Theo from the Dackelstaffel
The Messerschmitt Bf 110 is known primarily for the high number of victories achieved by German night fighters flying this type. The deployment of the Bf 110 in daytime fighter operations is sometimes associated with various stereotypes that assign this twin-engine aircraft an inferior role compared to single-engine fighters.
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BOXART STORY
The Messerschmitt Bf 110 is known primarily for
the high number of victories achieved by German
night fighters flying this type. The deployment
of the Bf 110 in daytime fighter operations is
sometimes associated with various stereotypes
that assign this twin-engine aircraft an inferior
role compared to single-engine fighters.
In combat against American escort fighters
over Germany in 1943 and 1944, the Bf 110
crews indeed had little chance of scoring
victories or even surviving an engagement.
During the early years of the WW2, however,
the Bf 110, or Zerstörer, enjoyed a completely
different reputation. It was a fast, heavily armed
aircraft that, when employed correctly, was an
exceptionally dangerous opponent. During the
Battle of Britain, it was the Bf 110 that achieved
the best victory-to-loss ratio both within the
Luftwaffe and in comparison with the RAF.
The Luftwaffe also exploited the advantages
of this type in the Mediterranean and on the
Eastern Front. In addition to its considerable
firepower, the aircraft had the advantage of
a longer range than the Bf 109 and could carry
a relatively large bomb load.
At least fifteen German airmen achieved more
than twenty victories in daytime operations with
the Bf 110. Among the top five was Theodor “Theo”
Weissenberger. He first flew a glider in 1935,
later became a flight instructor, and as a reserve
Feldwebel began conversion training on the
Bf 110 in 1941 at Zerstörerschule Neubiberg.
Weissenberger began his combat career in
early September 1941 above the Arctic Circle
with a Bf 110 unit operating against both British
and Soviet forces. This unit was successively
designated 1.(Z)/JG 77, 6.(Z)/JG 5, 10.(Z)/JG 5, and
13.(Z)/JG 5. Formed in early 1941 with aircraft
and crews from III./ZG 76, it was subordinated to
I./JG 77 equipped with Bf 109s. While retaining the
multi-engine aircraft coding system, the former
ZG 76 code “2N+” was replaced with unusual
“LN” on its Bf 110s; the third letter identified the
individual aircraft, while the final letter denoted
the Staffel within the Gruppe or Geschwader.
Initially “S” was used as the final letter, later
replaced by “R”.
The Zerstörerstaffel first carried the three-
wasp emblem of III./ZG 76 on its aircraft noses,
but in the summer of 1941 adopted a dachshund
(German: Dackel) carrying a Rata (Polikarpov
I-16) in its jaws. This emblem became the
unit’s trademark, giving rise to the nickname
Dackelstaffel. Three dachshunds served as its
living mascots throughout the unit’s existence
and occasionally even accompanied crews on
combat sorties.
When Weissenberger arrived at the unit,
his comrades had already accumulated more
than 20 aerial victories, including six Albacore
aircraft from Royal Navy carrier units. However,
nine airmen had been killed or captured, seven
Bf 110s had been destroyed, and another six had
been damaged.
Weissenberger scored his first aerial
victory on 24 October 1941 when he shot down
a Polikarpov I-153 approximately 40 km west of
Litsa. He achieved ace status in February 1942.
When Weissenberger claimed two aerial
victories in the early morning hours of
25 April 1942 during combat with a formation
of twelve Pe-2s, bringing his total to 12 and
13 victories, defensive fire from one of the
gunners (apparently from 608th BBAP) heavily
damaged his Bf 110. The aircraft subsequently
crashed at Salmijärvi and was written off as
a 100% loss.
Weissenberger achieved a total of 23 victories
with the Bf 110 and became the most successful
ace of the Dackelstaffel. He also claimed fifteen
locomotives, two anti-aircraft positions, one
radar station, destroyed a railway station on
the Murmansk railway, and ten large barracks
buildings. His subsequent service took him into
the cockpit of the Bf 109. In September 1942 he
was transferred to 6./JG 5, which formed part of
the newly established JG 5 “Eismeer.” His former
Dackelstaffel was also incorporated into this
Geschwader. In June 1943 Weissenberger became
commander of 7./JG 5, and three months later
assumed command of 6./JG 5. From April 1944
he commanded the entire II./JG 5, and from June
1944 led I./JG 5, which had been transferred to
Normandy. In December 1944 he took command
of I./JG 7, equipped with the jet-powered Me 262,
and one month later assumed command of the
entire JG 7. While flying this revolutionary twin-
engine aircraft, he made extensive use of the
experience he had gained in the cockpit of the
Bf 110. Altogether, Weissenberger flew more than
500 combat missions and achieved 208 aerial
victories, including eight in the Me 262. He began
the war as a reserve non-commissioned officer
and ended it with the rank of Major, serving as
a Kommodore.
Illustration: Piotr Forkasiewicz
Theo from the Dackelstaffel
Text: Jan Bobek
INFO Eduard
21
June 2026