Other Forces

“Emil” in Switzerland

Line-up of Schweizerische Flugwaffe’s Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3s (“Emil”) somewhere in Switzerland between Summer 1940 and half-September 1944 (the aircraft has the wartime colors and markings but without the Neutrality bands). Notice behind the J-326 the J-350, the same airplanes of the previous photo. Including few planes seized after non-authorized land in Switzerland, as two Bf 109F-4, the Switzerland has employed a total number of 114 Messerschmitt fighters: ten D-1 (nicknamed “David” by the Swiss); eighty E-3a (“a” for Ausland/Export); eight E-3 built in Switzerland and characterized by a tapered propeller spin; two F-4; thirteen G-6; one G-14. The eighty “Emil” was purchased early 1939, price for each aircraft 300,000 Swiss Francs, and the first batch of thirty aircraft, all built by Messerschmitt AG at Regensburg, was delivered from 7 May to 5 July of the same 1939. All this aircraft was committed at the moment of the Helvetic Confederation’s mobilization on 28 August 1939. The remaining aircraft was delivered from October 1939. All the Swiss “Emil” was armed with two Swiss made 20mm wing cannons FF/K Oerlikon and two 7.45mm machine guns, equally Swiss made, EIDG at Berne, over the engine cowling synchronized with the propeller. Victor Sierra