The Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-7: The "Emil" in the Battle of Britain
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 stands as one of the most significant fighter aircraft of the Second World War, serving as the backbone of the Luftwaffe's fighter force. Designed by Willy Messerschmitt for Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) in the mid-1930s, the Bf 109 was a highly advanced, sleek monoplane that outperformed many of its contemporaries. During the pivotal Battle of Britain in the summer and autumn of 1940, the Bf 109E, affectionately known as the "Emil," was the principal single-engine fighter deployed by the Luftwaffe against the Royal Air Force's Hawker Hurricanes and Supermarine Spitfires.
While the Bf 109E was a formidable adversary—boasting excellent speed, climb rate, and heavy armament—it suffered from a critical strategic flaw during the Battle of Britain: its limited operational range. Conceived primarily as a short-range interceptor, the early Emil variants had a range of approximately 660 kilometers (410 miles). This restricted the aircraft to roughly 30 minutes of combat time over southern England, particularly when escorting German bomber formations to targets like London. This severe limitation forced Luftwaffe pilots to frequently break off engagements prematurely to ensure they had enough fuel to return across the English Channel.
To address this glaring vulnerability, Messerschmitt developed the Bf 109 E-7 variant, which entered service and saw combat toward the end of August 1940. The E-7 was the first Bf 109 subtype specifically designed to carry a 300-liter (80 US gallon) drop tank mounted on a centerline rack beneath the fuselage. This crucial modification effectively doubled the aircraft's range to 1,325 kilometers (820 miles), allowing for significantly longer escort missions and extended combat endurance over British airspace. Alternatively, the centerline rack could be fitted with a bomb, enabling the E-7 to operate as a Jabo (Jagdbomber, or fighter-bomber) for precision strikes.
Powered by the robust Daimler-Benz DB 601 engine—with late-production E-7/N models receiving the improved 1,175 PS DB 601N for better high-altitude performance—the E-7 variant represented the pinnacle of the Emil series. Although its introduction came late in the Battle of Britain, the E-7's extended range and versatility provided the Luftwaffe with a much-needed tactical improvement. Ultimately, 438 E-7s were built, and the drop tank capability proved so vital that previous Emil subtypes were retrofitted with the necessary plumbing starting in October 1940.
Ron Cole has depicted this 109 E-7 of 1.(Jagd)/LG 2, flown by Uffz. Werner Goetting on September 7, 1940, when he was shot down by Sgt. Bohumir Furst of 310 Squadron who was at the controls of his Hawker Hurricane Mk.I. Goetting bailed out and his aircraft crashed near Little Stour River, Wickhambreux, Kent at 17:35 hours and he was taken prisoner.
