IL2

Messerschmitt Bf-110G Zerstörer NJG101.6 (9W+BO) Fritzlar 1945 00

Profile 00: Messerschmitt Bf-110G-4 '9W+BO' of 6./NJG101, Fritzlar, 1945. On this aircraft, the original base finish consisted of solid 75 on the uppersurfaces with 76 on the fuselage sides and undersurfaces. The uppersurfaces were then overs prayed with a Wellenmuster pattern in 83, this being more widely spaced on the uppersurface of the wings than on the fuselage. The pilot's victory bars were shown only on the port fin, and the machine had a narrow yellow band around the rear fuselage. As noted above, an earlier yellow Vee under the port wing was overpainted, probably in 81 or 83. The angle between the arms of the Vee was 45 degrees, and the arms, originally some 25 cm wide, extended for approximately 60 cm over the wing leading edge. The port tail fin detail showing the victory bars.

Messerschmitt Bf-110G Zerstörer NJG101.6 (9W+BO) Fritzlar 1945 01-02

Photo’s 01-02: In an attempt to provide a camouflage finish suitable for aircraft parked on the ground, uppersurface colors were sometimes darkened, as may be seen on this Bf-110G-4 coded 9W+BO which, despite the 18. Staffel letter 'O', is thought to have belonged to 6./NJG101. In late 1944, an Einsatzkommando from NJG101 was operational in Hungary where, in September 1944, Axis aircraft were required to add a yellow band around the rear fuselage and a yellow Vee to the underside of the port wing. In early March 1945, these markings were ordered to be deleted, although on this machine, the fuselage band remained. It is thought that either 81 or 83 was used to overpaint the Vee and that this was done almost immediately before the unit disbanded at Fritzlar in Germany in mid-March 1945. Although the tin carried victory bars representing victories over nine British and one Soviet aircraft, it is possible that the pilot may have been credited with the RAF victories before being transferred to NJG101, perhaps as an instructor, where he was credited with destroying the Soviet aircraft.