Each year, certain things make an airshow special, a certain theme, special formation or in this case an incredible aircraft. At the Shuttleworth Festival of Flight in June 2026, the arrival of Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4 ‘Red 12’ stunned the airshow goers, and rightly so. Making its UK airshow debut, this exceptionally rare aircraft became one of the weekend’s biggest attractions, drawing enthusiasts and photographers eager to witness a genuine example of the Luftwaffe’s most recognisable fighter of the Second World War.
The Bf 109 needs little introduction. Designed by Willy Messerschmitt, it became one of the defining fighter aircraft of the Second World War, seeing action across multiple theatres and playing a central role during the Battle of Britain.
However, not all surviving Messerschmitts are quite what they appear to be. Many examples seen at airshows today are Spanish-built Hispano Aviación HA-1112 Buchóns, developed after the war and often modified to resemble the German fighter. These aircraft typically use Rolls-Royce Merlin engines.
Red 12 is something altogether more special. Built in 1939, this Bf 109 E-4, Werknummer 1983, retains its original Daimler-Benz DB 601 inverted V12 engine. It is one of the rarest sights on the modern warbird circuit and is reported to be the only airworthy Bf 109 E-4 in Europe. Its history is as extraordinary as its survival. The aircraft served with 5./JG 5 on the Eastern Front before being brought down near Titovka, close to Murmansk, on 24 January 1942. Its wreckage remained in the Russian tundra until its recovery in 1993. Following a lengthy restoration, Red 12 returned to the air in June 2023.
Shuttleworth has built a reputation for presenting aviation history in a way few other venues can match. Its grass airfield, intimate setting and thoughtfully arranged flying displays provide the perfect backdrop for historic aircraft, and Red 12 was an outstanding addition to the Festival of Flight programme.
The aircraft attracted considerable attention throughout the where it offered an opportunity to appreciate the compact proportions and purposeful design of the Bf 109 E-series at close quarters.Yet the static display was only part of the attraction. The real anticipation centred on hearing and seeing this rare fighter take to the sky.
The authenticate sound of the Daimler-Benz engine on takeoff really was something else in comparison to the Merlin engined Buchóns that are a regular sight across UK airshows now. Red 12 produces the distinctive engine note associated with the original German fighter. It is a sound that connects the modern airshow audience directly with the aircraft’s wartime heritage.
Under the control of experienced warbird pilot Charlie Brown, the Messerschmitt demonstrated its presence in the air, displaying the characteristic lines that made the Bf 109 such an important fighter design. Its compact airframe, narrow-track landing gear and distinctive silhouette were instantly recognisable against the Bedfordshire sky. It’s incredibly eye opening how small the aircraft in comparison until it is flying next to it’s Allied counterparts such as the Thunderbolt and Mustang.
One of the great strengths of the Shuttleworth Festival of Flight was the opportunity to see historic aircraft operating together in combinations rarely encountered elsewhere.
On Saturday, Red 12 flew in formation with the Shuttleworth Collection’s Spitfire V, the P-51D Mustang Frances Dell and the P-47D Thunderbolt Nellie B. The sight of these very different fighters sharing the sky was a spectacular reminder of the variety of engineering approaches that shaped the aerial warfare of the 1940s.
Sunday brought another memorable combination, with Red 12 joining the Shuttleworth Gloster Gladiator and the Polish Heritage Flight’s Hawker Hurricane XIIa for a Battle of France-themed formation.
These were more than enough attractive photo opportunities. They brought together aircraft representing different stages of the war and different national approaches to fighter design. Seeing the Messerschmitt alongside its historical adversaries gave the display a depth that a solo performance could not quite replicate.
The Shuttleworth Collection deserves considerable credit for bringing such a rare aircraft to Old Warden and presenting it in a setting where its history could be appreciated. For those fortunate enough to attend, Red 12 provided an opportunity that may not come around often: to see an authentic early Bf 109 flying in Britain, hear its original engine and watch it share the sky with aircraft that once stood on opposing sides of history. Securing an aircraft of this rarity for a UK appearance is no small undertaking, and its presence helped make the Festival of Flight a particularly memorable event.
