World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
15 Jun 2010 10:07:17 AM

Messerschmitt Bf-110 could be from any
Gruppe of ZG/76, Luftflotte 3, France 1940
This unit was known as the "Haifisch Gruppe" (Sharkmouth) However, many other Luftwaffe units during World War II also used the
Sharkmouth marking. Thats my guess, as I have
no codes to go on, from the aircraft in the
photo.
ZG/76 "Sonderkommando(Special Force)Junck", based at Mosul, Iraq, May 1941. The aircraft carried Iraqi marking, but flown were by German crews.
The Italians and Germans supported the Iraqis
against the British from April 18th, to
May 30th 1941. The British defeated the Iraqi
Military, German and Italian forces withdrew.

2.  Bill says:
30 Aug 2010 07:42:48 AM

Messerschmitt Bf 110C of II./ZG 76 early
models were armed with 4x7.92mm machine guns
in the upper nose, and 2x20mm cannons in the
lower part.
This concentration of forward firing weapons was foridable, but the 110 had only one 7.92
machine gun to defend the rear.
During the Battle of Britain, it was found
that the 110 was an easy target for RAF fighters. The Bf 110's were to protect the
bombers it got to the point, where the
Bf 109's had to protect both the 110's and the bombers!
The Luftwaffe lost a total of 223 Bf 110's
starting out with 237.
In one day alone 30 Bf 110's were lost, and
during the month of August 114.

3.  Bill says:
2 Sep 2010 04:48:09 PM

Luftwaffe vs. the Swiss

June 1940 Combat between Germany and Switzerland started, the Swiss maintained
neutrally, the Germans wanted to take a short cut to bomb France.

A Swiss observation plane, an antiquated
biplane was attacked over the Jura Mountains
by Bf 110's and shot down both swiss crewmen
were killed.

Later the same day, 15 Swiss Bf 109's went up
to intercept a formation of He 111 bombers
escorted by 6 Bf 110's.
After the dogfight, 6 He 111's and 5 Bf 110's
were shot down the Swiss lost 1 Bf 109.

The Germans should have started to think, if
the Swiss could shoot down the twin-engined
Bf 110's, with Bf 109 fighters, what chance
would they have against the RAF? time would
tell.

The Bf 110 had good forward firepower if an
enemy fighter got in front of it, but
against high performance single engine fighters, it would be an easy kill.

During the Battle of Britain the Luftwaffe would suffer losses in aircraft and trained
aircrew.