KITS 01/2023

WNr. 4035, Sonderkommando Junck, Mosul Air Base, Iraq, May 1941

After the outbreak of the Anglo-Iraqi War, which

lasted from April 18 to May 30, 1941, the Italians and

Germans gave their military support to the Iraqis.

The Luftwaffe opposed the RAF with the unit named

Sonderkommando Junck, which had Messerschmitt

Bf 110 fighters, Heinkel He 111 bombers, and Junkers

Ju 52 transport planes in its inventory. The unit was

commanded by Oberst Werner Junck, who, during the

course of the First World War with Jasta 8, gained

five aerial victories. Between the wars, he was a

well-known sport pilot. The Messerschmitts Bf 110

carried Iraqi national insignia but were manned by

German crews. In fact, the aircraft in question came

from ZG 76 and ZG 26. The only unit’s victory during

this episode was achieved on May 20, 1941 by Lt. Martin Drewes (a future night fighter ace) of II./ZG 76,

when he shot down a Gloster Gladiator flown by Sgt.

Smith of A Squadron of Habbaniya Strike Force over

Fallujah. Messerschmitt Bf 110E WNr. 4035 was found

by the British after a forced landing. It was repaired

in September 1941 and christened “Belle of Berlin”.

Later it was flown to Egypt to No. 267 Squadron. The

aircraft was written off after a forced landing enroute to South Africa.

utilized by the same Gruppe of heavy fighters that

went through several designation changes (including

II./SKG 210) and, finally, in early 1942, ended up as

II./ZG 1. Soon, other Gruppe of Zerstörergeschwader

1 came to use the wasp emblem and their Geschwader carried the operational name of “Wespen”. This

aircraft sported the RLM 74/75/76 camouflage

pattern.

6./ZG 1, Russia, Summer 1942

The wasp emblem (Wespe) was designed in the autumn of 1939 by Lt. Richard Malchfelder, a technical

officer of one of the Zerstörergruppe (II./ZG 1). It was

originally composed of three small wasps, and was

42

INFO Eduard

January 2023