Bf 110 G-4 W.Nr. 7302xx block

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hello,

Does anyone know to which manufacturer the 7302xx block was assigned (Bf 110 G-4)?

Also, are there photos known of Bf 110 from this production block or from the same manufacturer?

Cheers,
Roger

[Mark Proulx]

I don't know the specific manufacturer. I retain some images of this production block in my photo collection. For published images look to Luftwaffe Over Czech Territory 1945, page 154. Bf 110 G-4 coded 7J+AF.

HTH

Mark Proulx

[S Sheflin]

Roger,

I am no expert on Bf 110's and I am uncertain of my source, but my database file shows Gothaer Waggonfabrik as the maker of 730XXX Bf 110's.

Steve Sheflin

[Roger Gaemperle]

Mark,
Thanks a lot for the pointer to the photo in Luftwaffe Over Czech Territory 1945. Unfortunately, I don't own yet a copy of that book. Does 7J+AF have a relatively dark camouflage with white national markings on the tail and fuselage?

Steve,
Thanks a lot for sharing the information from your database. Can anybody else confirm Gothaer Waggonfabrik?

Cheers,
Roger

[Mark Proulx]

BF 110 G-4, 7J+AF, W.Nr 730255 was photographed at Letnany airfield. The fuselage and upper wing crosses are white. Swastika marking solid black with white surround. The W.Nr. applied in black to the upper surfaces of the vertical tail assembly. The upper surfaces are applied in a splinter pattern over the wings and fuselage. Looks like RLM 74/75/76 to me. Spinners are solid black.

HTH

Mark Proulx

[S Sheflin]

Roger,

Further to your Bf 110 question, I did a little more research. I have 29 Bf 110s in my files with Werknummern from the 730XXX series and purportedly built by Gothaer Waggonfabrik. Of these, seven reference one of the Allied Crashed Enemy Aircraft reports (CEA) as my source. While never 100% accurate, I suspect that something as major as the maker of the airframe would be something they would probably get right.

Steve Sheflin

[Roger Gaemperle]

Mark,
Thanks a lot for the description. I have photos of W.Nr. 730256, just one aircraft apart, that has a dark overall camouflage and white swastikas on the tail. I guess this was field-applied.

Steve,
Interesting, thank you for checking. Is W.Nr. 730256 in your list by any chance? It was found destroyed at the end of the war. Unfortunately, no tactical markings can be seen.

Best regards,
Roger

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Roger,

In my far from complete and perfect Bf110 database (8552 entries now) I have about 200 entries for the 730xxx block. Where known, it seems that these were produced by Gotha.

I have a reference on Wnr.730256: on 21-9-1944 it was used by the III./NJG 1 (according to an ULTRA-report, kindly provided from Remi Francelli for further research).

Let me know whether the reference to III./NJG 1 does match with your picture(s), all the best,

Marcel

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hello Marcel,

Thanks a lot for the interesting information about W.Nr. 730256 and your database that confirms Steve's finding that many (if not all) 730xxx block Bf 110 G were produced by Gothaer Waggonfabrik.

Does the ULTRA report say anything about the location or any other additional information? The aircraft does unfortunately not carry any tactical markings, but appears to have been overpainted with some darker colors (maybe the tactical codes were also overpainted). No radar antennas can be seen but as it was found damaged it may be that they had been previously removed.

Regards,
Roger