One of the very few surviving aircraft to have taken part in the Battle of Britain, this Messerschmitt Bf 109 stands as one of the most historically significant German aircraft of the Second World War.

Its importance is heightened by its association with renowned Luftwaffe fighter ace Hans-Joachim Marseille, one of the most celebrated pilots of the conflict.

In 1940, the aircraft—marked ‘3579’—was shot down by Supermarine Spitfire fighters and forced to make a belly landing near Calais. Remarkably, it was recovered, repaired, and returned to operational service. Two years later, following another combat encounter, it was forced to land again—this time near the Finland–Russia border.

Abandoned at the crash site, the aircraft lay undisturbed in frozen swampland for nearly 50 years. When it was finally recovered, it was found to be astonishingly intact. Personal items remained on board, including an officer’s cap tucked beside the seat, offering a rare and poignant glimpse into the past.

Carefully restored to flying condition in 1992, this aircraft is not only a remarkable feat of preservation, but also a powerful, tangible link to the events and individuals that shaped aerial warfare during World War II.

Built in June 1939 by Arado GmbH at Warnemünde, this Messerschmitt Bf 109 was upgraded to E-4 standard in early 1940 before entering service with Lehrgeschwader 2 at Westerland. Carrying the code ‘White 14’, it was initially flown by Lt. Friedrich Geishardt before relocating in July 1940 to Calais-Marck.

In August 1940, Hans-Joachim Marseille joined the unit and soon began flying this aircraft in combat. On 24 August, he claimed his first victory—a Supermarine Spitfire—followed by a second on 2 September during operations over southern England. Later that same day, in combat over Sheerness against No. 74 Squadron RAF, the aircraft was damaged, forcing Marseille to return to France where he carried out a heavy belly landing at Calais-Marck. The damage was assessed at 50%, and the aircraft was recovered by a Bergebattalion and transported to the Erla factory in Antwerp for repair.

Following restoration, the aircraft was reissued to Jagdgeschwader 77 and later operated near Alakurtti, where it sustained 20% damage on 7 December 1941. In January 1942, it was sent to Brinker Eisenwerke at Oslo-Kjeller for further repairs and upgrades, which were completed by 29 April before the aircraft was shipped to Norway.

Returning to service with the re-designated Jagdgeschwader 5 and now marked ‘White 7’, the aircraft continued operational duties until 2 August 1942. On that date, while being flown by Lt. Kurt Hammel, it was damaged in combat and force-landed on the front line. Initially classified as a total loss, it was later reassessed as 30% damaged, though it was never recovered.