advanced fighter at the time of its first flight in September 1935. Source(s): https://shrinks.im/a01Qe. II and Hurricane Mk. While the Bf 109 began with original design followed with Bf 109E, Bf 109 K-4, Bf 109 K, Bf 109 F/G and Bf 109 G-6/R6. The Spitfire first flew in March 1936. The Germans would attempt to avoid being drawn into a dogfight, but would instead choose the surprise attack from above with the sun behind them, in order to blind their opponent. ( Log Out / Probably the most successful British fighter of World War II; placed in front-line service throughout the war. Their rivalry started when they were designed at the same time in the mid-1930s. A development of the very successful four-place touring Bf 108, the Bf 109 featured retractable landing gear, an enclosed cockpit, all-metal stressed-skin construction, heavy armament for the time, slotted trailing-edge flaps, and automatic Handley Page leading-edge slots. Messerschmitt Bf 109 vs. Supermarine Spitfire: Post Reply : Page < 1 2: Poll Question: Which was the superior aircraft? The Mk.V was comparable to the Messerschmitt Bf 109F2, but it was severely disadvantaged by the Focke-Wulf Fw 190A, which outclassed the Spitfire V in every department except turning circle. However the Spitfire turns more tightly, and is able to fire the bullets from its complement of eight machine guns ahead of the German Me 109 fighter and into its flight path, greeting the pilot with a hail of bullets. This second volume continues on from part one, beginning with the Bf 109F, probably the best version of the fighter, and taking the story to …
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