Saturday 6 January 2018

Messerschmitt Bf.109F - Various foreign users

The Messerschmitt Bf.109F, a very improved version of the Bf.109E, was used by various countries.

  • United Kingdom: On 20th May 1942, a Bf.109F-4 belonging to 10 (Jabo)/JG 26 was shot down by anti-air fire and had to force land in Beachy Head, in East Sussex. It was piloted by Uffz. Oswaldom Fischerom who was taken prisoner. The aircraft was took to Royal Aircraft Establishment Research Centre located in Farnborough to be tested. After several testings, it was assigned to the famous No.1426 Flight RAF, commonly known as "Rafwaffe" whose mission was to show enemy aircrafts' weaknesses in order to be easily exploited. When the war was already over, on 31st January 1945, as it wasn't needed no more, the aircraft was transported to the Enemy Aircraft Flight of the Central Flying School located in Tangmere, West Sussex. In November of that same year it was stored at the 47th Maintenance Unit at Sealand, in Wales.
  • Spain: After the Spanish Civil War was over, the Francoist Government, in order to pay the debts they had with Germany, opted to buy some German aircrafts, which, as the German government was reluctant to sell due to the course of the war, they were sold at high prices. The Francoist government bought in 1943 fifteen second hand Bf.109F-2 and F-4 at an average price of 202000 Reichmarks per unit, plus other types of aircrafts like Junkers Ju.88, Junkers Ju.52, Heinkel He.111 and a production license for the Bf.109G plus loads of other equipment. The Bf.109Fs were delivered at the French airfield of Villacoublay on 17th May 1943 and two days later were based on Reus Air Base, in Catalonia, being part of 23er Regimiento de Caza (23rd Fighter Regiment). They served until well passed the war, when, in 1952, the theoretical replacement started to be manufactured, the Hispano HA-1109 Buchón. 
  • Italy: On as late as 23rd May 1943 the Italian 150º Gruppo Autonomo (150th Independent Squadron) received three F-4 to be used as trainers. One of those three fighters was found by the Americans at the Sicilian town of Sciacca in July 1943 missing a wing. 
  • Romania: Apparently, the Royal Romanian Air Force bought some second hand Bf.109F that had belonged previously to the German Mission in Romania, DLM. They were few and served through the Romanian campaign in the USSR.
  • Switzerland: In 1944 together with some Bf.109Gs, some Bf.109Fs were adquired and some of them that had been interned were repaired and pushed into service with various Swiss squadrons. As from October 1943 to May 1945 aerial patrols had been resumed, they were used in various interception missions both against German and Allied aircrafts. 
  • USSR: A Bf.109F-4 was captured by the Red Army on 22nd February 1942 when Oblt. A. Niss, who was the commander of the 8./JG 51, was shot down close to Tushino airfield, close to Moscow. It was tested by the TsAGI and tested against simulated aerial combats against Yakovlev Yak-1 fighter and worked out for recommendations for VVS and PVO pilots. It was later given to the USA as gift of good will.
  • United States of America: A single Bf.109F-4 was presented to the USAAF as a gift of good will by the USSR in November 1942, after the American Secretary of State visited Moscow. It arrived at Eglin Air Force Base, in Florida on 21st March 1944, where it was extensively tested. Another undetermined number of Bf.109F-4/Trop were captured by the Allies, most probalby the British, as they were captured at Martuba airfield, in Libya, and were handed over to the USAAF which were tested.









Sources:
1. http://forum.valka.cz/topic/view/1014/Messerschmitt-Bf-109-F-4 (translated)
2. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historia_del_Ejército_del_Aire_de_España (translated) 
3. La Bancarella Aeronautica - Ali Straniere in Italia 1 - Messerschmitt Bf 109 Italiani. (translated)
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Bf_109_operational_history#Combat_service_with_Switzerland
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Swiss_Air_Force
6. http://silverhawkauthor.com/german-warplanes-of-the-second-world-war-preserved-luftwaffe-19391945-klemm-to-siebel_454.html
7. http://flyingart.twoday.net (translated) 

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