Messerschmitt Bf.109E7 of JG-27 at a Yugoslav Airfield, April 1941

August 17, 2025 - Reading time: 4 minutes

Messerschmitt Bf.109E7 of JG-27 at a Yugoslav airfield during the German Balkan campaign, April 1941.

This historical photograph shows a Messerschmitt Bf.109E7 fighter aircraft of the German Luftwaffe’s Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG-27) stationed at a Yugoslav airfield in April 1941. The image reflects the Luftwaffe’s operational presence in the Balkans shortly before and during the German invasion of Yugoslavia and Greece.

The Bf.109E7 variant, equipped with a more powerful Daimler-Benz DB 601 engine and provisions for carrying bombs, was one of the Luftwaffe’s key aircraft during the early years of World War II. Jagdgeschwader 27, already a seasoned fighter wing from the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain, was redeployed to the Balkans to support Germany’s rapid campaign in Southeastern Europe.

This photograph captures not only the technological prowess of the Messerschmitt design but also the strategic role of the Balkans campaign, which provided Germany with a crucial stepping stone toward the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941. The aircraft and its crew were part of a broader military effort that reshaped the balance of power in the region.

Short description for homepage (англ.): Messerschmitt Bf.109E7 of JG-27 at a Yugoslav airfield during the German Balkan campaign, April 1941.

Technical photo data:

• 📝 Source of information: Luftwaffe archives / JG-27 campaign records

• 📍 Location: Yugoslavia, Balkans

• 📅 Date of photo: April 1941

• 📷 Photographer: Unknown

• Messerschmitt Bf.109 Yugoslavia 1941
• JG-27 Balkan campaign Luftwaffe
• German fighters WWII Balkans
• Bf.109E7 Luftwaffe operations
• Axis invasion Yugoslavia Greece
• WWII German airpower Balkans
• Messerschmitt DB 601 engine
• WWII Balkans campaign 1941
• JG-27 Messerschmitt fighter wing
• German Luftwaffe Yugoslavia 1941