Messerschmitt Bf 109F – I./JG 27, Eduard Neumann, Luftwaffe, Libya 1941

Gemini Aces GALFT3003: Messerschmitt Bf 109F of I./JG 27, Eduard Neumann, Luftwaffe, Martuba, Libya, December 1941. Limited Edition of 2000 Pieces. Box is not totally perfect but model is new. Gemini make the only 1/72 scale diecast model of the F variant of the Bf109, so this is highly sought after and hard to find.

Length 5 inches Wingspan 5.5 inches

The Luftwaffe had never intended to operate in North Africa, however the largely ineffective Regia Aeronautica led to the deployment of large numbers of German Aircraft. The desert proved to be the perfect arena for aerial combat and the beautiful Bf 109 ‘Friedrich’ excelled in these harsh conditions and quickly became the scourge of Allied airmen. This aircraft is presented in the standard Luftwaffe finish for the Western Desert. Neumann rose to command JG27 and survived the war, with 13 aerial combat victories to his name.

When thinking of the Luftwaffe in WWII, it is the Messerschmitt Bf 109 that immediately springs to mind. This was the most widely used of all the German fighters and was produced in huge numbers, initially serving during the Spanish Civil War. The Bf 109F (Friedrich) was the most handsome variant of this famous fighter, whilst remaining a lethal fighting machine. It displayed much sleeker lines than the more angular “Emil” and enjoyed huge success in the deserts of North Africa and the Russian Steppe. Flown by many of the world’s highest scoring Air “Aces’, the Me 109F concentrated its awesome firepower through the nose of the aircraft. This feature allowed many novice pilots to gain aerial victories and valuable combat experience, early in their careers.

Designed to meet a Luftwaffe need for a single-seat fighter/interceptor, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 was first flown on May 28th, 1935. Its all-metal construction, closed canopy and retractable gear made the Bf 109 one of the first true modern fighters of WWII. This versatile aircraft served in many roles and was the most produced aircraft of the war and the backbone of the Luftwaffe, and was flown by Germany’s top three aces, who claimed a total of 928 victories between them. Armed with two cannons and two machine guns, the Bf 109’s design underwent constant revisions, which allowed it to remain competitive until the end of the war.