Dates

Event

September 1940

Constructed as a Bf-109E-4 by Erla Maschinenwerk at Leipzig.

Taken on Strength/Charge with the Luftwaffe with s/n GH+DX.

Transferred to 2./JG51.
Operated with markings: black 12

4 September 1940

Ferry flight.
Flown from Leipzig-Mockau to Jena-Rotzen.

5 September 1940

Flown from Koln-Ostheim to Pihen.

Converted to a Bf-109E-4/B.
Subsequently modified in the field as a Fighter-Bomber to carry a 250kg (551 lb) bomb, and served briefly with 6/JG52.

Markings Applied: yelow 8

Transferred to 2/JG51, Wissant.

27 November 1940

Crashed.
Forced landing with gear up at Manston, Kent. Shot down by a Spitfire from No 66 Squadron.

14 December 1940

Transported by ground. Delivered to RAF Hucknall.
Sent to Hucknall for repair and flight testing / evaulation.

Made airworthy using components from a number of downed Bf-109s. The tail came from werke-number 6313. The top cowling came from 1653. The rear top cowling came from 4010. The starboard wing came from 1418. The port wing was built by Fiesler, but no identification was found. The propeller was replaced and a RAF oxygen system was installed.

Taken on Strength/Charge with the Royal Air Force with s/n DG200.

21 January 1941

Transferred to DGRD, RAF Hucknall.

25 February 1941

First flight.
First post-rebuild flight.

25 February 1941

Taken on Strength/Charge with the Royal Air Force with s/n DG200.

8 February 1942

Transferred to de Havilland, Hatfield.
Sent to Hatfield for testing of the variable pitch propeller installation.

From Circa February 1942 to 2001

To A and AEE, Boscombe Down.

Repaired.

24 March 1942

Transferred to No 1426 Enemy Aircraft Flight, Duxford.
An attempt was made at a ferry flight from Boscombe Down to Duxford but returned to Boscombe Down with a hydraulic failure.

28 April 1942

Transported by ground.
Moved from Boscombe Down to Duxford. Flown extensively by No 1426 as a demonstrator in familiarisation exercises.

Circa 1942

Engine changed out with one from Bf-110C-5 RAF AX772.

12 April 1943

Transferred to No 1426 Enemy Aircraft Flight, RAF Collyweston.

Circa September 1943

Assigned to No 16 MU, Stafford for storage.

Transferred to Air Historical Branch.

Circa August 1944

Assigned to Air Historical Branch, No 52 MU, Cardiff for storage.

Circa 1947

Assigned to Air Historical Branch, German Air Force Equipment Centre, RAF Stanmore for storage.

1955

Assigned to Air Historical Branch, No 15 MU, Wroughton, Wilts for storage.

Circa 1958

Transferred to Air Historical Branch, RAF Fulbeck, Lincs.

1960

To Air Historical Branch, RAF Biggin Hill.
Assembled for display.

12 August 1969

Transported by air. Delivered to Air Historical Branch, RAF Chivenor.
Dismantled and moved from Biggin Hill to RAF Chivenor for display.

September 1969

Transported by ground. Delivered to Air Historical Branch, RAF Saint Athan, South Wales.
Moved from Chivenor to RAF Saint Athan, South Wales for display.

From 1970 to 1971

Markings Applied: black 12
Refurbished while at Saint Athan.

16 February 1976

New serial number assigned: 8477M RAF

From 20 May 1978 to 2001

Displayed at Biggin Hill.

20 May 1978

Photographer: Peter Nicholson
Notes: Bf-109E of the RAF Museum known as Black 12 on display at the 1978 Biggin Hill Air Fair.

20 May 1978

Photographer: Peter Nicholson
Notes: Another view of the Bf-109E of the RAF Museum known as Black 12 on display at the 1978 Biggin Hill Air Fair.

May 1978

Loaned to RAF Museum, Hendon.

29 May 1983

Photographer: Peter Nicholson
Notes: Bf-109E of the RAF Museum known as Black 12 as displayed there in the Summer of 1983.

To Ministry of Defense.
Officially transferred to the MoD, but remained on display at Hendon.

3 August 1998

To RAF Museum, Grahame Park Way, Hendon, London, England.
Formally donated to the RAF Museum by the MoD.
View the Location Dossier

11 December 2011

Photographer: Terry Fletcher
Notes: Messerschmitt BF109 E-3 is part of the Battle of Britain Aircraft Collection at the RAF Hendon Museum