Messerschmitt Bf 108
"Taifun"

The Messerschmitt Bf 108 began not-so-innocently enough as a product of the Treaty of Versailles. Germany was banned from producing many military items including fighter aircraft and bombers. With the ban in place Germany concentrated on civilian air transportation, gliders and air sports competition. The intent of this move was not purely commercial. Germany wanted to continue its research and expertise in aviation for future military and political needs.

The Messerschmitt Bf 108 was designed to compete in the “Challenge de Tourisme Internationale” at the invitation of the German Air Ministry. Even though it came in third place, the fact that it even competed was miraculous enough. This was due to a string of unlucky events that resulted in numerous crashes with several personnel killed and a personal grudge between Professor Messerschmitt and Erhard Milch over some aviation business deals that went sour.

Eventually the Bf 108 set several distance records and Elly Beinhorn, who flew one named “Taifun” set a record flying from Berlin to Constantinople. After that the name Taifun stuck as the Messerschmitt Bf 108 gained in popularity among pilots. In fact, during a controversial visit to Germany, Charles Lindbergh declared the Bf 108 the best aircraft of its type after a test flight.

Knowledge gained during production and use of the Messerschmitt Bf 108 helped in the design and production of the Messerschmitt 109 – the backbone of Germany’s World War Two fighter aircraft.

Messerschmitt Photos