[Andy Fletcher]

I've been having a lively discussion with a friend of mine about the ability of late model Bf 110s (G-2/G-4 etc) and the Me 410A to sustain damage and survive.

I know when Bf 110G-2s and Me 410s encountered Allied day fighters they were invariably shot down in large numbers but was this because of any inherent structural weakness and inability to withstand damage or as I contend because of lack of performance and hence their inability to fight on equal terms or to escape.

How would a Bf 110G or Me 410 compare to a Mosquito FB.VI or P-38H in terms of ability to sustain damage and survive, I realise that this is probably a difficult question to answer as so many variables effect combat and a single bullet or shell is capable of bringing down an aircraft but as a generalisation how would they compare.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher