Without a doubt the Messerschmitt Bf 109 remains one of the world's most recognizable fighter planes of all time. Along with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, the Bf 109 served as the backbone of Germany's Third Reich fighter force, made famous/infamous during the Battle of Britain. When it debuted in 1937 the Bf 109 was the most advanced fighter aircraft of the day, saw first combat operations during the Spanish Civil War, and remained in service with the Luftwaffe until the very end of World War II with many foreign air forces keeping the fighter in service even as late as the 1960s. Erich Hartmann, the most successful ace in the history of aerial warfare with 352 victories, flew the Bf 109 and said of the aircraft, "It was very maneuverable, and it was easy to handle. It speeded up very fast, if you dived a little. And in the acrobatics maneuver, you could spin with the 109, and go very easy out of the spin. The only problems occurred during takeoff. It had a strong engine, and a small, narrow-tread undercarriage. If you took off too fast it would turn [roll] ninety degrees away. We lost a lot of pilots in takeoffs." As the war dragged on the Bf 109 showed its limitations as more capable Allied fighters like the British Spitfire and American P-51 Mustang entered the fight. Even though the Fw 190 was superior, the Bf 109 remained the front line fighter for the Luftwaffe throughout the duration of the war. It served in all theaters of operations and became the most produced fighter aircraft in history. This was the fighter that took to the skies to battle the 8th Air Force. Pilots flying the Bf 109 achieved more aerial victories than in any other aircraft. Now is your chance to acquire an actual piece of the legendary Messerschmitt Bf 109. Measuring approximately 31 x 19 1/2 inches this war relic is the vertical stabilizer. The data plate has the number "8-109.366" which denotes the component as the höhenflosse (stabilizer) to a Messerschmitt Bf 109G "Gustav." The Bf 109G-series entered service in 1942 and was the last of the mass produced variants. Both sides carry a large black painted swastika outlined in white, the unmistakable emblem of the Third Reich. Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection