Planes of Fame Air Museum
 
Planes of Fame Air Museum
 
Home »  Collection »  Flying & Static Aircraft »  Messerschmitt Bf 109E-7 'Emil'

HISTORY

  • This aircraft was built by Arado Flugzeugwerke GmbH at Warnemunde, Germany in 1939 (construction number - Werk Nr. 3523), as a Bf 109E-1 and upgraded to an E-7 a year later. It entered service with the Luftwaffe on September 27, 1939 with military serial number CS+AJ.  In March 1942, it was delivered to the Eastern Front at Petsamo airfield, Finland by the German ace Arthur Mendl during WWII and assigned to the highly decorated German pilot Wulf-Dietrich Widowitz (36 victories) with the JG 5 wing. 
  • It flew as Red 6 with the Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5) Eismeer, a German Luftwaffe fighter wing that operated in Scandinavia, Norway, and Finland. This aircraft fought in the Battle of Britain and the Battle of France as well.
  • While on an escort mission on April 4, 1942, a Soviet Hurricane, piloted by Lt. Vladimir Pavlovich Pokrovski, shot down Lt. Widowitz in a dogfight with decisive hits to his engine. He was forced to make an emergency, belly-landing in this aircraft on a frozen lake near Murmansk, Russia. The Bf 109E-7 sank through the ice to the bottom and rested there undisturbed for 62 years. 
  • In 2003, this Messerschmitt Bf 109 was found in the lake & recovered by Jim Pearce. It was found mainly complete and in good condition as seen on display at Planes of Fame Air Museum. This Bf 109E-7 will be restored to flying condition.

 

DISTINCTION

  • The Planes of Fame's Bf 109E-7 is a WWII combat veteran, having been flown by aces of the Luftwaffe's Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5) fighter wing.

 

SPECIFICATIONS

Status: Restoring to Flight
Manufacturer: Messerschmitt AG
Year: 1939
Model: Bf 109E-7 Emil
Registration Number:
Serial Number: CS+AJ
Crew: 1
Max T/O Weight:  5,875 lbs lb.
Span: 32 ft. 4 in.
Length: 28 ft. 4 in.
Height: 8 ft. 2 in.
Maximum Speed: 348 mph
Cruise Speed: 233 mph
Rate of Climb: 3,510 ft/min
Power Plant: 1 x Daimler Benz 610N inline V-12 engine, direct fuel injection, 1,775 hp.
Range: 823 mi
Service Ceiling: 36,500 ft.
Armament: Two MG FF Cannon (60 rounds per gun) and two17.9mm MG Machine Guns (1,000 rounds per gun)

 

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