MESSERSCHMITT
BF 109 E-4
“Red 12” / D-FEML
Wolfgang Landschulz
One of the world’s most significant surviving Bf 109s, “Red 12” combines a remarkable wartime history with an extraordinary restoration and return to flight.
THE WORLD’S ONLY FLYING Bf 109 E-4
Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4 “Red 12” is one of the most remarkable surviving examples of the legendary German fighter. Built by Erla Maschinenwerk in 1939 as Werknummer 1983, the aircraft served with the Luftwaffe’s Jagdgeschwader 5 “Eismeer” before being lost in the Murmansk area in January 1942.
Recovered from its wartime crash site in 1993, the aircraft subsequently embarked on an extraordinary restoration journey spanning more than three decades.
Today, D-FEML flies once again in its distinctive “Red 12” markings, making it a remarkable living link to the Bf 109 E-series and the men who flew these aircraft during the Second World War. Current references identify it as the world’s only flying Bf 109 E-4.
✈ AIRCRAFT FACTS
AIRCRAFT
STATUS
LOCATION
OWNER
ROLE
BUILT
Airworthy
Bonn-Hangelar, Germany
Wolfgang Landschulz
Fighter
1939
DIMENSIONS
LENGTH
WINGSPAN
8.76 m (28 ft 9 in)
9.90 m (32 ft 6 in)
PERFORMANCE
ENGINE
MAXIMUM SPEED
RANGE
ARMAMENT
Daimler-Benz DB 601N
560 km/h (348 mph)
660 km (410 mi)
2 × 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns 2 × 20 mm MG FF/M wing-mounted cannon
Built by Erla
The aircraft was constructed in 1939 by Erla Maschinenwerk GmbH at Leipzig as Werknummer 1983.
Originally completed as a Bf 109 E-series fighter, the aircraft entered Luftwaffe service during the period when the Bf 109 was becoming the principal fighter of the German fighter arm.
Its surviving identity is particularly significant because the airframe remained recoverable after its wartime loss and could eventually be returned to flying condition.
Service with JG5
“Red 12” served with the 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 “Eismeer”, the Luftwaffe fighter unit associated with operations in the far north.
On 24 January 1942, the aircraft was lost in the Murmansk region near Titovka. Contemporary research indicates that the aircraft was subsequently recovered from the wartime crash site more than five decades later.
The surviving airframe therefore represents not only the technology of the Bf 109, but also the harsh operational conditions experienced by Luftwaffe units operating on the Arctic front.
From Wreck to Warbird
The wreck was recovered in 1993 and subsequently acquired for restoration.
Returning the aircraft to the air was an enormous undertaking. Original components had to be sourced from across Europe, while surviving structural elements were carefully restored and incorporated into the rebuilt aircraft.
The restoration continued for decades, eventually producing the flying aircraft seen today as D-FEML.
Return to Flight
After years of restoration and engineering work, D-FEML began its return-to-flight programme in Germany.
The aircraft was extensively tested before entering its current flying career. In May 2025, the completed aircraft was formally handed over to its new owner, with veteran warbird pilot Charlie Brown carrying out the flight associated with the handover.
The aircraft subsequently appeared publicly at major European warbird events, including the Oldtimer Fliegertreffen Hahnweide in September 2025.
“Red 12” Today
Today, D-FEML carries its striking Red 12 markings and represents one of the most significant flying examples of the Bf 109.
The aircraft is based at Bonn-Hangelar and continues to appear at airshows and historic aviation events, allowing a new generation to see and hear an authentic Bf 109 E-series aircraft in flight.
Its survival is extraordinary: from a wartime loss in the Arctic, through decades beneath the ground, to a painstaking restoration and a return to the sky.
A REMARKABLE SURVIVOR
From a wartime crash in the Arctic to a painstaking restoration spanning more than three decades, “Red 12” has survived against remarkable odds.
Today, D-FEML flies once again — preserving the legacy of the Bf 109 and bringing a rare piece of aviation history back to the skies.
