Hans-Joachim Jabs

[canonuk]

Hi all,

Another Bf110 question, I'm afraid.

I've reached a bit of confusion concerning Jabs' 'M8+IP'. In John Vasco's 'Zerstoerer' (Classic Publications) there is a photo and profile of 'M8+IP' with a white gun-cowling, attributed to the Crete theatre of operations (Autumn 1940). The photo seems to show an 'E' model.

There's also a profile of 'M8+IP' in John Weal's Osprey book that is said to show Jabs' aircraft during the Battle of the German Bight, winter 1940/41. This aircraft (said to be a 'C' model) doesn't have the white gun-cowling, but matches the other features (including Werknummer)

Can anyone clarify exactly what's going on here? Is it the same aircraft? Was Jabs transferred back to the German Bight following Crete?

Any help greatly appreciated

Joe

[George Hopp]

They are hardly likely to be the same a/c. The Battle of the German Bight took place 1939/40, and the battle of Crete in spring 1941. In between was the Battle of France, Battle of Britain, and battles over Yugoslavia and Greece. Any a/c that was still flying after all that action would have been a wonder indeed.

[canonuk]

Sorry - a little correction. The caption for the Osprey profile says 'German Bight, winter 1940/41' - it doesn't stress the Battle of German Bight

Thanks

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello friend!
Yes, they are the same machine! Check the little booklet BF 110 in Action from Schiffer. You will find a lot of photos from Jabs and his machine. In the battle of France, Britain he flew the M8+IP and later on over Crete and Greece - there are some beautiful air to air photographs on the booklet.
It seems that it was a washable paint. Some of 4./ZG 76 machines got this white gun-nose too while they operated with the Irakians ( I am talking of Lt Martin Drewes whom I met here in Brazil ).
Both photos are correct and it seems that the first one ( with white nose ) was taken just after he came from Crete.
Cheers from Brazil
Adriano

[canonuk]

Hi Adriano,

Many thanks for the answer. So he will have operated this machine in autumn 1940 over Crete, with the white nose, and then removed it during the winter of that year when he was operating over the German Bight?

What about the type of Bf110. Would it be an E variant?

Thanks,

Joe

[George Hopp]

So he will have operated this machine in autumn 1940 over Crete

No, no, no!!! There were no German operations by Bf 110s against Crete in 1940. Get yourself a small book on World War II, to orient yourself regarding the various events of WW2. In early 1941, the Germans had decided to attack the USSR and were slowly moving their army units eastwards. But, in the midst of this, the Yugoslav government underwent a putsch and changed from pro-German to pro-Allied. So, to protect its flank for the Soviet war, the Germans invaded Yugoslavia, then Greece (since its troops were successfully invading Italian Albania, and lastly, Crete, to prevent any Allied buildup on the island

[canonuk]

Sorry, I'm not sure why I posted that. I know when the Crete operations were. It was early in the morning, I was in a hurry, but wanted to reply before I went to work. Hence the drivel...

Thanks

Joe