Seeking photo of Bf110D-0 of Oblt Helmut Lent, Sta Kap 6./NJG1 circa 23.9.40 to 01.07.41

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

For the EoE Bf110 a/c Color Profile Project I'm seeking photos of the Bf110D-0, possibly configured as a Dackelbauch, of Oblt Helmut Lent, Sta Kap of 6./NJG1. At the time he transferred from 1./ZG76, he is believed to have been flying W.Nr.3168, a Dackelbauch, with the code M8+DH, which displayed seven victory tabs on the tail. It is believed that he flew this aircraft on the infamous 15.08.40 raid on the E Coast of Britain from Aalborg, Denmark. Thereafter I./ZG76 was disbanded with many of the crews and aircraft transferring to NJG1 for retraining on night fighters. Lent was appointed the first Sta Kap of the newly formed 6./NJG1 on 23.09.40, a position that he continued to hold until 01.07.41

Since I have access to his Flugbuch, which has survived, I know that he usually flew an a/c coded G9+DP with his new unit, which I think was likely the recoded W.Nr.3168. Since 1./ZG1 was equipped with the Dackelbauch version of the D-0 from about June of 1940, his transferred a/c was probably this version, which had a detachable belly gas tank, which could be removed. There are several photos showing NJG1 Bf110s with these belly tanks, some of them painted entirely black, like the rest of the a/c. If he continued to fly 3168, this a/c probably also carried his 7-victory scoreboard on the upper fin. This wouldn't have changed through the end of 1940 until May, 1941, when he achieved his 8th victory. More than likely this a/c would have soon been painted all-black, with the NJG1 diving eagle emblem applied on both sides of the nose.

Does anyone have or know of a reference source for this a/c suitable for profile purposes? We have complete reference material on least five different versions of Lent's various a/c with 1./ZG76 from 09.39 through 08.40, but lack any photos of his 6./NJG1 aircraft, which would allow us to complete that part of the project.

Who can help?