The Messerschmitt Bf 110, often called Me 110, was a twin-engine heavy fighter (Zerstörer - German for "Destroyer") in the service of Germany's Luftwaffe during World War II. Hermann Göring was a proponent of the Bf 110, and nicknamed it his Eisenseiten ("Ironsides").
The Bf 110's lack of agility in the air was its primary weakness. This flaw was exposed during the Battle of Britain, when some Bf 110-equipped units were withdrawn from the battle after very heavy losses and redeployed as night fighters, a role to which the aircraft was well suited.
During the Balkans Campaign, North African Campaign and on the Eastern Front, it rendered valuable ground support to the German Army as a potent fighter-bomber.
Me-110 in Or Even Eagle Flew[]
Amelia Earhart's first kill was an Me-110, which she shot down while the 609 Squadron escorted a convoy.[1]
Me-110 in The War That Came Early[]
When the Luftwaffe made its retaliation raid on England after the bombing of Berlin, the Me-110 was introduced as an escort fighter for the Stuka dive bombers. Although it was heavily armed, the Me-110 lacked the agility of the Hurricane or Spitfire and suffered heavily casualties in combat. These weakness came as a shock to the Luftwaffe high command.[2]
When Rudolf Hess journeyed to Scotland in 1940, he flew a 110.
Me-110 in Worldwar[]
The Me-110 was being used as a night fighter by the Luftwaffe when the Race invaded in mid 1942. George Bagnall's Lancaster was nearly shot down by one while he and his squadron were bombing Cologne.
References[]
- ↑ Or Even Eagle Flew, pgs. 51-54, loc. 586-620, ebook.
- ↑ Hitler's War, pg. 256.
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