About Aircraft

Following "Adlertag" ("Eagle's Day", August 13th, 1940) during the "Battle of Britain", it became evident that German escort fighter planes were unable to protect German bombers sufficiently. Due to the design of the Messerschmitt Me 109 airframe these were unsuited for long range escort missions. Being stationed at airfields in Nothern France didn't help to compensate for the lack of range.

 

Utilising drop tanks brought some improvement but was countered by loss of performance. Messerschmit engineers therefore went with the radical idea to install a second wing which would be used for exrta fuel.

 

By using a standard E-4 airframe, the Me 109 E-4/dd was conceived, of which only one unit was built. The additional upper wing was made up of two 109 E wings joined by a new center section, which increased total span slightly. This upper wing was to be used during the flight to the the target only and was to be jettisoned when the English Channel was reached. So, overall operating time over the southern British Isle was calculated to be extended from 15-  to  45 minutes.During first flight trials, it became apparent that the struts for the attachment of the upper wing were too weak (later strengthened).  During the following crash the pilot was killed, since the jettisoning of the upper wing proved to be quite dangerous. Therefore further test were cancelled and Luftwaffe reverted back to using drop tanks.

Pilot & Markings

"What if" "Battle of Britain"  JG 27, II Gruppe, France, 1940

1/72 Airfix Kit •
Scratch build  conversion, details and antenna. Painted and weathered by airbrush and oil colours