The Messerschmitt Bf 110 was an aircraft of very mixed fortunes. It has often been criticized for its failure during the Battle of Britain, while its successes in other fields have been largely ignored. Despite not living up to the Luftwaffe's expectations it did manage to serve Germany throughout the Second World War in the long-range escort fighter, fighter-bomber, reconnaissance, ground attack and night fighter roles.

The long-range multi-seat escort fighter is possibly the most difficult of combat aircraft to design. Certainly no entirely successful machine in this category emerged from the Second World War, and when Professor Willy Messerschmitt began design studies for such a warplane towards the end of 1934 at the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke at Augsburg his problems would have seemed insurmountable had he possessed a full knowledge of interceptor fighter development trends abroad. Such a machine as was required by Marshal Goering to equip the elite "zerstorer" formations that he envisaged had to be capable of penetrating deep into enemy territory, possessing sufficient range to accompany bomber formations.

The fuel tankage necessary presented a serious weight penalty and called for the use of two engines if the "zerstorer" was to achieve a performance approaching that of the lighter interceptor fighter by which it would be opposed. Yet it had to be maneuvrable if it was to successfully fend off the enemy's single-seaters.

The Bf 110Es were capable of carrying a respectable bomb load of 4,410 lb (2,000 kg) as fighter-bombers, while straight fighter and reconnaissance versions were also built. These, and later versions, were operated with a fair degree of success in many war zones. The Bf 110F was basically similar to the E, but two new variants were produced - the 110F-2 carrying rocket projectiles and the F-4 with two 30 mm cannon and an extra crew member for night fighting. The last version, the Bf 110G, was intended for use originally as a fighter-bomber but, in view of the success of the F-4 and the increasingly heavy attacks on Germany by Allied bombers, was employed mostly as a night fighter.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a German Messerschmitt BF 110E-2 twin-engine fighter that was attached to 7./Zerstorergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel", then deployed to Italy during 1941. The exterior of the model has been distressed to give it a more weathered appearance. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 10-inches
Length: 8-inches

Release Date: September 2025

Historical Account: "Screams from Hell" - In response to the failed Italian invasion of Egypt, Hitler aided Benito Mussolini to prevent a collapse of the Axis powers in the North African Campaign. Operation Compass in 1941 drove out the Italian 10th Army and threatened to destroy Italian forces in Italian Libya. Among the Luftwaffe contingent rushed to Africa was III./ZG 26 along with a single staffel from I./ZG 26, 2./ZG 26. They arrived at airstrips near Castel Benito, Sirte and Marble Arch on January 30th, 1941. All of these units came under the command of Gruppenkommandeur Karl Kaschka and his adjutant, Oberleutnant Fritze Schulze-Dickow, who led 8./ZG 26. The group consisted of 7, 8 and 9 staffel. ZG 26 was tasked with supporting elements of StG 1, StG 2 and StG 3 and their Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers. On February 10th, 1941, ZG 26's opponents in Africa amounted to two squadrons; No.73 Squadron RAF and No.3 Squadron RAAF. Two days later Erwin Rommel, commander of the German Africa Corps arrived in Tripoli followed by elements of what became the 21.Panzer Division on February 14th. On this date, ZG 26 suffered the first loss in Africa when III Gruppe Bf 110 was shot down and its pilot Unteroffizier Lippski and his gunner captured. A further loss occurred on February 15th, but III./ZG 26 claimed its first success in combat with 3 RAAF on February 19th. The German unit shielded II./StG 2, and at the cost of one Bf 110 and a Ju 87, destroyed two Hurricanes, killing one pilot. With Operation Sonnenblume in the full-swing, III./ZG 26 suffered two casualties on February 23rd as Axis forces recaptured Cyrenaica.

7./ZG 26 lost one Bf 110 during the battle of Marsa Brega to 3 RAAF. On April 3rd, the 2nd Armoured Division retreated from Antelat, deserting No.6 Squadron RAF which had arrived in that area. The advance caught the squadron off guard and they retreated to Msus. During the day, 6 squadron ran into a formation of II./StG 2 Ju 87s and eight Bf 110s from III./ZG 26. They claimed three certain and three probable victories against the Ju 87s; only one Ju 87 pilot was killed, and four of the Bf 110s. No German losses are stated, and ZG 26's claims of three Hurricanes cannot be confirmed for 6 Squadron's records were destroyed in the retreat. On April 5th, six Bf 110s from ZG 26 strafed an airfield hitting five Bristol Blenheims, a Hurricane and a Lysander. Two of the Blenheim's and the Lysander were un-flyable and burned during the retreat.

In early April the front line consolidated. The 7th Australian Division was landed at Tobruk on 7th and on the 8th the Axis landed the 15th Panzer Division to sustain the drive across Libya and into Egypt. The Allied forces dug in around the port, beginning the Siege of Tobruk. 6 and 73 Squadrons were left in the perimeter of Tobruk, while other Commonwealth units retreated into Egypt. British bomber forces continued long-range support operations; No.55 Squadron RAF lost a bomber to III./ZG 26 in the process on April 8th. ZG 26 lost two more aircraft and one pilot filled the following day for a single claim, in action with 73 squadron, while a 6 Squadron Hurricane was claimed on April 11th. On April 14th, 70 German aircraft along with support from 18 and 155 Gruppo, Regia Aeronautica, attacked Tobruk. 73 squadron lost one pilot killed against III./ZG 26, but three III./StG 1 crews were shot down and captured. A further attack triggered a battle with 3 RAAF; German records confirm the loss of one ZG 26 crew. ZG 26 were able to account for a No.45 Squadron RAF Blenheim before Bf 109s from I./JG 27 arrived to carry the burden of fighter operations. On April 25th, III./ZG 26 reported the destruction of one Hurricane but lost Leutnant Oskar Lemcke when he collided with it. No.274 Squadron RAF lost two pilots missing. In strafing attacks against Tobruk, ZG 26 lost another crew and a further pilot wounded on May 1st. III./ZG 26 supported the defeat of Operation Battleaxe in June 1941, though its pilots claimed a solitary aircraft shot down; on June 17th. The remainder fell to JG 27's Bf 109s.