MESSERSCHMITT Bf 109 F, G, & K Series

During its ten years as the Luftwaffe’s standard fighter, the Stesserschmitt Bf 109 had to adapt to keep up with the rapid pace of technological developments, and the various operational demands which were placed upon it. The result was a multiplicity of variants, and few aircraft appeared in as many variations as did the Bf 109.

A significant number of publications have attempted to come to grips with this multiplicity. This new work stands out through its methodology, which has led to new, and different results. Supported by a large number of mostly until now unpublished photographs of the Bf 109, selected from more than 20,000, and detailed line drawings, this book offers a concise overview of the later versions of the Bf 109 based on the latest known information.

This presentation is based not just on well-known publications and handbooks, but on unknown material as well in particular the loss reports submitted by Luftwaffe units, as well as extensive factory and RLM records. It has been possible to gather details of more than 21,000 machines from these records, details which have enabled the authors to correct errors present in existing publications.

Jochen Prien and Peter Rodeike are renowned historians on the Bf 109 and Bf 190 and Fw 190, and the units that flew them. Jochen Prien is the author of unit histories of JG 53 and JG 77.