Messerschmitt's Bf 109 remains the single most produced fighter aircraft in history and perhaps the fighter which has seen the most action - having been flown in combat from Murmansk to Martuba. The sheer scale of production over the course of many years resulted in a seemingly endless variety of changes to every aspect of the aircraft, from engines and weapons down to radios and tailwheels - changes which, due to their volume and frequency, have proven difficult to fully document in a single volume.

In this new work, Lynn Ritger takes on the task of examining in detail the history of the Bf 109 family across its lifespan of operational service, from the first flight in 1935 to the last operational flight of a Spanish Hispano Ha 1112 in 1965. Drawing upon original documentation from archival sources including RLM meeting minutes and planning documents, intelligence reports, production records, factory handbooks, and front-line unit reports, Ritger traces the development and deployment history of the Bf 109, illustrating unrealized design proposals as well as production changes and the discussions surrounding those decisions, along with a detailed look at the use of the aircraft by operational units and the myriad finishes worn by the aircraft.