Help re info on ME 110

[letrbuck]

I'm a new subscriber to this wedsite and I hope you all can assist me. I have what I believe is a piece of a German WWII aircraft tail. It has the swastika and six bars on it (due to the position of the bars, I believe they are bombing mission marks vice "kills"). From my brief knowledge of the peice and what I can glean from the web so far, I believe it was a Battle of Britian era shoot down. The piece came from England and is a similiar color scheme from what the German's used for their aircraft of this era. From the size of the piece and the area of the swastika, I have ruled out the fighters. I believe I have a tail piece of the twin engine Bf 110. If I could find some blue prints of the rivet patterns of the 110, I beleive I could ultimately determine if this is a 110 or not. Does anyone out there know:

1) where I can find a blueprint of the rivet patterns of a 110,
2) a really good resource on German bomber paint schemes so I can possibly verify when this might have flown (I understand the Germans changed thier paint schemes frequently, and
3) any web sites or publications that may help me determine if German bomber crews placed mission markings on the fin of their aircraft similiar to kill markings on the fighters (I suspect so, but haven't been able to find any actual pictures of this on german bombers).

Thanks for the help!

LetRBuck

[George Hopp]

It would be nice if you were able to show a photo of what you have. But, as a general rule, Germans a/c did not show bomber missions, only bomber successes, ie. ships damaged or sunk, balloons shot up, enemy a/c shot down, etc. And, fighters and fighter/bombers did about the same, although with fighters, generally you would see only victories, since that was their job. These victories were normally vertical bars, with a date, and a nationality roundel.

[Jon]

Hi
Is it the bit that just sold on Ebay ?

Regards

Jon

[letrbuck]

Thanks George and Jon for your replies. I'm aware of the kill markings on German fighters. Unfortunatley these bars don't have a roundel on above them and just appear to be in the wrong positon for vertical kill markings. I have seen pictures of bombers with "successes" (i.e. sunken ships), but this was a little different and I didn't know if the German's used bars for bombing missions. I also, unfortunately, don't have the piece with me handy to take a digital photo. I will try to get one in the next week or two to post on this sight. I purchased this in Switzerland about 2 years ago. Not the deal on ebay. I'll attempt to get a picture soon. Appreciate any assist with the blueprints and any other information you all might have. Thanks.

[John Vasco]

I don't wish to put a damper in things, but please be aware that fakes of pieces of Luftwaffe aircraft were circulating in England some years ago. You need to be pretty certain of the provenance of the piece before you go any further. Can you provide details of how, and from whom, you acquired the piece?

John Vasco

[letrbuck]

Gentlemen,

Attached are some pictures of the piece I mentioned. I purchased this in Switzerland from a younger woman who told me that it was her great-grandfather's and that he cut it from an airplane that crashed in their field in England. She wasn't necessarily looking to sell it, but wasn't sentimentally tied to it either. There was quite the attention with others when I was talking with her. Any help or assistance to identify if it's original and if so, what type of plane it may be from would be great. I believe it may be a 110. I'm having trouble figuring the bars. They are not kill markings. I thoiught they may be mission markings, but that doesn't seem to be the German practice. Any advise, assistance etc would be helpful. thanks.


LetRBuck

[Jon]

Hi.

Looking at the photos, it does look genuine to me also. I have been collecting relics for many years now and have a panel removed from the wing of a JU88. I find that the rear of the relic...the bit inside the wing is the real bit to study to determin if it is genuine or not.
As for the markings...certainly a Kill tally.

If it is genuine, i hope you do not mind if i call you a luck B*****d
But well done.

Jon