What was the purpose of equipping stabschwarms and staffels of StGs with Bf-110s and Fw-189s?

[Nikita Egorov]

Came across some losses of Bf-110s and Fw-189s from stab/StG2 and stab/StG77 on the Eastern front. Rather strange, were they used to control the results of dive bombing missions or tactical recon of future targets?

TIA

[Graham Boak]

Perhaps, but also as hack aircraft, used for liaison work. An Fw189 might do for hopping over to a nearby airfield/headquarters, or for picking up a shot-down crew from a forward field, or just for staff memebers to keep their hand in. A Bf110 could be used for more distant trips.

[Dénes Bernád]

Originally Posted by Graham Boak

Perhaps, but also as hack aircraft, used for liaison work. An Fw189 might do for hopping over to a nearby airfield/headquarters, or for picking up a shot-down crew from a forward field, or just for staff memebers to keep their hand in. A Bf110 could be used for more distant trips.

I'd say it was rather the other way around (without actually checking the aircraft types' ranges).
The Fw 189 was used by several high ranking Lw officers as transport.

[Graham Boak]

I think your first impressions are misleading you. The Fw189 is clearly more convenient for transporting generals around, but it is a short-range tactical aircraft, and a quick look at a convenient reference (the classic Green Warplanes of the Third Reich) gives a maximum range of 416 miles. A representative early model of the Bf110, the F-2, is quoted at 745 miles on internal fuel alone. Tables for the Bf110C suggests slightly lower ranges at specific lower altitudes. I can't find an equivalent range with external tanks, but over 1300 miles is quoted for the later G-4.

For longer ranges generals would use bombers, Kesselring being associated with various members of the Dornier family. Probably others, too.

[Jim P.]

Unit hacks, liaison and recon before and after strikes. There are photos of Do 17s from St.G 1 used for this type of work from 1941.

[CJE]

Convenient or not, maybe Stabs were issued whatever aircraft that were available on the spot even if they did not suit their purposes.