Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>BF 110>HA1815

General Background

1(Z)JG77 was called the "Flying Dachshunds" because of the units 3 mascots named Barnsee, Herdia and Lockheed, named after the unit's first victory, a Lockheed Hudson. Painted on the aircraft nose was a Dachshund with a Rata (Polikarpov I-16) in its mouth. While on the Eastern front Lt. Felix-Maria Brandis was the unit CO and scored 14 victories. LN+LR was one of Brandis' aircraft but on February 2, 1942 while flying LN+AR he failed to return from a sortie. In June 1942 LN+LR was lost to AAA fire.

The Aircraft

Early in 1941 7./ZG 26 was posted in Sicily to protect supplies being transported from Italy to North Africa. They were also there to destroy any Allied aircraft or shipping in the region. In late 1941 7./ZG 26 was transferred to Derna, Libya to join the rest of III Gruppe that were trying to defeat the Allied offensive “Operation Crusader”. Aircraft used in North Africa were painted a sand color on the top portion with national insignias, fuselage codes, white fuselage bands and white-tipped propeller spinners.

Specifications :

Role:	Designed as a fighter bomber
Number Built:	865
Crew:	2
Dimensions
Wingspan:	53 ft 3 in (16.25 m)
Length:	39 ft 7 in (12.07 m)
Height:	13 ft 6 in (4.13 m)
Performance:
Powerplants:	2 x DB 601P 1,175 hp
Speed
Maximum:	350 mph (562 km/h
Cruise:	217 mph (350 km/h)
Landing:	93 mph (150 km/h)
Maximum Rate Of Climb:	2,150 ft/min (11 m/s)
Service Ceiling:	32,000 ft (9,753 m)
Range:	680 miles (1,095 km)
Weight:
Empty:	10,771 lb (4,885 kg)
Maximum:	15,269 lb (6,925 kg)
Armament:	4 x MG17
	2 x MG FF
	1 x MG15
Bombs:	Maximum 2,204.6 lb (1,000 kg) of bombs under the fuselage And
	4 x SC 50 or SC 70 bombs under the wings