Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3, WNr. 1190, "Weisse 4"
History
Manufactured in September 1939 by Erla Maschinenwerk in Leipzig, Bf 109E-3 WNr. 1190 was initially assigned to the II./Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26) and later transferred to the 4th Staffel (4/JG 26). It was flown by various pilots, including Hauptmann Karl Ebbinghausen, the Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 26, who had previously flown the aircraft before it was reassigned to the 4th Staffel. The aircraft was involved in the Battle of Britain, where it claimed five Allied aircraft kills.
On September 30, 1940, during a combat engagement with No. 92 Squadron RAF over Beachy Head, Sussex, the aircraft's engine was damaged, and Unteroffizier Horst Perez was forced to belly-land near East Dean. He was subsequently captured by the local Home Guard and suffered injuries during the capture. The aircraft was then transported to the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) at Farnborough for evaluation.
After its evaluation, Bf 109E-3 WNr. 1190 was sent on a "Bundles for Britain" fundraising tour across North America, where it was displayed to raise funds for clothing and supplies for Britain. Visitors were allowed to view the aircraft and inscribe their names on its surface. Following the tour, the aircraft was displayed at various locations in Canada and the United States until it was forgotten and eventually sold as scrap in 1959.
In 1961, the wreckage was discovered in a scrapyard in Ontario, Canada. The remains were acquired by a private individual, who began restoring the aircraft using parts from other wrecks. After several decades of restoration, the aircraft was acquired by the IWM in 1998, with support from the National Heritage Memorial Fund. It was transported to Duxford, where it is now displayed as a static exhibit, partially restored to reflect its condition when found.
At Duxford, the aircraft is presented with its original "White 4" markings and a twisted propeller, symbolizing the belly-landing. The display includes a reenactment of the belly-landing scene, with the aircraft positioned as it would have appeared after the forced landing. The black gothic "S" in a white shield under the cockpit represents the JG 26 emblem, and the tiger head signifies the 4th Staffel emblem.