Bf.109 - Spanish Civil War
Dora Wings

Dozens of Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters, including the A, B, C, D, and E variants first saw active service in the Condor Legion against Soviet-supplied aircraft in mid 1937 as a testing ground for the new German fixed-wing fighter plane. The Bf 109 quickly replaced the Heinkel He 51 biplane fighter which suffered many losses during the first 12 months of the conflict. Of the Luftwaffe's Jagdgruppen, 136 Bf 109's were sent to Spain, and 47 of these, including Bf 109B's, D's and E's remained behind in service with the Spanish Air Force after the conclusion of the war in 1939. The Republican fighters were no match for the Bf 109, equipped mostly with Soviet built Polikarpov I-15 and Polikarpov I-16's the Republican forces suffered heavy losses to Nationalist and Condor Legion fighters. As many as 20 Bf 109's were lost in Spain to enemy action to both aerial combat and ground fire.