Two historic aircraft from the Second World War era are being offered for sale through a US auction house. As announced by Icon Global on June 30, 2026, the aircraft are an original German Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1 and a Spanish Hispano Aviación HA-1112-M4L "Buchón". Both aircraft come from an Australian private collection and will be sold through a closed bidding process.
While the German fighter jet is currently located in the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar in the UK, the Spanish-built version is based at Sywell Aerodrome in the UK. The aircraft can be purchased either together or in separate transactions.
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1, serial number 3579, offered for sale, has a documented operational history with the German Luftwaffe. Records document air combat during the Battle of Britain in 1940, as well as later missions on the Eastern Front, where the aircraft crashed in Russia in August 1942. Following an extensive restoration, which included overhauling the original Daimler-Benz engine in Germany, the aircraft is expected to be fully airworthy again after official certification. The second aircraft offered, the Hispano HA-1112-M4L, registration "Red 11," is a two-seat, post-war Spanish-built aircraft, powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, which was used as a prop in the famous 1968 film "Battle of Britain."
Military historians and market analysts view the sale of such items with mixed feelings. The market for so-called "warbirds"—restored military aircraft from the last century—is characterized by limited supply and an exclusive group of collectors. Since very few original Messerschmitt aircraft still exist worldwide, airworthy or restored models regularly fetch seven-figure sums. Critics often argue that valuable technical heritage is removed from public view and historical research through sales to private collectors, as the aircraft often disappear into inaccessible hangars.
Furthermore, restoring historic fighter aircraft to airworthiness entails considerable technical and financial risks. Sourcing original spare parts for engines like the Daimler-Benz DB 601 is extremely difficult and requires costly custom manufacturing. Operating such vintage aircraft is also subject to strict regulations from the respective aviation authorities, as metal fatigue in decades-old airframes poses a safety risk. Whether the offered Messerschmitt can actually be kept in continuous flight or ultimately ends up as a static exhibit depends largely on the financial resources and objectives of the future owner.