Messerschmitt & Spitfire's Historic Air Show Reunion

A rare German Messerschmitt Bf109E fighter, precisely matching models used in the Battle of Britain, flew in formation with a Spitfire at the Shuttleworth Festival of Flight air show in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, over the weekend. This marks the first time in over 80 years that these iconic World War II aircraft have flown together. The Messerschmitt, designated Red 12, was recovered in 1993 from its crash site in northern Russia, where it had been since crashing more than 50 years prior. Enthusiasts from the UK and Germany dedicated significant effort to restoring it to flying condition, and this appearance was its British airshow debut.

The Messerschmitt, equipped with an original Daimler-Benz DB601 engine, is an E-4 model, identical to those flown by famous Luftwaffe aces. Shuttleworth's Spitfire, a Mark V model, while not used in the Battle of Britain, is similar to earlier variants that defended Britain. Red 12 itself has a notable history, having been shot down by Hurricanes on January 24, 1942, near Titovka, Russia, within the Arctic Circle. Other Messerschmitt 109s have flown in the UK previously, but none from the Battle of Britain era have been seen in the air since the 1940s, making this event particularly significant for aviation history.