Spitfire Vs. BF-109 | Dueling Duos

We are back with another episode of Curator on the Loose! Dueling Duos edition. This week, two WWII fighters are going head-to-head to see who will come out on top, we're talking about the Spitfire versus the BF-109! Senior Curator Matthew Burchette will provide an in-depth look at their history and what makes each of these aircraft a strong competitor. Who will prevail?

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Host/Curator: Matthew Burchette
Camera/Editor: Tori Hunt

[garretvaughn]

This is my favorite area in the MoF! Love these videos on the WW2 warbirds!

[Idahoguy]

Between rifle caliber machine guns and 20mm cannons is the American Browning fifty caliber. It’s still in use worldwide

[donreid]

Several years ago, I visited the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. One of my biggest thrills was being able to ascend a set of stairs set up beside a Spit and place my hands on the control yoke of the aircraft. It was like I was making some kind of connection with the men who flew these planes in battle. Fantastic!

[behlinski]

Thank you for identifying the 109 by its correct name; BF-109, not ME-109. Even Luftwaffe pilots sometimes mistakenly called it an ME-109. Also there was a very good reason the 109’s engine was installed upside down. It made it much easier for mechanics to work on them. There is a YouTube video describing this.

[MrDgwphotos]

The DB 601 was also license produced in Japan, and used in the Ki-61 Hien "Tony" fighter, Yokosuka D4Y Suisei "Judy" dive bomber (initial variants, later variants were equipped with Japanese designed radial engines), and Aichi M6A Seiran submarine launched aircraft. A prototype Judy was carried by one of the Japanese carriers during the battle of Midway, and was employed as a reconnaissance aircraft during the battle.

[fredsalfa]

That was quite interesting. Some facts there that I didnt know.

[MrDgwphotos]

The MG FF was related to the famed 20mm Oerlikon cannon used by the Allied navies, and a Japanese version was also used on the famed A6M Zero.

[cnfuzz]

Always the nice odd detail in your videos and your delivery is spot on, big thumbs up

[denissmolyanskiy]

This is an awesome channel! Matthew Burchette is AWESOME!

[neiloflongbeck]

These automatic slats had a tendency to deploy asymmetrically when dog-fighting throwing off the pilot's aim. So the pilots had them locked shut.

[erikbilling]

Great Video My Father Jerry Billing flew that Spitfire for Cliff for 22.5 years doing Aerobatic Displays Across Canada and the USA

[thelwulfeoforlic]

During the Battle of Britain the RAF used 3 prop Mk I’s not the four prop Mk IX (as behind the narrator), which weren’t introduced until 1944

[mikerotis]

Very thorough. I'd elaborate on the tactics imposed on each side. British tactical doctrine specified a flight of three using several distinctive attack modes (I believe there were 6). The Luftwaffe's doctrine utilized the "finger four" flight--two pairs of two in which the wingman's role was to protect the leader while he took the offensive. That system was developed in Spanish civil war by the Germans and later put into practice by the British and then, the Americans. It's advantage was better situational awareness--more sets of eyes and planes spaced further apart leading to fewer blind areas. Command leadership hindered the Germans by not pursuing the goal of this first phase of Operation Sealion, which was the destruction of the RAF and achieving air supremacy. Switching from destroying the Chain Home radar system and airfields to attacking London is one example of confused strategy displayed by the Nazi regime. The RAF did have their own issues, e.g., arguments for and against deploying the Big Wing but this pales by comparison to the confused leadership on the part of the Germans. Your emphasis on the RAF's radar system and more importantly the coordination of air defenses using radar and observers, sector and group stations, and HQ command center is the reason the RAF fought the Luftwaffe to a draw when in fact, a draw was a strategic defeat for the Nazis.

[smokerjim]

Thank you again for a great video, I was aware of most of the information, but I was entertained by your excellent and enthusiastic presentation and never felt I was condescended to. 👍👍👍👍👍

[stephenbesley]

Our obvious advantages were home turf and radar but there was much more. A well organized maintenance force of telephone and communications engineers working around the clock. A volunteer force of the Royal Observer Corps for when there were breaks in radar. And, never to forget the Air/Sea Rescue service who did their bit to get downed pilots back home or pick up the German who frequently ran out of fuel and had to ditch.

[virus__loading]

Do you have an me 262 at your museum? If so can you make a video about it. And maybe name it the grand father of the modern jets?

[steveyountz]

7:46 they had home chain system which you mean 'chain home'.

[Idahoguy]

The Spitfire is a beauty queen and a warrior. However in the BoB the Hawker Hurricane was the RAF’s heavy lifter. 2/3 of Fighter Command’s interceptors were Hurricanes.

[brianholmes]

Love these videos! They seem a bit less... goofy lately, which is a shame, but that might be just me. Keep up the great work regardless!

[alanmeasures]

Could say a lot about this video but all l say is I loved it A great watch.