KITS 11/2020

Cammo schemes are identical for the kit variants in 1/48 and 1/72 scale

Bf 110D-0, 7./ZG 76, Laval, France, October 1940.

In June 1940 heavy fighter unit II./ZG 1 was redesignated as III./ZG 76 and kept also original emblem three wasps above a cloud. Camouflage of this

airplane consist of RLM 71, 02 and 65. From early 1940 commander of this Zerstörergruppe was Hptm. Friedrich-Karl Dickoré and he continued to lead

his unit under III./ZG 76 designation. On August 15th over the Channel off Weymouth he collided with another airplane during dogfight with Hurricanes

of No. 213 Squadron. His gunner Uffz. H. Templin was captured, but Dickoré did not survive and his body washed ashore dead at Le Touquet on September 20th. From beginning of 1940 commander of 4./ZG 1 (later 7./ZG 76) was Legion Condor veteran Oblt. Rolf „Schlitzohr“ Kaldrack. He scored

three victories in Spain as reconnaissance pilot. In spring 1940 he also shot down one Swiss Bf 109. Kaldrack took over command of III./ZG 76 after

death of Dickoré. He was awarded with Knight Cross in November 1940 after achieving 11 victories since outbreak of war. He was killed in February

1942 on Eastern front and received Oak Leaves posthumously.

Bf 110D-3, WNr. 3378, flown by Oblt. Martin Lutz, CO of Erprobungsgruppe 210, Calais-Marck, France, September 1940

Erprobungsgruppe 210 (Test Wing 210) was formed in July 1940 under the command of Hptm. Walter Rubensdörffer as unit for operations against

United Kingdom. Initially it was supposed to test in combat Messerschmitt Me 210, the intended successor to Bf 110. But new type was delayed and

instead Erp. Gr. 210 got task to develop fighter bomber concept with Bf 110 and Bf 109. Unit performed very well against military and industrial targets, but sustained also heavy losses, including four commanders of Gruppe. One of them was Legion Condor veteran Hptm. Martin Lutz, previously

Staffelkapitän of 1./Erp. Gr. 210 (former 1./ZG 1). He scored one victory in Spain and later on fought in Poland and France. On September 27th during

raid against Parnall aircraft factory near Bristol he was shot down in and killed in „S9+DH“ by Hurricanes of No. 504 Squadron. Lutz was awarded with

Knight Cross posthumously. Camouflage of his airplane consist of RLM 71, 02 and 65. Blue color of letter „D“ was common practice of 1./Erp. Gr. 210.

Bf 110C-6, flown by Lt. Erich Beudel, 1./Erprobungsgruppe 210, Calais-Marck, France, August 1940

This rare version of Bf 110 was equipped with 30mm cannon MG 101 under the fuselage. Operational tests started with 1./ZG 1 during Battle of

France by Viktor Mölders (brother of Werner Mölders) and Martin Lutz. Weapon was used mainly against ground targets. Later on tests continued when

1./ZG 1 became 1./ Erp. Gr. 210. This particular aircraft was camouflaged with colors RLM 70, 71 and 65. Emblem of United Kingdom in gunsight was

used by whole Gruppe. Non-standard blue color of 1. Staffel was used for letter „R“ and propeller spinners. There were six C-6s assigned to 1./ Erp. Gr.

210 from July 1940. Their role was also escort of unit´s fighter bombers. C-6 flight characteristics were pretty good thanks to changed center of gravity.

„S9+RH“ was flown on July 29th by Vienna native Lt. Erich Beudel during escort mission over the Channel. His plane was damaged by Hurricanes of

No. 151 Squadron and he crash landed back in France. On August 15th, 1940 Lt. Beudel was shot down and killed by Hurricanes of No. 111 Squadron

near Horley together with his gunner Ogefr. O. Jordan in their Bf 110C-6 „S9+TH“. It was only C-6 crashed in UK.

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eduard

INFO Eduard - November 2020