Bf110-E Werk Nr 3863, major Erich Groth

[John Vasco]

If you look through that book thoroughly, you will see some strange things! For example, photo page 12, bottom, shows a 'B' variant with squared-off wingtips which were introduced on the 'C'. And on page 13, top, a 'C' with rounded wingtips which were common up to the 'B' variant!

The point I'm making is that you can have guidelines for each variant, but what actually happened, particularly on the cross-over of variants/sub-variants, is anybody's guess. It would probably be driven by what was available at the point of production at any given time.

If that E-1, 3863, was ready to have engines fitted, and the only ones in the factory were the DB 601 A, then it is likely that the factory fitted DB 601 As, and marked the engine cowlings accordingly, so that ground crew were aware of the engine type fitted. It is probably no more complicated than that.

Take a look at page 105 of the book. That Bf 110, S9+HP, has so many odd things going on with it, that it was impossible to pinpoint exactly what it was.

It's fascinating, but can also be quite frustrating at times!