World War II AircraftThe Bf 109 E-series was the main variant of Willi Messerschmitt's famous fighter in service during the early months of the war and during the Battle of Britain. Its Daimler-Benz DB601A engine made it arguably the fastest fighter in service in the world during that period; and its armament of two synchronised 7.92mm MG17 machine guns above the engine and single 20mm MG-FF cannon in each wing was deadly. Fortunately for the RAF; the tactic of using it for close bomber escort combined with its short range to make it less effective over Britain than it could have been; its radius of action from its forward French bases being limited to ten minutes' combat over London or less. Failure of the Bf 110 to fulfil its escort role threw the task onto the single-seat Bf 109 which was better suited to air-superiority 'free hunts'; and the limited number of serviceable 109s available in turn limited the cover that could be given to the bombers. The aircraft illustrated is an early E-3 of the 9th Staffel of JG26 'Schlageter'; the premier Luftwaffe fighter unit on the French coast which would continue in that role on a defensive basis into 1941. It was shot down over Kent in 1940; made a reasonable forced landing and was subsequently exhibited in London to encourage donations to build Spitfires. The red 'Hollenhund' ('Hellhound') on the fuselage is the early version of the Staffel marking.Illustration (Tim Brown); 2019.