Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>BF 110>HA1806

General Background

When used as a heavy-fighter-bomber the Bf-110 had mixed results. But when airborne radar was added along with nose-mounted armament and Schrage Musik (the upward firing cannons) the Bf-110 became a deadly nighttime predator for British bombers. By the end of 1942 Germany had almost 400 night-fighters of which 75% were Bf-110s. These deadly hunters managed to destroy almost 1300 aircraft during 1942 alone. As the British bomber attacks increased in size and frequency the Bf-110 was simply overwhelmed and couldn’t cope allowing more and more bombs to make it to German cities.

The Aircraft

In 1942, II/SKG 210 was renamed II/ZG 1 “Wespen”and sent to Italy. From time to time Bf 110G night fighters were used on day operations. They were first employed as close escort to the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau off the Dutch coast and Heligoland Bight, and in the summer of 1943 they fought American day-bomber formations whenever the latter flew unescorted. The Bf 110G groups sustained heavy losses during these actions owing to their pilots, trained in night-fighting tactics, going in close before attacking and being met by the heavy defensive fire of the bombers. They were no match for American fighters escorting American B-17 and B-24 bombers over Berlin.

Specifications :

Powerplant:	2 X Daimler Benz DB 605B 12 cylinder inverted-vee liquid-cooled engines rated @ 1,475 hp
	(1,099 kw) @ 2,800 rpm for take-off and, 1,355 hp (1,010 kw) @ 2,800 rpm @ 18,700 ft. (5,699 m).
Dimensions:	Wing Span - 53 ft. 4 7/8 in. (16.27 m)
	Length - 41 ft. 6 3/4 in. (12.67 m)
	Height - 13 ft. 1 1/4 in. (4.0 m)
	Weight Empty - 10,970 lb (4,975 kg)
	Maximum Loaded - 21,800 lb. (9,888 kg)
Performance:	Maximum Speed - 349 mph (562 kph) at 22,965 ft (7,000m)
	Range - 528 miles (850 km) at 304 mph (490kph) at 16,400 ft. (5,000m)
	Initial climb - to 5,500m (18,045 ft.) in 8 minutes
	Service Ceiling - 32,800 ft. (10,000m)