Messerschmitt Bf 110C4 Zerstörer 6./ZG26 (3U+HH) crash landing 1941

Photo 01: The pilot of this I./ZG26 Bf 110E has made a good belly landing. The fuselage has a dense mottle applied, and the Staffel letter is white with no outline. Note the mottle applied to the inside of the starboard fin, and the rudders in an apparently darker colour than the fins.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 1./ZG26 (U8+BH) pilot Joachim Koepsell crash landing Aug 13, 1940 01

Photo 01: Bf 110, U8+BH, of I./ZG26 flown by Lt. Joachim Koepsell on 13 August 1940. Koepsell belly-landed this machine at Hertogenbosch, 265 kilometres from base, after becoming disorientated during the return flight.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstorer 1./ZG26 (W5+) Bad Lippspringe 1943 00

Profile 00: Messerschmitt Bf 110, 'White 5', of I./ZG26, At some point in 1943 ZG26 changed from having the four character code on the fuselage of its machine to the fighter style of numbers. White 5 of 1.Staffel has a broad white rear fuselage band and a dense spray of camouflage over the fuselage sides. The spinner tips are in the Staffel colour of white. The lack of armament in the upper nose points to the fitment of the GM 1. system to boost performance at high altitude.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstorer 1./ZG26 (W5+) Bad Lippspringe 1943 01

Photo 01: A view of I./ZG26 Bf 110 G-2s at Bad Lippspringe in late 1943. Underwing fuel tanks are fitted to the aircraft, and 'White 5' has the MG 151/20 belly cannon pack fitted.

Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-2 Zerstorer 1./ZG26 (W12+) Bad Lippspringe 1943 01

Photo 01: A view of I./ZG26 Bf 110G-2s at Bad Lippspringe in late 1943. Underwing fuel tanks are fitted to the aircraft, and 'White 5' has the MG 151/20 belly cannon pack fitted.

2 Staffel I. Gruppe Zerstörergeschwader 26 'Horst Wessel' - 2./ZG26 coded 3U+

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 2./ZG26 (3U+AK) Russia 1941-42 01

Photo 01: In the background 3U+AK of 2./ZG26 during the winter of 1941/42 on the Russian Front. Note that unlike the Bf 110 of (F)/Aufkl.Gr.33 in a previous photograph, this Bf 110 has its canopy framing painted white as well as the main areas of the aircraft.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E 2./ZG26 (3U+HK) after a crash landing Russia 1941-42 01

Photo 01: In the background 3U+AK of 2./ZG26 during the winter of 1941/42 on the Russian Front. Note that unlike the Bf 110 of (F)/Aufkl.Gr.33 in a previous photograph, this Bf 110 has its canopy framing painted white as well as the main areas of the aircraft.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E 2./ZG26 (3U+HK) after a crash landing Russia 1941-42 02

Photo 01: Belly-landed Bf 110E, 3U+HK, of 2./ZG26, with 3U+AK in the background. Of interest is the difference in the condition of the upper surface camouflage compared with that of 3U+AK.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer 2./ZG26 (3U+KK) Russia 1941

Photo 00: Messerschmitt Bf 110D 2./ZG26 (3U+KK) over Russia 1941

Messerschmitt Bf 110D-1 2./ZG26 (3U+KK) Lybia Spring 1941

Profile 00: Messerschmitt Bf 110D-1 2./ZG26 (3U+KK) Lybia Spring 1941

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstorer (Destroyer) 2./ZG26 (3U+MK) Russia 1941-42

Photo 01: 2./ZG26 on the Russian Front. 3U+MK carries its unit code on a broad yellow theatre band, and the starboard engine cowling appears to be completely painted in yellow. The individual aircraft letter 'M' is black with a small white outline. The rudders appear to be in a lighter overall camouflage colour than the fins.

2 Staffel I. Gruppe Zerstörergeschwader 26 'Horst Wessel' - 2./ZG26 coded U8+

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 2./ZG26 (U8+AK) France 1940

Photo 01: Nearest the camera is U8+AK, a Bf 110D, with a small white band around the rear fuselage.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C-2 2./ZG26 (U8+AK) France 1940

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 2./ZG26 (U8+BK) Balkans 1941 01

Photo 01: Two views of 2./ZG26 Bf 110s during the Balkans campaign in the spring of 1941. Note the aerial being used as an impromptu washing line on U8+BK, and the tented accommodation alongside the aircraft.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 2./ZG26 (U8+CK) 1941 01

Photo 01: Two views of 2./ZG26 Bf 110s during the Balkans campaign in the spring of 1941. Note the aerial being used as an impromptu washing line on U8+CK, and the tented accommodation alongside the aircraft.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstörer 2./ZG26 (U8+FK) 00

