When performing the task of escort and air superiority that they were originally designed
for; the Bf-110 Zerstorers “Destroyers” were very good against Poland and the
Scandinavian countries early in WWII. But once they were put into this role during the
Battle of Britain and came up against the much faster and more agile Hurricanes and
Spitfires the Bf-110 suffered tremendous losses. They were withdrawn from this and
found their calling as night fighters that inflicted large losses on the British bombers that
were unescorted. The tables turned once again as soon as the long range P-47 and P-51
were put into action. The bombers could now fly to and from the target with fighter
protection. Once considered the elite of the Luftwaffe by Goring his Bf-110s once again
ended up as no match for Allied air power.

This aircraft belonged to Willi (Wilhelm) Herget nicknamed “der Kleine” (Titch – a small
person referring to his small build). Even though he now belonged to I/HJG 4 he
continued to use the Bf-110 painted in the scheme of his former unit. Willi had been
assigned to II/ZG 76 that was known as “Haifisch Gruppe” (Shark Fish Group) and was
adorned with a shark mouth painted on the aircraft nose. Over the course of WWII Herget
flew more than 700 sorties and accumulated 71 victories of which 57 were at night. On
one sortie Herget is credited with downing 8 British bombers in less than one hour.

Specifications: Messerschmitt Bf-110G-4

Dimensions
Wing span: 53 ft. 4 7/8 in. (16.27 m)
Length: 41 ft. 6 3/4 in. (12.67 m)
Height: 13 ft. 1 1/4 in. (4.0 m)

Weight
Empty: 10,970 lb (4,975 kg)
Maximum loaded: 21,800 lb. (9,888 kg)

Performance
Maximum Speed: 311 m.p.h. (500 km/h) @ sea-level.
342 m.p.h. (550 km/h) @ 22,900 ft. (6,979 m)
Service ceiling: 26,000 ft. (7,924 m)
Range: 1,305 miles (2,100 km) with maximum internal fuel.

Powerplant
2 X Daimler-Benz DB 605B twelve cylinder inverted-vee liquid cooled engines rated at
1,475 hp (1,099 kw) @ 2,800 rpm for take-0ff and,
1,355 hp (1,010 kw) @ 2,800 rpm at 18,700 ft. (5,699 m).

Armament
2 X 30-mm. MK 108 cannon and 2 X 20-mm MG 151 cannon in nose and,
2 X flexible 7.9-mm MG 81 machine-guns in rear cockpit.

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