Loss of May 9, 1944 - Lorient Kerlin-Bastard, France

[Henofred]

Hi/Bonjour,

I am looking for the German unit to which belonged a Me-110 (?) damaged during a strafing of Lorient airfield, France (or Kerlin-Bastard) on 9 May 1944. This aircraft is claimed by Lt. KING who belongs to 887 Naval Air Squadron flying Seafire III. Any information is welcome.

Best regards,
Frederic

[Larry deZeng]

Seems like it should be either Stab or I./ZG 1, but by May 1944 they were equipped with Ju 88s - not a Bf 110 on hand. Accordingly, my guess is that this is a misidentification by Lt. King on 9 May and it should be a Ju 88 and not a Bf 110.

Lorient – Kerlin Bastard (FR) (a.k.a. Lorient, Guidel, Lann-Bihoue) (47 45 40 N – 03 26 25 W)
Operational Units: V./KG 40 (Sep 42 - Oct 43); TGr. 30 (May 43); Stab/ZG 1 (Aug 43 – Jun 44 with Ju 88); I./ZG 1 (Oct 43 – Jun 44 with Ju 88); 7./ZG 1 (Nov 43).

L. deZ.

[Chris Goss]

II./ZG 1 had long gone by this time and I & III./ZG 1 had no Bf 110s. Problem is that finding details of possibly damaged aircraft will be hard as the records for 1944 were lost and without personnel casualties, all but impossible

[Henofred]

Thank you for your answers gentlemen, I had also thought of ZG 1 but this unit was fitted with Ju-88s - which didn't match. I am also aware of this lack regarding 1944 - which is always a problem for an answer...

Best regards,
Frederic

[Chris Goss]

If indeed it was a Bf 110 and if it was damaged

[Henofred]

And if it is only a damaged Ju-88, with no personnel casualties, the problem of detail remains the same.

[James A Pratt III]

Unless there is some gun camera footage it may be impossible to tell. I would say there were probably all sorts of unfit to fly aircraft around the airfield some of which may have been French.