Loss of May 9, 1944 - Lorient Kerlin-Bastard, France
 

Hi/Bonjour,

I am looking for the German unit to which belonged a Me-110 (?) damaged during a strafing of Lorient airfield, France (or Kerlin-Bastard) on 9 May 1944. This aircraft is claimed by Lt. KING who belongs to 887 Naval Air Squadron flying Seafire III. Any information is welcome.

Best regards,
Frederic

Re: Loss of May 9, 1944 - Lorient Kerlin-Bastard, France
 

Seems like it should be either Stab or I./ZG 1, but by May 1944 they were equipped with Ju 88s - not a Bf 110 on hand. Accordingly, my guess is that this is a misidentification by Lt. King on 9 May and it should be a Ju 88 and not a Bf 110.

Lorient – Kerlin Bastard (FR) (a.k.a. Lorient, Guidel, Lann-Bihoue) (47 45 40 N – 03 26 25 W)
Operational Units: V./KG 40 (Sep 42 - Oct 43); TGr. 30 (May 43); Stab/ZG 1 (Aug 43 – Jun 44 with Ju 88); I./ZG 1 (Oct 43 – Jun 44 with Ju 88); 7./ZG 1 (Nov 43).

L. deZ.

Re: Loss of May 9, 1944 - Lorient Kerlin-Bastard, France
 

II./ZG 1 had long gone by this time and I & III./ZG 1 had no Bf 110s. Problem is that finding details of possibly damaged aircraft will be hard as the records for 1944 were lost and without personnel casualties, all but impossible

Re: Loss of May 9, 1944 - Lorient Kerlin-Bastard, France
 

Thank you for your answers gentlemen, I had also thought of ZG 1 but this unit was fitted with Ju-88s - which didn't match. I am also aware of this lack regarding 1944 - which is always a problem for an answer...

Best regards,
Frederic

Re: Loss of May 9, 1944 - Lorient Kerlin-Bastard, France
 

If indeed it was a Bf 110 and if it was damaged

Re: Loss of May 9, 1944 - Lorient Kerlin-Bastard, France
 

And if it is only a damaged Ju-88, with no personnel casualties, the problem of detail remains the same.

Re: Loss of May 9, 1944 - Lorient Kerlin-Bastard, France
 

Unless there is some gun camera footage it may be impossible to tell. I would say there were probably all sorts of unfit to fly aircraft around the airfield some of which may have been French.