Bf 110 G-4 into service
 

Dear reader,

When was the moment the G-4 entered front-line service and with which units?

Greetings,

Timon

Re: Bf 110 G-4 into service
 

http://www.ww2.dk/oob/bestand/njagd/bnjagd.htm
early 43

Re: Bf 110 G-4 into service
 

Thank you Denniss.

I was wondering when exactly, on what day. I read in the Nachtjagd Combat Archive of Dr. Boiten that Hptm. Helmut Lent flew a Bf 110 G-4 in December 1942 already.
Also, Boiten's work tells he flew the Ju 88 G-6 in summer 1944 already? Was there a special reason he was the fly the newest types first?

Kind regards,

Timon

Re: Bf 110 G-4 into service
 

1. I was wondering when exactly, on what day. Mid February 1943, but Lent could have had an early example. I am afraid that you have to go to Freiburg and check the records.

2. Ju 88 G-6 in summer 1944 already? I don't think so, but again Lent had special connections. Stab/NJG 3 first got their Ju 88G-6 in October 1944. Why don't you check with Theo. He is a member of this forum.

3. Was there a special reason he was the fly the newest types first? Yes, he was a Geschwaderkommodore, one of the top scoring night fighter pilots and he was highly decorated. That kind of people always got treated special.

Re: Bf 110 G-4 into service
 

First loss of a Bf110 G-4 is

26-Feb-1943 12/NJG1 Bf110 G-4 Werknr 4864
G9+LZ 10km N of Schiermonnikoog
Hptm L Becker +
Fw J Straub +

Therefore having early examples in Dec 42 is not unreasonable


Martin

Re: Bf 110 G-4 into service
 

the correct spelling is: Josef Staub

Re: Bf 110 G-4 into service
 

GQM loss return 26 Feb 1943 item 223:
24.2. 1./NJG 1 Feindflug, Ort: Gilze-Rijen-Tilburg, Ursache: Absturz, Motorschaden, Aufschlagbrand, Bf 110 G-4 4876, 100%.
F Oblt Gildner, Paul +
Bf Uffz Huhn, Heinz verletzt.
Correction 15 Aug 1943: Uffz Huhn unverletzt.

Balss, Deutsche Nachtjagd:
Ursache: In 550 m Höhe Explosion des linken Motors, welche zum Absturz führte.

Regards
Leo

Re: Bf 110 G-4 into service
 

Thank you very much Carsten Petersen (and the others)!

Re: Bf 110 G-4 into service
 

neither of these two units reported G-4 losses for 2/43, just for the following month. Are we sure these were G-4?

Re: Bf 110 G-4 into service
 

GQM say G-4.

Re: Bf 110 G-4 into service
 

Several books have F-2 Werknummern between 4500 and 5000ish so would be strange to see a G-4 mangled inbetween. Not an expert on Bf 110 though.

Re: Bf 110 G-4 into service
 

In Mankau/Petrick "Messerschmitt Bf 110-Me 210-Me 410" are tables with the Bf 110 Werknummern and series. Here is an excerpt:
4401-4532 E-2
4533-4598 F-2
4601-4620 F-4
4621-4627 G-0
4628-4821 F-4
4828-4853 G-3
4854-4893 G-4
4894-4919 G-3
5001-5010 F-3
5011-5030 F-2
5031-5043 F-3
5044-5108 F-2
5109-5113 F-3
5114-5132 F-2
5133-5148 G-2
5154-5168 F-2
5169-5184 F-3
5185-5251 G-2
5252-5254 G-4
5255-5259 G-2

Regards
Leo

Re: Bf 110 G-4 into service
 

Hello

The earliest reference in my Bf110 database is Bf110G-4 Wnr.4867 which crashed on airfield Münster-Loddenheide on 29th January 1943 during a transfer flight by Überführungskommando Luftzeuggruppe 4. But because the first G-4 had Werkenummer 4854, it is likely that this aircraft was transferred to a nightfighter unit some weeks earlier.

Unfortunately, up to now I have not been able to trace any reference for Bf110 G-4 Wnr. 4854.

All the best, Marcel

Re: Bf 110 G-4 into service
 

Thanks for the answers!
Thank you Leo for the nice list.


Interesting, that would make a December 1942 possible (maybe).


Kind regards,
Timon

Re: Bf 110 G-4 into service
 

Hello Marcel,
according to the WASt-Gräberkarte (death card) the time was 14:22 hrs and location '2 km westlich Münster-Loddenheide'.
Do you know where the first block of Bf 110 G-4 were produced and did this crew take off from Loddenheide?


Kind regards,
Timon

Re: Bf 110 G-4 into service
 

Hello guys,

Most likely the first G-4's were transferred to frontline nightfighter units no sooner than January 1943:

In the NJG 1 the first G-4's arrived in January (Stab NJG 1) and February (the four Gruppen), in my database the first Bf110G-4 accident/crash I could find, is Bf110G-4 (4867) of the Überf.Kdo. Luftzeug Gruppe 4 on 29th January 1943, 100% loss, 2 killed. This neatly fits with known deliveries to the nightfighter units and the dates in Mankau & Petrick.

Best regards, Marcel