1. Staffel I. Gruppe Zerstörergeschwader 76 - 1./ZG76 coded 2N+

Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer 1./ZG76 (2N+IH) force landed Poland 1939

Book Reference: Jet & Prop Foto-Archiv Band 13 has it as 3./ZG76

2. Staffel I. Gruppe Zerstörergeschwader 76 - 2./ZG76 coded 2N+

Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer 2./ZG76 (2N+HK) over Poland 1939

Book Reference: Jet & Prop Foto-Archiv Band 13

6. Staffel II. Gruppe Zerstörergeschwader 76 - 6./ZG76 coded 2N+

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 6./ZG76 (2N+AP) Urban Schlaffer France August 1940

Photo 01: Bf 110C, 2N+BN, of 6./ZG76 flown by Oberleutnant Urban Schlaffer and Obergefreiter Franz Obser Bordfunker were shot down by Spitfires from 602 squadron on 16th August 1940 and belly landed Lee Farm, Clapham near Worthing.

Profile 01: This aircraft, crewed by pilot Obl. Urban Schlaffer and gunner Gefr. Frantz Obser, was damaged in combat with No.602 Squadron, RAF, Spits on August 16, 1940, to the extent that no other choice other than a forced landing near Clapham in south Sussex was possible. The machine carried the original codes of 6./ZG76, from which the 9th Staffel was formed. The camouflage pattern was an innovated scheme, designed to lighten the otherwise very dark silhouette of the plane. The scheme was the result of overspraying the original dark green RLM70 with the light grey-green RLM02. The bottom color of RLM65 lightly crossed over the leading edge of the wing

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 9./ZG76, coded 2N+DP and flown by Hans Peterburs and based in Germany the Holland 1940

Messerschmitt Bf 110C 6./ZG76 (2N+EP) pilot Gerhard Kadow WNr 3551 shot down July 11 1940

Photo's 01-02: Two views of Bf 110C-4, 2N+EP W.Nr 3551, from 6./ZG76 shot down on 11 July 1940. Staffelkapitän, Obit. Gerhard Kadow, made a relatively good landing at Grange Heath, near Lulworth, both he and Bordfunker Gefr. Helmut Scholz surviving into captivity. Parts from this aircraft would later be used to get another captured Bf 110, 5F+CM, up to flying condition for the RAF to test-fly.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D 6./ZG76 (2N+MP) Leeuwarden Netherlands 1941

1. Staffel I. Gruppe Zerstörergeschwader 1- 1./ZG1 Coded 2N+

Messerschmitt Bf 110 C-1 1./ZG1 (2N+AH) Poland 1939.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C-2 1./ZG1 (2N+AH) Germany-Poland Spring 1940

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstorer 1./ZG1 (2N+CH) 01

Photo 01: 2N+CH of I./ZG1 forms a backdrop to the burnt out remains of 2N+EH of the same Staffel.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstorer 1./ZG1 (2N+DH) landing accident 01

Photo 01: Unlike the previous photograph, the individual aircraft letter on this I.Staffel, ZG1 machine is blue outlined in white. This unique choice of Staffel colour for the third character in the fuselage code would be carried forward when the Staffel was re-designated I./Erpr. Gr. 210.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstorer 1./ZG1 (2N+EH) crash landed remains 01

Photo 01: 2N+CH of I./ZG1 forms a backdrop to the burnt out remains of 2N+EH of the same Staffel.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 5./ZG1 (2N+GN) pilot Manfred Dahne 01

Photo 01: Bf 110C-1, W. Nr. 2831, of Fw. Manfred Dahne and his Bordfunker Herbert Klinke. Dahne and Klinke took part in II./ZG1's excursion over Switzerland on 8 June 1940.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 5./ZG1 (2N+GN) pilot Manfred Dahne June 8 1940 01

Photo 01: The result of Dahne and Klinke's flight over Switzerland on 8 June. Dahne managed to put 2N+GN down in good condition following a fighter attack from a Swiss Bf-109 and hits from Flak. Both were repatriated. Dahne was killed in action later in the Battle of Britain; Klinke, after recovering from his wounds, went on to serve on the Russian front with SKG210 and ZG1 and survived the war.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 1./ZG1 (2N+GH) 01

