One of a series of friend or foe identification films made for pilots, gun crews, and civil defense workers, “Identification of Aircraft German Pursuit Planes” focuses on Germany’s Messerschmitt Me 109. This aircraft, also called the Messerschmitt Bf 109, was a single seat fighter aircraft made for World War II. It’s first flight was in 1935 but only became operational in 1937. Mainly manufactured to be an interceptor aircraft, the aircraft eventually became a multitask fighter.
The aim of the film is to identify Me-109 / Bf 109 aircraft. It provides the distinguished features of the aircraft which made it recognizable from different angles. This film teaches the aircraft’s characteristics, vulnerabilities, and strengths. Portions of the film are animated, and were probably created by the Walt Disney Studio.
(0.11) Title shows “GERMAN PURSUIT AIRPLANES.” (0.18) “MESSERSCHMITT ME 109.” (0.28) Me 109 aircraft are flying in the sky. (0.37) a bird view from within the plane. (0.51) two bombs dropped from the aircraft on the ocean creating an explosion. (01.02) Royal Air Force members are in a room with a poster of different aircraft and the Swastika logo. (01.17) the room is decorated with aircraft throwing bombs and fighting scenes. (01.24) Shadow of aircraft passes above the town. (01.34) Illustration of the ME 109. (01.40) Close up on the details of the aircraft; the black cross outlined with white on the wings and the swastika Luftwaffe logo on the tail. (02.10) identification of the ME 109 through its silhouette. (02.28) Me-109 has an approximately straight line from one wing tip to the other. (02.55) breakdown of the Me-109 Silhouette from above: square wings, bullet shaped nose, large body, small tail are all features to identify the Me 109. (03.25) comparison between Me 109 and P-40 Warhawk / Curtiss Tomahawk (4.00) P-40 has larger wings, a bigger tail, and a bigger body in general. (04.37) Me-109 armaments: guns, nose cannon, wing guns. (04.51) text reads “APPROX. 430 YDS.” (05.16) Me-109 vulnerable area presentation. Illustration of the pilot positioned on top of the reserve tank with the main tank directly behind the pilot. (05.37) illustration of the engine which is exposed to danger. Radiators beneath the engine and in the wings are also shown to be vulnerable. (05.48) ME 109 flying in combat. (06.08) aircraft landed on a field with bomb explosion next to it. (06.23) ME 109 strengths illustrated. Text reads “10,000 FEET 3 MINS,” “20,000 FEET 6,4 MINS,” “380 MPH.” (06.52) Drawing comparing the turn trajectory of the ME-109 & P-40 showing the tight right spiral turns P-40 can make on the opposite of Me-109. (07.06) drawing of a spiral fall of Me-109 and P-40. P-40 can pull out of the tight right spiral, while Me-109 cannot. (07.29) Me-109 aircraft crash. Fire on the German cross insignia. Text reads “END OF T.F. 1-294.”
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