Profile 00: Messerschmitt Bf 110D of 2./ZG26 U8+FK shows the revised camouflage seen on ZG26 machines in the later stages of the Battle of Britain. The extended rear fuselage of the 'D' variant can be seen. Solid two-tone green camouflage is no longer carried on the fuselage sides, and tactical markings of a white painted nose and a thin white band around the rear fuselage are carried. Note the difference in application of the white nose on U8+FK with that of the aircraft nearest the camera. The individual aircraft letter 'F' is black outlined in white. Of interest is the fact that the port fin and engine cowling are still painted in solid colours.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstörer 2./ZG26 (U8+FK) 01

Photo 01: Aircraft of 2./ZG26 in the later stages of the Battle of Britain. Of note are the whitewashed noses of the aircraft, and the small white band on the rear fuselage of U8+FK. Note that the whitewash on the nose of U8+FK does not extend as far back as that on the nose of the Bf 110 nearest the camera. The extended rear fuselage of U8+FK points to it being a CD' variant.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C-4 2./ZG26 (U8+HK) Abbeville France 1940.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 2./ZG26 (U8+JK)

Messerschmitt Bf 110C4 Zerstörer 2./ZG26 (U8+KK) W.Nr 3025 France 1940

Profile 00: Messerschmitt Bf 110C-2 of 2./ZG26 U8+KK, W.Nr. 3025, with solid 70/71 upper surface camouflage. ZG26 also carried this camouflage deep into the Battle of Britain period, apparently only moving to mottled fuselage sides in September 1940. The I.Gruppe'Ringelpitz' emblem of a German shark attacking an British fish is carried on the nose. The individual aircraft letter of 'K' is black outlined in white. Note the staining on the port fin, a result of oil leakage from the port engine.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 2./ZG26 (U8+KK) W.Nr 3025 France 1940 01

Photo 01: Bf 110C-2, U8+KK, W.Nr 3025 of 2./ZG26 carrying the early solid upper surface camouflage. The 'Ringelpitz' emblem of 1.Gruppe can be seen on the nose and the Werknummer can be seen in white on the rear fuselage. The letter 'K' is black outlined in white, and there appears to be overspray on the swastika.

3 Staffel I. Gruppe Zerstörergeschwader 26 'Horst Wessel' - 3./ZG26 coded U8+

Messerschmitt Bf-11OC-4 Zerstörer 3./ZG26 (U8+AL) pilot Ulrich Freiherr von Gravenreuth crash-landed Cap Gris-Nez, France August 30, 1940 01

Photo 01: Eight Gruppen of Bf110 heavy escort fighters were committed to the Battle of Britain but the type was extremely vulnerable to fighter attack and prohibitive losses resulted in the Bf110 itself requiring fighter escort. This Bf11OC-4, coded 'U8+AL', would normally have been flown by the StaffelkapWin of 3/ZG26, Oblt. Ulrich Freiherr von Gravenreuth, and carries the 'Ringelpitz' emblem of 1. Gruppe on its nose. On 30 August, this aircraft was attacked and damaged by RAP fighters and is seen here after crash-landing on the beach at Cap Gris-Nez.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 3./ZG26 (U8+CL) during Battle of Britain France 1940

Messerschmitt Bf 110C4 Zerstörer 3./ZG26 (U8+DL) flown by H. Reimann WNr 3011 France early 1940

Profile 00: Bf 110C Zerstorer 3./ZG26 (U8+DL) Pilot Feldwebel H. Reimann, Obergefraiter H. Rowe WNr 3011 shot down May 10, 1940 by French Pilot of GC1/5 Sqt. Morel

Logo 3./ZG26 01

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 3./ZG26 (U8+FL) during Battle of Britain Yvrench France 1940

Messerschmitt Bf 110C-4 Zerstörer 3./ZG26 (U8+GL) France 1940

This aircraft was flown by an unknown crew of ZG26

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 3./ZG26 (U8+GL) France 1940

Photo's Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 3./ZG26 (U8+GL) belly landed location unknown 01-03

Messerschmitt Bf 110C-4 Zerstörer 3./ZG26 (U8+GL) Hermann Brinkmann and with Bordfunker Erwin Gr�schow WNr 1372 France 1940

Messerschmitt Bf 110C-4 Zerstörer 3./ZG26 (U8+HL) pilot Brinkmann W.Nr 1372 crash landed England Sep 11 1940 01

Photo's 01-02: Two views of U8+HL, W.Nr. 1372, a Bf 110C-1 crewed by Fw. Hermann Brinkmann, pilot, and Uffz. Erwin Grüschow, Bordfunker, when it was shot down on 11 September 1940. It carries a mix of the early style solid two tone camouflage on the fuselage sides, and the white nose and small rear fuselage band applied to aircraft of I. Gruppe of this unit in the latter stages of the Battle of Britain. Of interest is the small locomotive painted below the windscreen.