Messerschmitt Bf-109B 1
by
Ron Cole Photos via Russian Federation Archives c. 1939
by
Ron Cole Photos via Russian Federation Archives c. 1939
The Messerschmitt Bf-109B 1 was powered by a Jumo 210D engine. This engine gave 720 hp at take off, and 650 hp in continuous flight, giving the B 1 a maximum speed of 470kph/ 292 mph at
13,120 feet. It had a wooden fixed pitch propeller, and was armed with two 7.9 mm MG 17 machine guns, located over the engine cowling. These guns had to be manually cocked by the pilot between
bursts of firing. Just under thirty B 1s were made, before production switched the B 2 variant.
Production model Bf-109B1s were sent to fight in the Legion Condor during the Spanish Civil War. The first three arrived on 14 March 1937, and were allocated to 2.J/88. The Bf-109B scored its first
combat victory in 6 April 1937, when Oblt. Günther Lützow shot down a Russian-built I-15 'Rata' fighter.
13,120 feet. It had a wooden fixed pitch propeller, and was armed with two 7.9 mm MG 17 machine guns, located over the engine cowling. These guns had to be manually cocked by the pilot between
bursts of firing. Just under thirty B 1s were made, before production switched the B 2 variant.
Production model Bf-109B1s were sent to fight in the Legion Condor during the Spanish Civil War. The first three arrived on 14 March 1937, and were allocated to 2.J/88. The Bf-109B scored its first
combat victory in 6 April 1937, when Oblt. Günther Lützow shot down a Russian-built I-15 'Rata' fighter.
Due to extremely limited production, the 109B-1 was a rare airplane even in 1937. Yet the Soviet Union got its hands on
a complete and flyable example from the Legion Condor for evaluation (above).
For those intent to study a long extinct and distinctive 109 variant, the Russians never throw anything away - and the
excellent photographs that were taken in 1939 survived in their archives for all these years.
a complete and flyable example from the Legion Condor for evaluation (above).
For those intent to study a long extinct and distinctive 109 variant, the Russians never throw anything away - and the
excellent photographs that were taken in 1939 survived in their archives for all these years.
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