Half Spitfire, Half Bf 109! What Happened To The Messer-Spit?
YouTube / Mark Felton Productions
During WW2, a remarkable incident unfolded in 1942: a British Spitfire found itself in German hands after a forced landing in a turnip field. Instead of destroying it or dissecting its inner workings, the Germans entertained a novel idea: merging the iconic Spitfire with their own Messerschmitt Bf 109G fighter.
The Incident
Bernard Scheidhauer, a pilot with RAF No. 101 Squadron, took off on November 18, 1942, in a Spitfire Mark V-B from RAF Westhampnett.
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Hit by anti-aircraft fire, he made an emergency landing on Jersey, mistakenly believing it to be the Isle of Wight.
Scheidhauer became a prisoner of war, while his Spitfire was taken to Rechlin and given the code โCJ-ZYโ with yellow and green hues.
A Hybrid Creation
German engineers melded the two designs by affixing the Bf 109โs head onto the Spitfire and replacing its engines with a Daimler-Benz DB605 engine.
Moreover, its 12-volt electrical system was replaced by a 24-volt system, while its original Mark V guns were removed.
Trials and Triumphs
Tested by German pilot Ellenreider, the hybridโdubbed the Messer-Spitโshowcased superior visibility, ground handling, and air performance.
It boasted a faster climb rate and enhanced maneuverability, thanks to the Spitfireโs lighter wing loading and the new engine, reaching a ceiling of 41,666 feet.
A Missed Opportunity?
Although the Messer-Spit exhibited promising performance, Germany opted not to pursue it further.
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They believed their Bf 109Gs could handle the abundance of Spitfires, along with their esteemed Focke-Wulf 190.
The End of an Experiment
The sole Frankenfighter met its end during an Allied bombing raid on the Daimler-Benz factory in 1944.
Nevertheless, aviation historians regard the Messer-Spit favorably, recognizing its brief but remarkable stint in wartime experimentation.
