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The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a German World War II fighter aircraft that entered service with the Luftwaffe in 1937. Designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser and produced by Messerschmitt AG, the Bf 109 became one of the most produced fighter aircraft in history, with roughly 33,000 built across multiple variants. The designation Bf 109 reflects the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke origin, though early designs and export versions sometimes used the Me 109 marking after corporate reorganizations. The aircraft saw service on all German fronts throughout the war.

Technically, the Bf 109 was a single-seat, low-wing, all-metal monoplane powered by an inverted V-12 engine—primarily the Daimler-Benz DB 601 or DB 605. It featured an enclosed cockpit, retractable landing gear, and a variable-pitch propeller. Armament varied by variant, commonly including two 7.92 mm machine guns and one or more 20 mm or 30 mm cannons, with later models capable of carrying underwing stores or rockets. Variants designated E, F, G, and K emphasized different balances of speed, altitude capability, and firepower.

Operationally, the Bf 109 served throughout the war in interceptor and fighter roles, facing Allied fighters such as the Supermarine Spitfire and the North American P-51 Mustang. It remained in service with several nations after the war, with licensed or derivative versions produced in other countries, notably the Czech Avia S-199. The Bf 109’s combination of performance, handling, and production scale left a lasting impression on military aviation history.