Messerschmitt Bf 110

In May 1936, in Nazi Germany, a test flight of a 2-engine multi-role Bf 110 aircraft constructed by the Messerschmitt plant was carried out. The new structure was to fulfill tasks such as escorting its own bombers, fighting enemy fighters and bombers as well as bombing and assaulting the enemy's land forces. The crew of this aircraft (known as "zerstórer" -destroyer) consisted of 2 people - a pilot and a gunner. In mid-1938, the Bf 110B was put into serial production, and at the end of that year - the Bf 110C.

For the first time Messerschmitts Bf 110 were used in combat in an attack on Poland - operation "Weiss". With a numerical (5 times) and technical advantage, the Luftwaffe crashed the Polish aviation in less than 3 weeks - the Bf 110 crews shot down about 16-20 planes (out of about 100 destroyed in the air), but for the price of 12 machines knocked down by well-trained Polish pilots fighter jets flying the outdated P-11c and P-7a. Over France in 1940, the Luftwaffe lost 82 Bf 110 out of 240 used there (some of them were shot down by Polish pilots from GC 1/145 and Poles flying in French units). The most effective pilot of the Bf 110 in the French campaign was Hans-Joachim Jabs from II./ZG 76 (7 victories). The Battle of Britain in 1940 finally dispelled the myth of this plane. Operating under the conditions of strong contraction of BAF Bf 110 (C and D) fighters, they suffered huge losses - the "black day" turned out to be September 27, 1940, "when 18" destroyers "were lost. (12) and E. Groth (12). In 1941, ZG 26 was directed to the Mediterranean region (Balkans, Crete). Apart from attacking ground targets, "destroyers" escorted bomber formations. Major J. Pattle (50), the leading BAF ace, died in the fight against the Bf 110 from ZG 26. This unit also operated over Malta and Africa.

Only two squadrons Bf 110 - II./ZG 26 and SKG 210 took part in the attack on the USSR (June 22, 1941). These units mainly attacked Russian airfields, destroying about 650 planes and knocking down a few in air combat. In 1942, further "destroyer" units were sent to the eastern front - these were I. and II./ZG 1. The Bf 110 planes were also used to combat tanks. The "110" were most successful in the Reich defense units. Heavily armed Messerschmitts attacked US bomber formations devoid of cover (until the appearance of the P-51), destroying many of them. Even worse were the RAF bombers attacking at night - some Bf 110 crews dropped several bombers in one flight. The "king" of the night fighters was Heine-Wolfgang Schnaufer from NJG1 and 4 (121).

Technical and tactical data (Bf 110G-2):
Dimensions: length 12.07 m
span 16.20 m
height 4.12 m
Own weight: 5,093 kg
Take-off weight: 9390 kg
Drive: 2 Daimler-Benz DB 605B-1 engines with 1475 HP
Max speed: 547 km / h
Service ceiling: 7954 m
Range: 900 km (max 2090)
Weapons: 2 30mm MK108 cannons, 2 20mm MG 151/20 cannons, 1 penalty. you have. MG 81Z cal. 7.92 mm, 2 bombs of 250 kg
Crew: 2 people