The Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4 ‘Red 12’ D-FEML is an exceptionally rare and historically significant Second World War fighter, offering a remarkable link to the aerial battles fought on the Arctic Front. Built in 1939 by Erla Maschinenwerk in Leipzig, Germany, this aircraft carries the manufacturer’s construction number, known as its Werknummer, 1983. Today, following an extraordinary restoration spanning decades, it flies once again, making it one of the most remarkable surviving examples of the Bf 109 Emil series.
‘Red 12’ served with the Luftwaffe’s Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5), nicknamed Eismeer, meaning ‘Arctic Sea’. This fighter unit operated in the harsh northern theatres of the Second World War, protecting German forces and challenging Allied aircraft around northern Norway, Finland and the Murmansk region of the Soviet Union.
On 24 January 1942, the aircraft was lost during operations near Titovka, close to Murmansk. Historical accounts associate its loss with combat involving a Royal Air Force Hawker Hurricane. The aircraft came down in the frozen northern landscape, where its remains lay undiscovered for decades, preserving an extraordinary piece of aviation history beneath the Arctic conditions.
In 1993, the wreckage was recovered from Russia and subsequently acquired by German aircraft collector Eberhard Thiesen, who embarked on the ambitious project of returning the rare fighter to flying condition.
The restoration proved to be an enormous undertaking. Work on the fuselage and tail assembly was carried out in Britain by Charleston Aviation Services, while other components were restored by specialist teams in Germany. The aircraft was temporarily registered in Britain as G-EMIL before its restoration continued in Germany.
After years of painstaking work, ground testing and overcoming technical challenges, the aircraft finally returned to the skies on 19 June 2023, with experienced warbird pilot Charlie Brown at the controls. Its return to flight represented a remarkable achievement in historic aircraft preservation, bringing an authentic Bf 109 E-series fighter back to life.
The Bf 109 was one of Germany’s principal fighter aircraft throughout the Second World War. The E-series, commonly known as the Emil, saw extensive action during the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain in 1940, fighting against aircraft such as the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire.
The E-4 variant featured improved cockpit protection and was powered by the formidable Daimler-Benz DB 601 inverted V-12 engine. Its compact airframe, narrow landing gear and distinctive angular lines gave it an unmistakable appearance. The engine’s inverted configuration placed the cylinder heads below the crankshaft, allowing a relatively slim nose and improving the pilot’s forward visibility.
The aircraft’s typical armament comprised two 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns mounted above the engine and two 20 mm MG FF cannon in the wings. With a maximum speed of approximately 560 km/h (348 mph), the Bf 109 E-4 was a formidable opponent in the early years of the war.
Now registered D-FEML and based at Bonn-Hangelar in Germany, ‘Red 12’ wears its distinctive Luftwaffe-style camouflage, black-and-white national insignia and prominent red tactical number. Its restoration has preserved an exceptionally rare example of the early Bf 109 design, allowing enthusiasts to experience the sight and sound of this legendary fighter in flight.
From its construction in 1939 to its wartime loss in the frozen north, its recovery in 1993 and eventual return to the air in 2023, the story of ‘Red 12’ is one of survival, dedication and engineering expertise. More than eight decades after it first left the factory, this remarkable Messerschmitt continues to bring a tangible piece of Second World War aviation history to airshows and historic flying events.