About the Messerschmitt Bf109 E-3

Without a doubt, the Messerschmitt Bf109 can be claimed as the
most famous and successful German aircraft from the WW2. It was
the world's most advanced fighter at the time of its debut in
1936, and remained as the standard fighter for the Luftwaffe
throughout the conflict.

Created by the brilliant designer Willi Messerschmitt, it had the
smallest possible airframe built around the most powerful engine
available. It also boasted many of the then innovative features
such as an all metal stressed skin construction, retractable main
landing gear, automatic Handley-Page leading edge slats, etc.
The Bf109 saw first combat during the Spanish Civil War and fully
demonstrated its exceptional maneuverability, inherited from its
precedent Bf108 Taifun (Typhoon) multi-purpose sports plane. The
Bf109 underwent numerous improvement throughout its career, and
mass production of the E variant started late in 1939.

Within one year, about 2,000 "E" aircraft were rolled out. Its
excellent performance greatly contributed in the active service
of German pilots at the Western Front and during the "Battle of
Britain". The E-3 version used an improved Daimler-Benz DB601Aa
engine capable of 1,100 h.p. output. This engine had provision
for mounting a 20mm MG FF cannon on the crankcase and firing
through the propeller hub. The Messerschmitt Bf109E was one of
the best fighters of the early WW2 period, on a par with the
British Spitfire.