Great documentary about the Battle of Britain

[Rattlehead]

Originally Posted by 617Squadron

The ME 109

Sorry to be a pendantic pain in the rear, but the 'Me' designation is a misnomer. It was always called the Bf 109.

[Al Schlageter]

Originally Posted by Rattlehead

Sorry to be a pendantic pain in the rear, but the 'Me' designation is a misnomer. It was always called the Bf 109.

Is that so. Then why do I have a factory drawing for the 109 wing that is titled 'Flugel Me109F, Me109K' and another factory drawing that is titled 'Flugel Me109F, Me109G'?

[Rattlehead]

Originally Posted by Al Schlageter

Is that so. Then why do I have a factory drawing for the 109 wing that is titled 'Flugel Me109F, Me109K' and another factory drawing that is titled 'Flugel Me109F, Me109G'?

It seems the 'me' designation is acceptable after all. I just did a fair bit of research and it seems either the 'bf' or 'me' designation is acceptable.

[617Squadron]

Originally Posted by Rattlehead

It seems the 'me' designation is acceptable after all. I just did a fair bit of research and it seems either the 'bf' or 'me' designation is acceptable.

Me is shorthand for Messerschmitt as Do is to Dornier, Ju to Junkers, FW to Focke-Wulf and BV to Blohm & Voss, etc. They were (and still are) valid shorthand for the German manufacturer's names.

The Bf in the Bf109 comes from the "Bayerische Flugzeugwerke" before the name was changed to Messerschmitt. In some cases the Bf was simply maintained as it was used in the early stages as far as I know. So both designations are correct.