Original German WWII Messerschmitt Bf 109 Aircraft Data Plate for Landing Gear & Shock Absorber Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a German World War II fighter aircraft that was, along with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, the backbone of the Luftwaffe’s fighter force. As with all German Luftwaffe aircraft, many of the components were marked with detailed data plates, which often not only identified the part, but also who made it, the contract it was made under, as well as even settings and specifications for the item.

Here we have a data plate from a Messerschmitt Bf109, which is marked for an EC-Flugzeugbein (airplane leg), which we assume is part of the landing gear. The “EC” is a stylized type of logo, which could be a type of brand name. The plate measures 1 3/4″W x 3″H, and looks to be made of stamped and painted zinc. It gives the Flugzeugmuster (Airplane Pattern) clearly as BF109, and also gives the part numbers and other information. It specifies the max. Federweg (maximum travel) as 117mm, which would seem to be the tolerance for the leg.

Under this it gives information about Füllung (filling) and then indicates that it requires EC-Stoßdämpferöl (Shock Absorber Oil) 0.65l (liters). There is also the indication of grün (green), so apparently the oil color should be green. The practice of coloring specific oils and other fluids colors has a long history. Below this are some warnings about filling when stretched out.

The bottom of the plate indicates the maker or designer as Bauart Elektron-Co.m.b.H. of Stuttgart – Bad Cannstatt, and that it was Nachgebaut durch (recreated by) Steyr-Daimler-Puch A.G. of Steyr, the legendary Austrian arms company.

Definitely some great research potential here!

The Bf 109 first saw operational service in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War and was still in service at the end of World War II in 1945. It was one of the most advanced fighters when it first appeared, with an all-metal monocoque construction, a closed canopy, and retractable landing gear. It was powered by a liquid-cooled, inverted-V12 aero engine. It was called the Me 109 by Allied aircrew and some German aces, even though this was not the official German designation.

It was commonly called the Me 109 most often by Allied aircrew and even among the German aces themselves even though this was not the official German designation. The “Bf 109” designation was issued by the German ministry of aviation and represents the developing company Bayerische Flugzeugwerke and is a rather arbitrary figure.

It was designed by Willy Messerschmitt (hence Me 109) and Robert Lusser, who worked at Bayerische Flugzeugwerke, during the early to mid-1930s.

Originally conceived as an interceptor, later models were developed to fulfill multiple tasks, serving as bomber escort, fighter-bomber, day-, night-, all-weather fighter, ground-attack aircraft, and as reconnaissance aircraft. It was supplied to and operated by several states during World War II, and served with several countries for many years after the war. The Bf 109 was the most produced fighter aircraft in history, with a total of 33,984 airframes produced from 1936 up to April 1945.

The Bf 109 was flown by the three top-scoring German fighter aces of World War II, who claimed 928 victories among them while flying with Jagdgeschwader 52, mainly on the Eastern Front. The highest scoring fighter ace of all time, Erich Hartmann, flew the Bf 109 and was credited with 352 aerial victories. The aircraft was also flown by Hans-Joachim Marseille, the highest scoring German ace in the North African Campaign who achieved 158 aerial victories. It was also flown by several other aces from Germany’s allies, notably Finn Ilmari Juutilainen, the highest scoring non-German ace on the type, and pilots from Italy, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria and Hungary. Through constant development, the Bf 109 remained competitive with the latest Allied fighter aircraft until the end of the war.

Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3) “Udet” was a Luftwaffe fighter wing of World War II. The Geschwader operated on all the German fronts in the European Theatre of World War II. It was named after Ernst Udet, an important figure in the development of the Luftwaffe, in 1942.[a]