How much fuel did a Bf 109E carry and how far did it get?

Short answer

Its internal capacity was limited: it gave the Bf 109E a maximum range of 660 km (410 miles) and just 10 minutes of flight time over a British target before having to turn back. The E-7 added a fuselage rack for a 300-liter drop tank, which doubled the range to 1,325 km (820 mi).

Published: November 4, 2026 · Updated: November 4, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

How much fuel did a Bf 109E carry and how far did it get?

German Messerschmitt Bf 109G in flight over Regensburg, Germany, 25 February 1944 (342 FH-3A20348 50137AC)

A short range

The Bf 109Es used as escort fighters during the Battle of Britain had limited fuel capacity, giving them a maximum range of only 660 km (410 miles) on internal fuel. By the time they arrived over a British target, they had only 10 minutes of flight time left before having to turn back.

The E-7's drop tank

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-7 addressed this shortcoming with a fuselage rack on the centerline that could carry an SC 250 bomb or a standard Luftwaffe drop tank holding 300 liters. With this load, range doubled to 1,325 km (820 miles).

The engine that burned this fuel

The Bf 109E's fuel supplied a Daimler-Benz DB 601, which produced 1,175 PS (1,159 hp; 864 kW) at 2,500 rpm on takeoff. This engine delivered aerobatic-capable performance in maneuvers where early carburetor engines, such as the British Rolls-Royce Merlin, lost power when the carburetor's float chamber ran dry.