Bf110's actions on 12 october 1944, Ponikev Velké area

[Evgeny Velichko]

Greetings gents!

Sorry for this bad english, but this is what google translator made:

Logachev Vladimir G.
3 MinBatr, 339 SP, 120 GvSD, 3rd Shock Army of 2nd Byelorussian Front.

Remember, of course, the episode, when the October 12, 1944 near the village Ponikev Velké our company actually destroyed the mortar shell. We then fought to expand the bridgehead. Our aviation at that time dominant in the air, and that blunt our vigilance.Our company, and we had 4 officers, sergeant and 29 soldiers from 6 mortars, stopped near some hill. Shoot at the Germans, and founded a pause. Rather than follow the requirements of the statute dig around, the soldiers began to relax, some walked around and our foreman ran shouting: «I pick off a rabbit, fry him».Our commanders, too, instead of thinking about their soldiers, thinking only about how to cook a rabbit. At this point two German aircraft flew to us, it seems, they were fighter-bombers «Messershmitt-110». First they dropped a cluster bomb and then fired at us out of the cannon and machine guns. Of the whole company remained intact, only 8 people, the rest were wounded or killed ... Hard wounded my friend Nikolay Suhopyatkin, but he remained alive. All our kommanders ran into one hole, but they hit the wall and they were just smashed by the rocks from which in the field constructing all the buildings ...

So, my questions is:

Who could be those Bf110's? Night fighters? Any suggestions about regiment?

[Nokose]

Evgeny,
I believe that I/NJG5 and I/NJG100 were still using the Bf-110 on the eastern front at that time. Maybe someone else can give more.

[Evgeny Velichko]

Thx Michael.

Ponikev Velké - is it in Poland?

[George Hopp]

Were Eastern Front 110 night-fighters used for daylight fighter-bomber attacks? Perhaps, but I tend to think not. Really, in the twin-engine category, the only one I can think of right now is the Fw 189 recce a/c, which had forward armament and could carry bombs.

Otherwise, it might have been a friendly fire incident.

[Evgeny Velichko]

As far as I know, NJG units DID involved and day low level attacks on advancing Soviet troops in late 1944 and 45 on Ostfront.

But I am not sure with the unit, because I am not aware which a/f is where in Poland.

[Dénes Bernád]

Originally Posted by George Hopp

Really, in the twin-engine category, the only one I can think of right now is the Fw 189 recce a/c, which had forward armament and could carry bombs.
Otherwise, it might have been a friendly fire incident.

Let's not forget the Henschel Hs 129, a dedicated twin-engine ground attack aircraft, which was active up 'till the end of the war (in Europe).

[Evgeny Velichko]

But only 1 a/c had twin tail

And, as far as I understand, it was low level attack.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

In the cited source, the fin of the aircraft is not described. As the witness was not an airman or an AA gunner, I don't think he was especially trained in distinguishing German aircraft types. So a two-engine fighter bomber was a Bf 110 for him. The Hs 129 was a rather rare aircraft.