The messerschmitt bf 109 was a german world war ii fighter aircraft designed by willy messerschmitt in the early 1930s it was one of the first true modern fighters of the era including such features as an all metal monocoque construction a closed canopy and retractable landing gear with the luftwaffe committed to the north african campaign in 194142 tropicalized versions of the reconnaissance bf 109 were introduced with the suffix trop the modifications for desert warfare included filte