Messerschmitt Bf109E-4/B – Gruppenstab III/SKG 201 Wespen Geschwader, Luftwaffe, Eastern Front 1941 DISPLAYED

Corgi Aviation 1/72 scale AA32101: Messerschmitt Bf109E-4/B, S9+D of Gruppenstab III/SKG 210 Wespen Geschwader, Luftwaffe, Eastern Front, Autumn 1941. Limited edition of 4,100 models.

Length 5 inches? Wingspan 5.25 inches

PLEASE NOTE: This is an imperfect ex display model. Comes with raised and lowered undercarriage plus display stand in original box. Non standard aerial fitted. Paintwork has the odd imperfection which has been touched in but not in A1 condition. Photos of actual model.

This version of the classic Messerschmitt Bf109 ‘Emile’ is an E-4/B – a fighter-bomber version. This example served with the Gruppenstab III/SKG 201 known as the Wespen Geshwader as all the unit’s fighters and fighter-bombers sported large wasps on their noses. The code ‘S9 + CD’ plus yellow band on the fuselage distinguish this as an aricraft during the Autumn of 1941 on the Eastern Front (Russia).

The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s. It was one of the first true modern fighters of the era, including such features as all-metal monocoque construction, a closed canopy, a retractable landing gear, and was powered by a liquid-cooled, inverted-V12 aero engine.

The Bf 109 first saw operational service during the Spanish Civil War and was still in service at the dawn of the jet age at the end of World War II, during which time it was the backbone of the Luftwaffe’s fighter force. From the end of 1941 the Bf 109 was supplemented by the Focke-Wulf Fw 190.

Originally conceived as an interceptor, later models were developed to fulfill multiple tasks, serving as bomber escort, fighter-bomber, day-fighter, night-fighter, all-weather fighter, ground-attack aircraft, and as reconnaissance aircraft. It was supplied to and operated by several states during World War II, and served with several countries for many years after the war. The Bf 109 was the most produced fighter aircraft in history, with a total of 33,984 units produced from 1936 up to April 1945.

The Bf 109 was flown by the three top-scoring German fighter aces of World War II, who claimed 928 victories among them while flying with Jagdgeschwader 52, mainly on the Eastern Front, as well as by Hans-Joachim Marseille, the highest scoring German ace in the North African Campaign. It was also flown by several other successful aces from Germany’s allies, notably Finland, including the highest scoring non-German ace Ilmari Juutilainen, and pilots from Romania, Croatia and Hungary. Through constant development, the Bf 109 remained competitive with the latest Allied fighter aircraft until the end of the war.