monogram Close-Up 5BF 108 8-1 over the Alps How doos ono descnbe a thoroughbred when ‘comos fo airplanes? What standards could pos sibly be used to measure such qualties an! plane? Are the qualities imate or are they accuat- fed? Both subjective and objective data provide the answers Distinguishing between techrical achievement ‘and nostalgia is not always easy. However, wit ‘out question, the eminently gracelul Messer ‘Schimitt 108 has more than stood the tast ot ime, Ihas become a legend in ts own rghit thas stimulated istaton and, nearly a hat century later ig silo be seenin the sky. Highly prized by thor enthusiastic owners, they are Trequert Library of Congress Catalog Card Number ‘Quests of airsiows around the worid. Some are antained as investmens since ther fteen tmousand dollar price tags of 1938 could hardly touch one today. indeed, rom anystandponnttho Taitun (Typhoon) was, and stil i, ono of tho most famous and sought alter aircratt ever created Readers who aro familar wth German aeronau: tica will recognize our preterance for cesignaiing tho Mecserschmitt 108 as the BY 108 in place ot the equally appropriate Me 108. Most German documents datng frm the pre-war days wentty the design as te BI 108 and i this precedent that we choose to follow though many wartime documents rotor tothe aircraft as the Me 108 By necessity this repor focuses on the German Taifun (Typhcon) to the exclusion of postwar pro duction ard development undertaken in France ‘Although we recognize that hese actives are ‘an important and integral part othe total picture ‘must be appreciated that their mcluson would have required a publcation twice the 826 of his report. ‘The enthusiastic assstance and suppor of several persons was of great enportance tvoughout the proparation of tis ossay. Special rocoghition must go to two in paricular. Frank Hartman and Wily Radiger unselishy provided Copyright © 1979 by Monogram Avation Publeations €25 Edgebrook Onve Boyiston, Massachusetts 01505. USA. ISBN Nr O-314144.05-7 Printed in tho Unted States of Amenica by Kongall Printing, Inc Falmouth, Massachusetts ‘Ailnighis reserve 5.2276 the bulk of the photographs selected from their ‘own sizable collections. Adlticnal lip was tra. ly provided by several other dedicatad histonans inclusng Fordinando D'Ameo, Trevor W Broughton, Ferene Kovacs, J. Fichara Smit, Kenneth 8. West an Arhur A Walams, Finaly, the supertatve armork of Robert. Mig lari and Graham Wragg acded that tinal ouch so necessary fot a sense of perspective, * Photographic Credits Bundesarchiv/ Koblenz: 24 United States Air Force. 14 Frank C Hartman 15, 16, 17, 287R Rainer Hautschild: 128 Forenc Kovacs: 317 Manan Kréyzan: 137 Hane Obert 257, 2581. Hans-Gunter Pattusch: 5 Jurgen Rosensiock: 3OBL ‘willy Raginger: Cover, 1.2.4. STL. 8.7. 8.9.10 19, 121, 26, 271, SOT, 30M Harold Thio'e: SLL. SLA, 138, 207, 20LR, 258 ‘Androas Weise: 27, 268, Jaroslav Zazvonil.3. SOMA mR. 31 BAL {All line drawings by Robert D. Migars ‘© Color drawings by Granam wiagg # Back cover design Bavanan Arak Company MonogramGit OFICIAL NOMOGRAM PAINTING GUIDE TO GERMAN AIRCRAFT 1955 — 1945 Monogram Aviation Publications is pleased to annouce the impending publication (early 1860) of an important new reference work. Design €d to compliment two previously published hardcover series (LUFT- WAFFE COLORS & GERMAN AIRCRAFT MARKINGS) yet drama- tically unique. More than a mere supplement to any published thesis, this immeninatoly usuabie reference dolivors to you a workable format designed for maximum convenience and accessabilty. Each of the Sturdy 10in x 11¥4in (254 mm x 292 mm) vinyl ing 116 genuine paint chips has been protessionally matched, each ofthe binder wih imbedded covers 200 photographs has been systematically seloctedby the authors and 1144 sti coated pages ach drawing has been prepared for optimum claity by talented anc #116 genuine lacquer paint chips exacting arists Seach chip Isa large 2 in 2 (50 mm x 80 mm) This definitive work isthe culmunation of years of persistant and cil- +200 are color and black & white photographs gent research by two authors recognized for their pioneering achieve- 140 pagos of igy accurate and desenipive oranings. ments, monocram -monocram Close-Up 16 Close-Up 19