Messerschmitt Bf109E-4 Luftwaffe, I./JG 77 "Blitz", France, summer 1940

The first German mass produced 109 fighter was the Bf-109E that has been mistakenly referred
to as the Me-109. The Bf is the designator for the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) (Bavarian
Aircraft Works) that produced the original aircraft. In 1938 Messerschmitt took over BFW but
throughout WWII German handbooks and documents referred to the aircraft as the Bf-109. By the
end of 1939 the Bf-109E (Emil) had replaced all other 109 variants and equipped 13 Gruppens
with 40 aircraft each. The Bf-109 was the main single-engine aircraft until the Fw-190 came along.

JG 77 (Jagdgeschwader 77) took part in the Battle of Britain, Norway, North Africa, Italy, Greece,
Crete and the Eastern Front. In April 1940 JG 77 helped with the invasion of Norway, in May the
invasion of France. I./JG 77 remained in France to take part in the Battle of Britain while the other
Gruppens were sent elsewhere. During the summer of 1940 I./JG 77 aircraft wore lightning bolts
(Blitz or plural Blitzen) the length of the fuselage sides. In November 1940 I./JG 77 became Stab
IV./JG 51.

Specifications Bf-109E-4
Single-seat day fighter

Crew – 1

Dimensions
Wingspan – 32 ft 4.5 in
Length – 28 ft 8 in
Height – 11 ft 2 in

Performance
Powerplant – 1 X Daimler-Benz DB 601Aa  12  cylinder inverted-vee liquid cooled, 1,150 h.p. @
2,400 rpm on take-off
Propeller – VDM electrically-operated controllable-pitch fully-feathering 3-blade metal screw
Fuel – 88 Imp. Gallons in fuselage behind pilot and under his seat.
Speed
Maximum – 375 mph @ 12,300 ft
Cruising – 298 mph @ 62.5% power
Stall – 75 mph landing with flaps extended
Range – 412 miles @ 62.5% power @ 16,000 ft
Initial Climb Rate – 3,100 ft/min
Service ceiling – 36,000 ft

Weights
Empty – 4,440 lbs
Gross Loaded – 5,520 lbs

Armament
2 X 7.9 mm MG 17 MG, 1,000 rpg mounted on engine crankcase firing through propeller
2 X 20 mm MG FF cannons, 60 rpg mounted in wings