Photo 01: 2N+GH forms a backdrop for Victor M�lders and Staffelhund during the Western campaign. The fuselage cross is draped with an identical covering to that seen in an earlier photograph of a ZG52 Bf 110.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstorer 1./ZG1 (2N+IH) Karl Hammes and Walter Steffen crash landed near Warsaw Sep 6 1939

Photo 01: Bf 110C 1.ZG1 (2N+IH) Karl Hammes and Walter Steffen belly landing Warsaw Poland Sep 6 1939. Karl Hammes later died of his wounds.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C 1./LG1 (2N+IH) pilot Karl Hammes shot down Poland 1939 01-05

Photo's 01-05: Five views of Bf 110C-1, 2N+IH, which was shot down in combat on 6 September 1939. The pilot, Major Karl Hammes, the 43 year old Staffelkapitänof 1.Staffel died as a result of wounds suffered. His Bordfunker, Obfw. Walter Steffen, was taken into captivity, but later released when hostilities ended. Note that the '1' in the fuselage code is white with no outline, and the swastika overlaps both fin and rudder. The early style fuselage cross with a thin white outline can be clearly seen. The propeller spinner is in the Staffel colour of white. Hammes was buried beside his crashed aircraft.

Pilots Stfkpt Karl Hammes grave 01

Photo 01: The grave of Major Karl Hammes. The inscription on the cross translates as: 'Major of the Luftwaffe Hammes fell in combat for Führer and Greater Germany on 6.9.39.'

4. Staffel II. Gruppe Zerstörergeschwader 1- 5./ZG1 coded 2N+

Messerschmitt Bf 110 C-4 4./ZG1 (2N+DM) Freiburg Airfield Germany Summer 1940.

5. Staffel II. Gruppe Zerstörergeschwader 1- 5./ZG1 coded 2N+

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-2 5./ZG1 (2N+EN) Germany Spring 1944.

Messerschmitt Bf 110 C1 Zerstörer 5./ZG1 (2N+GN) pilot Manfred Dahne and his Bordfunker Herbert Klinke WNr 2831 Battle of France 1940

Photo 01: Bf 110C-1, W. Nr. 2831, of Fw. Manfred Dahne and his Bordfunker Herbert Klinke. Dahne and Klinke took part in II./ZG1's excursion over Switzerland on 8 June 1940. W.Nr.2831, 2N+GN, 5./ZG 1, flown by Fw.Manfred D�hne, Bordfunker Ogfr. Herbert Klinke.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 5./ZG1 (2N+GN) pilot Manfred Dahne June 8 1940 01

Photo 01: The result of Dahne and Klinke's flight over Switzerland on 8 June. Dahne managed to put 2N+GN down in good condition following a fighter attack from a Swiss Bf-109 and hits from Flak. Both were repatriated. Dahne was killed in action later in the Battle of Britain; Klinke, after recovering from his wounds, went on to serve on the Russian front with SKG210 and ZG1 and survived the war.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 5./ZG1 (2N+GH) 01

Photo 01: 2N+GH forms a backdrop for Victor M�lders and Staffelhund during the Western campaign. The fuselage cross is draped with an identical covering to that seen in an earlier photograph of a ZG52 Bf 110.

This crew, during the Battle of France on June 8, 1940, came into conflict with units of the Swiss armed forces. 2N+GN first flew into concentrated anti aircraft fire over Belfort (France, and was subsequently attacked by French fighters. With a damaged starboard engine and an escort from another Bf 110, an attempt was made to reach friendly airspace. Due to a navigational error, the Swiss border was breached. Over Breitenbach, further AA was encountered, followed by an attack by Swiss Bf-109s, 2N+GN was made to force land at Oberkirchen. The crew was temporarily interned before being repatriated. Manfred Dahne returned to combat duty, but lost his life over England on August 25, 1940. Herbert Klinke bore the brunt of having shot down a Swiss aircraft, went on to fly over the Russian Front, and unlike Dahne, survived the war.

