Its first engagement against the Messerschmitt Bf 109 occurred eleven days later on the 23rd May 1940 when Nos. 54 and 74 Squadron engaged Bf 109Es of I./JG 27. As the Battle of Britain (10th July 1940

September 1939 the first MS.406 was lost in action when a Messerschmitt Bf 109 of I./JG 53 shot down a 1/3 Groupe de Chasse aircraft. Over the next few months further combats took place between the Luftwaffe

However after being bounced by Messerschmitt Bf 109s they lost six of the nine aircraft, with the loss of ten aircrew killed, this would be the only Defiant day fighter sortie performed by the squadron.

Groupe de Chasse II/4 engaged in combat with four Messerschmitt Bf 109s, shooting two down. Coming up against the Bf 109, and despite being slower, the Hawk 75 proved a formidable foe and was able to

when four Messerschmitt Bf 109s were shot down. By the time production had ended over 7,500 Wildcats had been built. General Motors would build a number of these designated as FM-1 Wildcat and FM-2

including the Messerschmitt Bf 109, when the Axis forces invaded the country on the 6th April 1941. In total 317 were built and the Fury would also provide the basis for the Hawker Hurricane. Technical

for a modern fighter aircraft to serve alongside the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Head of design at Focke-Wulf, Kurt Tank, produced two proposals for consideration. One would see the new fighter powered by the

which led to Fieseler, Focke-Wulf, Messerschmitt and Siebel all submitting designs. Fieseler's design allowed for a three man crew, featured fixed landing gear, a high wing which incorporated Fieseler'

itself instead of armament put to the test when three Messerschmitt Bf 109s were sent to intercept the Mosquito, a test it passed as they failed to do so. The prototype of the Mosquito fighter made

211F-2 engine to enable the aircraft to tow the giant Messerschmitt Me 321 transport glider and ten examples of this aircraft would be produced during winter 1941-42. The operational service of the