In 1939, the RAF impounded (2 or) 4 Bf 108s from the German embassy and got one from a UK dealer (A.F.N. Ltd). They operated them with No. 24 Squadron (located at Hendon) under the designation Messerschmitt Aldon (contraction of Harold John Aldington, name of the English dealer). It was one of the fastest light aircraft in the RAF but was sometimes mistaken for the Me 109. After the war, 15 other Bf 108s were operated.
| Type |
Werk.Nr |
Registration |
History |
|
|
D-IBT, G-AFZO, ES995, HB-ESL |
|
|
|
D-IJHW, AW167, S6-K, G-AFZO, HB-ESM |
Carrying its German registration and a swastika when it was immobilised and commandeered at Croydon in 1939. Impressed under the serial AW167, subsequently applied with a camouflage colour scheme, latterly painted silver with the code S6-K. Re-civilianised as G-AFZO after being sold out of service at the 5 MU sale at Kemble, returned to the continent when it became HB-ESM in 1950 |
|
|
G-AFRN, DK280 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Type |
Werk.Nr |
Registration |
History |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After their capture at least 20 examples were pressed into service. Minimal information is available on the aircraft allotted serials VM495, VM502, VM508, VM851-862 and Air Ministry numbers 76, 87 and 89; but an aircraft carrying its original Luftwaffe code GJ-AU was flown from the RAE to No. 6 MU Brize Norton on 14 August 1945; Air Ministry No. 84 was exhibited at the RAE in October/November 1945, and it had dark green upper surfaces and light blue undersurfaces. The type name Messerscmitt Taifun appeared on the fuselage beneath the cockpit canopy. Another example, believed to have been requisitioned by a Beaufighter pilot in Germany, and photographed at Northolt after the war, carried the serial R2101 although this originally belonged to a Beaufighter Mk. 1F".
