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During WW2, the Messerschmidt fighter was

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Erik Lindsay (U231970) on Monday, 20th March 2006

  always designated the Messerschmidt Me-109. I recall that clearly - it was like that throughout the war and for many years after. Not once during that time did I ever see it referred to in any other way. Yet since about 1980, every reference to that bird has changed the prefix to Bf. Why?
  
  Curiousity overwhelms me.
  
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by colonelblimp (U1705702) on Monday, 20th March 2006

  The design dates back to the time when the company (of which Willi Messerschmitt was a director) was called "Bayerische Flugzeugwerke" - hence "Bf 109", "Bf 110", etc. At some point, I think in the late 1930s, it became the Messerschmitt company and from that point on its new designs had the "Me" prefix (e.g. "Me 210", "Me 262"). The confusion probably arose because the press didn't pick up on this distinction at the time - the 109 was built by Messerschmitt, everyone knew his designs were styled "Me" whatever, so obviously it was an "Me 109".

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Erik Lindsay (U231970) on Tuesday, 21st March 2006

  The design dates back to the time when the company (of which Willi Messerschmitt was a director) was called "Bayerische Flugzeugwerke" - hence "Bf 109", "Bf 110", etc. At some point, I think in the late 1930s, it became the Messerschmitt company and from that point on its new designs had the "Me" prefix (e.g. "Me 210", "Me 262"). The confusion probably arose because the press didn't pick up on this distinction at the time - the 109 was built by Messerschmitt, everyone knew his designs were styled "Me" whatever, so obviously it was an "Me 109".Β 
  
  I appreciate the info, colonel, and it clears up the reason for the bf prefix that's so ubiquitous today....
  
  But it leaves yet a problem that probably neither of us ever will be able to answer. You noted (above) that the Bf designation should logically have preceded the Me, yet it in fact, didn't. As I noted, the Me-109 was the designation used throughout the war and for about 30 years afterward....then the blasted Bf prefix came bounding in and has been there ever since.
  
  Should be the other way around....shouldn't it?
  
  It all comes of having been abducted by aliens.

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