Bf/Me 110's ...

[SaxMan]

During 1940, the Me110 had a top speed that was about 20 mph faster than the Hurricane and only about 15 mph slower than the Spitfire I. Any plane that had the misfortune of ending up in front of the plane's very powerful and concentrated armament (4 x 7.62mm machine guns and 2 x 20mm cannon) usually didn't survive the encounter. I wonder if the Luftwaffe had employed tactics like those that Chennault used with the P-40, would have the Me110 been more succesful? It would have been deadly in diving hit-and-run attacks. Instead, the pilots tried to mix it up with with Hurricanes and Spitfires and they just couldn't maneuver or accelerate like the single engine fighters.

[JägerMarty]

Too bad it didn't fare well against the opposition. It is one of my favorite looking WWII aircraft, but sadly it didn't do too well.

As others have said, the 110 was a great nightfighter and they wreaked havoc on the Eastern front and not just at the start of the campaign.
Fantastic looking aircraft and lethal forward armament

[JDK]

I always dreamed about being the rear gunner and driving off the Brits with my machine gun! It took me a little while to figure out whose side I was supposed to be on...

Not everyone is born to be a Bordfunker.


(Obviously this is a Ju 88, not a Bf 110, but it's the same job...)
http://www.internationalposter.com/post ... d=GEL15191

... I wonder if the Luftwaffe had employed tactics like those that Chennault used with the P-40, would have the Me110 been more succesful? It would have been deadly in diving hit-and-run attacks. Instead, the pilots tried to mix it up with with Hurricanes and Spitfires and they just couldn't maneuver or accelerate like the single engine fighters.

Apparently they did, but such subtleties of tactics of a specialised fighter were probably never realised by Allied intelligence.

Although outclassed, it was still formidable as a high escort for bombers using the tactic of diving upon an enemy, delivering a long-range burst from its powerful forward-facing armament, then breaking contact to run for it.[26]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschm ... of_Britain

The reference is to Deighton's excellent work on the Battle of Britain.

Regards,

[JDK]

Bringing this back to the first page, here's a quote from this thread; viewtopic.php?f=3&t=34498

For the developing alcoholics among us, there's more bar room on a B-24 tail. Or a Connie.

There's a famous shot of some RAAF (maybe RAF?) pilots drinking off the tail of a Me 110 in N Africa.

Ah, here it is: http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/MED0453

MED0453:
Image copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
ID number MED0453
Object type Black & white
Physical description Black & white
Collection Photograph
Description Western Desert, Libya. 5 June 1942. The bullet riddled tail of a German Messerschmitt ME110 fighter aircraft resting on 44 gallon drums is used as a long bar for the officers mess of a Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk fighter aircraft squadron. The enemy aircraft was shot down by a member of the squadron. In the background is a left-hand drive photographer's vehicle and a tripod. A number of squadron members enjoy a drink of Blackhorse Ale beer at 'the bar'.

Note some souvenir hunter had been interrupted for the photo op.
"Barry, stop trying to hack that swastika off, mate."
"Why?"
"Because there's some bloody journo with some bloody photographer and he wants us to set it up as some bloody bar - as if we'd be drinking in the sun."
"Well ***** him!"
"He's brought the beer."
"Well that's different - where d'ja want it?"

[spiteful21k]

I have a few colour period photo's on my blog http://kevsaviationpics.blogspot.com.au ... l/Bf%20110