ME-110 Claims on 16 Mar 44 by 354FG ETO

[aaatripp]

Can anyone provide further information about ME-110s claimed destroyed, probable or damaged on this
date by members of the 354FG?

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We know that Wallace Emmer (353FS) claimed a damaged 110 approx. 1200h in vicinity of Nordlingen.

Albert Ricci (353) is confirmed to have destroyed a 110, but no details are given as to time or location.

Hunt & Arnold (353) may have shared in the destruction of a 110, but it may also have been another
pilot who shared with Arnold. Again, no time or location avail.

Finally, early in the engagement, Glenn Eagleston (353) fired at a 110 which dove for the deck; he did
not observe any strikes, nor did he make any claims on this a/c.
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Any addtl. info. re the above encounters on 16 Mar 44 would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for any
assistance with this puzzle.......
Tripp

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Tripp,

There are some losses at the ZG 101:

- an old Bf110B-1 (Wnr. 925), I./ZG 101 near Biberach, aerial combat, 3 KIA, 80% damage
- a Bf110C-7 (Wnr. 3616), 2./ZG 101 near Laupheim, aerial combat, 2 KIA, 80% damage
- a Bf110E-2 (Wnr. 3756), 2./ZG 101 near Ulm, aerial combat, 2 KIA

Which claim belongs to which loss, will be your next challenge, I can't help here very much.

All the best, Marcel Hogenhuis / Venlo

[Khorat]

this date I had ZG 101 2 Bf 110 100% and 1 Bf 110 80%

ZG 76 had 18 Bf 110 100% 1 bf 110 85% and 6 damaged.

khorat

[aaatripp]

Dear Marcel & Khorat,

Thank you very kindly for your quick & interesting data responses on ME-110 losses on the date 16 Mar 44. Please forgive my lack of familiarity with Luftwaffe designations, but I need some assistance in understanding your info:

ZG 101 = Zerstorergeschwader 101 (ME 110 Sqdn 101) ?
Bf110C-7 = ME110, model C, block 7 ?
Wnr. 925 )
Wnr. 3616 ) are these a/c Ser. numbers?
Wnr. 3756 )
aerial combat = type of loss (aerial combat, ground fire, mechanical prob)
2 KIA = # crew aboard a/c killed in action
80% damage = % damage to a/c (able to return to base?)
100% damage = complete loss (a/c crashed?)
6 damaged = 6 damaged but able to return to base ?
With normal crew of 2 (3 for night missions), would loss of 2-3 KIA always
mean total loss of the a/c?

Thanks again for your help with the above details.
Tripp

[Khorat]

ZG = Zerstörergeschwader
ZG 101 was a training unit - but also (mostly the instructors) in combat use
ZG 76 was a regular combat unit
Bf 110 C-7 Bf = Bayrische Flugzeugwerke - this was the offical name
Me was the short for Messerschmitt (Me 109 - official Bf 109)
Wnr. 1234 - the serial number
aerial combat - shot down by enemy plane or damaged due to enemy action
60% - 100% damage was mostly a total loss - crashed, crashlanded, etc.
d - means plane returned with battle damage if below 60% will be repaired
daytime regular only 2 crewmembers (except maybe nightfighters in transfer flight)

regards
khorat
Michael Balss

[aaatripp]

Michael------

To sum up my appreciation for your detailed explanations, I must say.....
Danke!

To understand the damaged % and KIA explanations, I must ask: how would
they describe an a/c & crew which was shot down and did not return? (my guess is 100% loss and 2-3 KIA?)

Regards,
Tripp

[Laurent Rizzotti]

100% damage was a total loss: either a missing aircraft, an aircraft shot down in enemy territory or an aircraft desintegrated or totally burnt in the crash.

60-99% means a beyond repair aircraft, but where some parts could be recovered (more on a 60% aircraft than on a 99% one).

1-60% means a repairable aircraft: depending of the percentage it could be repaired on the unit level (<10%), or in workshops or factories. A 50% damage will take often months to be repaired.

Note that 60% is the limit between repairable and beyond repair aircraft: n most cases 60% damage aircraft were not repaired, but they could be sometimes.

[aaatripp]

Excellent, thank you Alter, for further explanations.

So.....a listing for 3 KIA, 80% damage would indicate an a/c which returned,
was heavily damaged in battle and/or upon crash landing and all 3 crew members died (either in battle or from
wounds upon landing--of course the pilot would have to land/crash land the plane before succumbing to wounds)?

Have I got that right now?

Many thanks to all who are helping.
Tripp

[drgondog]

Tripp - as you try to sort and match 354th FG scores - recall that the 4th FG was credited with twelve Me 110's from SW Munich to Kaufburen and the 357th was credited with six+ 110's SW&SE Stuttgart, SW Munich, Lake Constance, Ludwigshafen, Augsburg and Ulm in addition to Do217 and Me 410.

[aaatripp]

Thanks drgondog,

That is very helpful info. for sorting out the info. provided by various Forum
members.....that will certainly reduce the possible encounters.

Thanks all....now it's time to get out the map and sort out all of the possibilites, thus far.

Cheers,
Tripp