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Info Eduard - February 2011
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HISTORY
Fighter Group attacked the formation of Zerstörers, which
were getting set to attack B-17 combat boxes. The result
of their action was the loss of twelve Bf 110s, eleven dead
and eight wounded airmen. The rst and second Gruppe
each lost their leaders, Staffelkapitäns of 1st , 2nd and
5th were killed, and the Staffelkapitan of the 6th Staffel
was severely wounded.
We know of a few photos of Bf 110s with the R1 mod
that belonged to all three Staffeln of II. Gruppe ZG 76,
but with no further identication of crew. For the author,
it is not know how the pilots judged the R1 modication,
its ight characteristics or combat performance. Only
a few of those who ew these aircraft survived. ZG 76
suffered heavy losses in the Reichsverteidigung battles
during the winter of 1943 - 1944. The Bf 110 itself was not
comparable to the modern ghter planes of the allied air
forces. Furthermore, the modications with the Flak 18,
or WGr. 21 rockets did not improve maneuverability or
speed. The hunters became the hunted.
After the dark day of October 4th, 1943 another action
came ten days later. ZG 76 claimed ten enemy B-17
aircraft for the loss of two planes, and no crew losses.
Another successful mission followed on the 19th of
December, when crews claimed six B-24s and one B-17.
I. Gruppe ZG 76 lost only two Bf 110s. Two pilots and one
Bordfunker were lost.
The new year, however, turned the wheels of fortune in
the other. Missions own on the 11th and 29th of January,
and the 25th of February 1944, were all accompanied
by higher losses than claims. The biggest problem was
not the material loss, but rather the signicant losses
of experienced aircrews within these few months of the
unit’s existence, and there was also a lack of qualied
leaders.
The last documented Bf 110 G-2/R1 lost with 4./ZG
76 is aircraft W.Nr. 170075, which was shot down near
Ziningen on March 16th , 1944 along with the crew of pilot
Lt. Walter Scott and Bordfunker Uffz. Kurt Haloschnigg.
After this combat, in which three Groups of ZG 76 lost
a total of 24 Bf 110s, III. Group was abandoned. Its
personnel were integrated into I. Group and, together
with II. Group of ZG 76, both were by the end of April
relocated to airbases in the Prague area, to Kbely and
Ruziň airelds. They were slated to undergo re-equipment
to Me 410s. But , that’s another story.
A group of 4. Staffel ZG 76 with Flak 18s. Clearly visible on both birds are the ammo chutes of the Flak 18. The near aircraft M8+KM carries under-
wing W.Gr.21s, while M8+SM does not.
Series of pics showing R1 modied machines, likely belonging to 4.
Staffel (white spinner tip). The top photo again shows aircraft combining
the Flak 18 with W.Gr.21s under the wing.