Messerschmitt Bf 109E-7 'Emil' | Planes of Fame Air Museum

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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.

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