1. Staffel I. Gruppe Zerstörergeschwader 76 - 1./ZG76 coded M8+

Messerschmitt Bf 110C 1./ZG76 Zerstorer (M8+DH) 00

Profile 00: Messerschmitt Bf 110C-1 of I./ZG76 M8+DH carries the early style solid fuselage camouflage, and the early style fuselage cross. The small white rings on the spinners are in the Staffel colour of white. Although an early 'C' variant, the swastika is in the later position of being applied to the fin only. 'F' has a small locomotive painted beneath the windscreen.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C 1./ZG76 Zerstorer (M8+DH) 01

Photo 01: An in-flight view of aircraft MS+FH and MS+DH, two Bf 110CIs of I./ZG76. Both aircraft carry the early style fuselage cross. The spinners have a small white ring on them in the Staffel colour of white. 'F' has a small locomotive painted beneath the windscreen, and 'D' appears to have victory bars above the swastika.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C 1./ZG76 Zerstorer (M8+DH) 02

Photo 02: Mechanics work on the alignment of the four machine guns in the nose of this C-1, M8+DH, of I./ZG76.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 1./ZG76 (M8+DH) 1943 01

Photo 01: M8+CH and M8+DH of I./ZG76 in late 1943. Both aircraft have white outline only fuselage crosses and a broad white fuselage band. Note the tailwheel scissors link on M8+CH. M8+CH also carries two W.Gr. Mortar tubes under each wing, and a supplementary fuel tank can be seen under the starboard wing.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C I./ZG76 Zerstorer (M8+FH) 00

Profile 00: Messerschmitt Bf 110C-1 of I./ZG76 M8+FH carries the early style solid fuselage camouflage, and the early style fuselage cross. The small white rings on the spinners are in the Staffel colour of white. Although an early 'C' variant, the swastika is in the later position of being applied to the fin only. 'F' has a small locomotive painted beneath the windscreen.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C 1./ZG76 Zerstorer (M8+FH) 01

Photo 01: An in-flight view of aircraft MS+FH and MS+DH, two Bf 110CIs of I./ZG76. Both aircraft carry the early style fuselage cross. The spinners have a small white ring on them in the Staffel colour of white. 'F' has a small locomotive painted beneath the windscreen, and 'D' appears to have victory bars above the swastika.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer 1./ZG76 (M8+FH) Dackelbauch 01

Photo 01: M8+FH, a Bf 110 0 'Dackelbauch' of I./ZG76. This unit suffered heavy losses during its one mission of the Battle of Britain on 15 August 1940.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer 1./ZG76 (M8+FH) Dackelbauch 0

Photo 02: A frontal view of a Dackelbauch of 2./ZG76 showing to good effect the ribbed construction of the fairing enclosing the additional fuel tank.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstorer 1./ZG76 (M8+HH) 01

Photo 01: These two Bf 110G-2s both carry twin WGr. mortar tubes under the wings. The individual aircraft letter of M8+HH of I./ZG76 is white without any outline. The Bf 110 ahead of it is from 3./ZG76.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstorer 1./ZG76 (M8+UH) 1943 00

Profile 00: Messerschmitt Bf 110G-2, M8+UH, of 1./ZG76 M8+UH, of 1./ZG76 seen on Reich defence duties. Features of the G-2 include an armoured windscreen, revised canopy and MG 81 Z rear armament. This G-2 has two 21 cm. W. Gr. Mortar tubes under each wing. Note that no armament is carried in the upper nose.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstorer 1./ZG76 (M8+UH) 1943 01-02

Photo's 01-02: Two views of Bf 110G-2, M8+UH, of I./ZG76. Note the two w: Gr. Mortar tubes under each wing, dating the photographs as August 1943 onwards. Note that the Staffel letter 'H' in the fuselage code slightly overlaps the thin white fuselage band. The pitot tube inboard of the starboard wingtip indicates this aircraft is from an early batch of'G-2's. Of particular interest is the light coloured fin and rudder of the Bf 110 G-2 behind M8+UH.That aircraft has a white outline only fuselage cross in contrast to the fuselage cross of M8+UH, which has a black central part to the cross.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 1./ZG76 (M8+CH) 1943

Photo 01: M8+CH and M8+DH of I./ZG76 in late 1943. Both aircraft have white outline only fuselage crosses and a broad white fuselage band. Note the tailwheel scissors link on M8+CH. M8+CH also carries two W.Gr. Mortar tubes under each wing, and a supplementary fuel tank can be seen under the starboard wing.

2. Staffel I. Gruppe Zerstörergeschwader 76 - 2./ZG76 coded M8+

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 2./ZG76 (M8+CK) 01

Photo 01: A line-up of Bf 110C's of 2./ZG76. The 'C' of M8+CK is red outlined with white. The nearest aircraft is a C-1 variant.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 2./ZG76 (M8+DK)

Photo 01: A line-up of Bf 110C's of 2./ZG76. The 'C' of M8+CK is red outlined with white. The nearest aircraft is a C-1 variant.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 2./ZG76 (M8+HK) WNr 3170 pilot Leo Schuhmacher France 1940

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 2./ZG76 (M8+JK) France 1940

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstörer 2./ZG76 (M8+OK) WNr 3148

Messerschmitt 110D-0 (Dackelbauch) of 2./ZG76 (The first 'Dackelbauch' Bf 110s were issued to I./ZG76 during the Norwegian campaign and M8+0K, W.Nr. 3148, displays the huge central fuselage fairing covering the supplementary fuel tank. The extended rear fuselage housed emergency equipment for the crew if they came down into the sea, common to 'D' series Sf 110s, can be seen, as can the groove down the top of the port side fuselage housing the release cable for the rear fuselage section. This Sf 110 is also camouflaged in solid two-tone greens, 70/71, with the individual aircraft letter '0' in red.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D 2./ZG76 (M8+OK) Dackelbauch W.Nr 3148 01-02

Photo's 01-02: Two views of M8+0K, W.Nr 3148, a Bf 110D-0 'Dackelbauch' of 2./ZG76 in pristine condition. The letter '0' is red outlined in white. Note the ribbed construction of the Dackelbauch; the two tone upper surface camouflage in the forward section of the aircraft, and the extended rear fuselage section, common to all 'D' variants.

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3. Staffel I. Gruppe Zerstörergeschwader 76 - 2./ZG76 coded M8+

Messerschmitt Bf 110C-1 Zerstorer 3./ZG76 (M8+CL) Poland 1939.

Messerschmitt Bf 110B Zerstorer 3./ZG76 (M8+HL) undergoing an engine change 01

Photo 01: This 'B' shows all the hallmarks of the first variant to go to front line units. M8+HL of 3./ZG76 has the early narrow style of fuselage cross. The narrow underwing cross is placed near the wing tip, with the individual aircraft letter inboard of it. Later, the enlarged underwing cross would be placed far closer to the radiator, changing places with the letter. Note the starboard fin/rudder locks in place, as well as the twin antennae from the cockpit aerial. This photograph also shows to good effect the lifting equipment used to remove the port engine. In the background a 'C' variant can be seen.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer 3./ZG76 (M8+SL)