NEW MESSERSCHMITT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 June 1941, Page 5

NEW MESSERSCHMITT

LATEST NAZI FIGHTER I — COMPARISON WITH EARLIER TYPES. ARMAMENT CENTRALLY GROUPED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 25. Since the Spitfires and Hurricanes of the R.A.F. began shooting down specimens of the new make of Messerschmitt single-seater fighter Me 109 F, there has been a good deal of speculation about the purpose for which it was designed and its real capabilities. Four obvious differences between the new Me and its predecessors are that it has a more powerful engine, changed armament, redesigned wings with round wing tips, and a new tail plane now devoid of bracing struts. There are other changes, too, such as making the tail wheel retractable and giving a general cleaning-up to the silhouette, which is clearly aimed at greater speed. It is obvious that these various improvements will result in a high ceiling and better performance at a height. Britain’s own single-seater fighters, the Hawker Hurricane and Vickers Spitfire, have undergone several modifications since the war began. The results have been a great improvement to their performance in speed, height and other ways. Re-engining the Me 109 and giving it new wings and better streamline, may be regarded as Germany’s con--' tribution to the contest of improving existing -types. An interesting feature of the new Me is the way the armament is now distributed. The wing guns have been dropped, and all it has is one cannon of 15mm. firing through the air-screw hub and two small-bore machine-guns mounted on the fuselage. This central grouping of the armament weight may result in better power of manoeuvre, never a strong point in the Me 109.

So far the Me 109 F has not been encountered in force.