Bf 110C, DE+MP

[Dénes Bernád]

There is a famous and much published photo of a pair of Luftwaffe Bf 110s flying over Budapest, sometimes in 1944, with the Hungarian parliament nicely visible on the ground. It is often (erroneously) published in connection with Hungary's occupation by the Germans in March 1944.

The closest airplane is DE+MP and has a 'Red (?) 1' on its nose and a yellow mid-fuselage ring in front of the 'D'. The airplane - most probably a C-4 - was part of 'Ausb. Kdo. Zerstörer', a training unit operating in Hungary.

Does anyone have it's Werknummer? I have 3274 and 3544 for it (the last one is questionable). How about the final fate?

Thanks.

[Peter D Evans]

By cross referencing the code via http://www.luftwaffe-experten.org/stammkennzeichen.html - the source was found to be from page 8 of Luftwaffe Verband [Issue 16, Oct.98]. The caption to the image in question says:

"Two Bf110C-4s of the Ausbildungskdo fur Zerstorer fly over Budapest, Hungary in May/June 1944. The nearest aircraft, DE+MP, was W.Nr.3274 and still retained the yellow fuselage band of its former owner 6./ZG1."

The paragraph above says that this unit was based at Ferihegy and trainned Hungarian destroyer crews. While with this unit the aircraft was damaged 60% during take-off at Krasnodor on 27th September 1944.

Hope this helps,

Peter D Evans
LEMB moderator

[Rabe Anton]

Primary sources confirm that the Bf 110 D E + M P was Werknummer 3274. Petrick and Mankau carry it as a Bf 110C-4.

RA