1/4 th of a Spitfire takeoff is just about nothing. And sounds a bit silly with an aircraft with a higher wingloading, it may be very close or maybe in the 109D's favour though, but much less power instead.
Anyway, for the horsepower, the Spit did haul more than the 109, so the anecdote sort of ... falls.
FYI, Spitfires did take off from HMS Eagle, butt full of fuel with an extra tank for a 600 miles flight. The HMS Eagle was only 200 metres long, and with a pointy front. Of course you have wind and cruising speed playing with this, but 1/4 th....it's a joke.
The article also features a part from Lindberg, and he was very much of a fan of all the Germans did at the time.
I could type up Jeffrey Quill's part meeting Lindberg before the war, as well as Gunther Rall's account of the 109D in the cockpit, etc. Plenty of anecdotes that completely oppose the one posted.
Oh, PS:
Taking off short from the HMS Eagle was none with a little bit of flaps on the Spitfire. Not possible? Guess how it was done