Additional Information Eduard plastic models - http://www.eduard.com/

Messerschmitt Bf 110G2 Zerstörer 5./ZG1 (2N+LN) Germany 1943

Messerschmitt Bf 110G2 Zerstörer 5./ZG1 (2N+MN) Wells Austria winter 1943-44

As a component of 'Reichverteidigung'(Defense of the Reich, this rocket and tub-mounted 20 mm cannon armed Bf 110G-2 of Zerstoregeschwader 1 carries a standard camouflage composed of RLM 74/75/76. Notable is the quick recognition marking consisting of the wide white band, a relic of combat operations over the MTO. The red individual aircraft letter 'M', as the spinner tips, place this aircraft within the services of 5. Staffel of II. Gruppe. Atypically, the fuselage crosses lack black borders. ZG 1, operating from airfields in Austria and Germany, took part in many engagements with American aircraft. These usually were from the 8th USAAF from England and from the 15th USAAF from Italy, and included the first major engagements between the USAAF and the Luftwaffe over Czech territory on February 22, 1944, in what became known as 'The BigWeek'.

Additional Information Eduard plastic models - http://www.eduard.com/

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstorer III./ZG1 01

Photo 01: A Bf 110C of 3./ZG1 carrying the Staffel emblem of a lion's head on the nose. Note the early style fuselage cross and the light-coloured spinner, almost certainly in the Staffel colour of yellow.

7. Staffel III. Gruppe Zerstörergeschwader 1 - 7./ZG1

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 7./ZG1 (2J+AR) in flight
Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 7./ZG1 (2N+KR) Norway 1941

Messerschmitt Bf 110G 10./ZG1 (2N+IU) pilot Kociok Crimea 1943

Pilots 4./ZG1 pilot Josef Kociok 01

Photo 01: Josef Kociok began the war with III./ZG76 and, after the German invasion of Russia in June 1941, transferred to the IV./Schnellkampfgeschwader (Fast Bomber Wing) 210. When night fighting operations began in Russia, he transferred to 4./(N)ZG1 and within a relatively short space of time, shot down 21 bombers. He was awarded the Knight's Cross on 31 July 1943 but was killed two months later.

The Bf 110D was a long range version of the Bf 110C. It was developed in part to deal with the long distances involved in the campaign in Norway, and also to give it a longer effective range as an anti-shipping aircraft. It operated against the last British and French positions in the far north of Norway, and was also used in long range raids against northern Britain, although only made one daylight raid.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D-1/R-1

This was the first attempt at producing a long range version of the Bf 110. It had a massive 1200 litre/ 198 gallon external belly tank below the fuselage. This had a massive impact on the aircraft's performance. Only the second rate nature of most of the allied aircraft in Norway, where the D-1 first served, saved it from disaster. The D-1/R-1 entered service in May 1940.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D-1/R2

The large belly tank on the D-1/R-1 made it very vulnerable to allied fighters. Accordingly, on the R2 the fixed tank was replaced by two 900 litre/ 198 imperial gallon drop tanks, carried under the outside wings. This gave the aircraft an even longer range, but improved the performance, and allowed for the jettisoning of the tanks when needed.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D-2

The D-2 carried both the ETC 500 bomb rack, capable of taking two 1102 lb/ 500 kg bombs, and two wing mounted 66 imperial gallon drop tanks.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D-3

The D-3 was a long range shipping patrol version. It could carry two drop tanks, of either the 900 litre/ 198 gallon size or the 300 litre/ 66 gallon size. It could also take the ETC 500 bomb rack. Space was made in the fuselage for a two man life raft, in case the aircraft was shot down while far out to sea.

Combat Record

Norway

The Bf 110D-1 first saw combat in Norway, where its increased range was essential for operations against the last British and French forces in the far north at Narvik. The first unit to be equipped with the D-1 was I./ZG 76. That unit was moved to Trondheim on 18 May, from where it launched long range attacks on Narvik. This was a four and half hour round trip, over 800 miles.

Battle of Britain

One of the most famous incidents involving the Bf 110D was the raid on the north of England launched from Norway on 15 August 1940, during the Battle of Britain. Goring was confident that the R.A.F. had been forced to move its entire fighter force south to deal with the attacks coming from France, and so on 15 August launched raids further north expecting to find little or no resistance. Instead, the raiders discovered No. 72 Squadron's Spitfires, withdrawn from the battle over Kent to recover. Six Bf 110Ds were shot down, as were eight He 111 bombers. No more daylight raids were launched from Norway.