Bf 110 G-4 into service

[TigerTimon]

Dear reader,

When was the moment the G-4 entered front-line service and with which units?

Greetings,

Timon

[Denniss]

http://www.ww2.dk/oob/bestand/njagd/bnjagd.htm
early 43

[TigerTimon]

Thank you Denniss.

I was wondering when exactly, on what day. I read in the Nachtjagd Combat Archive of Dr. Boiten that Hptm. Helmut Lent flew a Bf 110 G-4 in December 1942 already.
Also, Boiten's work tells he flew the Ju 88 G-6 in summer 1944 already? Was there a special reason he was the fly the newest types first?

Kind regards,

Timon

[Carsten Petersen]

1. I was wondering when exactly, on what day. Mid February 1943, but Lent could have had an early example. I am afraid that you have to go to Freiburg and check the records.

2. Ju 88 G-6 in summer 1944 already? I don't think so, but again Lent had special connections. Stab/NJG 3 first got their Ju 88G-6 in October 1944. Why don't you check with Theo. He is a member of this forum.

3. Was there a special reason he was the fly the newest types first? Yes, he was a Geschwaderkommodore, one of the top scoring night fighter pilots and he was highly decorated. That kind of people always got treated special.

[MW Giles]

First loss of a Bf110 G-4 is

26-Feb-1943 12/NJG1 Bf110 G-4 Werknr 4864
G9+LZ 10km N of Schiermonnikoog
Hptm L Becker +
Fw J Straub +

Therefore having early examples in Dec 42 is not unreasonable


Martin

[retje]

Originally Posted by MW Giles

Fw J Straub +

the correct spelling is: Josef Staub

[Rottler]

Originally Posted by MW Giles

First loss of a Bf110 G-4 is

26-Feb-1943 12/NJG1 Bf110 G-4 Werknr 4864
G9+LZ 10km N of Schiermonnikoog
Hptm L Becker +
Fw J Straub +

Therefore having early examples in Dec 42 is not unreasonable


Martin

GQM loss return 26 Feb 1943 item 223:
24.2. 1./NJG 1 Feindflug, Ort: Gilze-Rijen-Tilburg, Ursache: Absturz, Motorschaden, Aufschlagbrand, Bf 110 G-4 4876, 100%.
F Oblt Gildner, Paul +
Bf Uffz Huhn, Heinz verletzt.
Correction 15 Aug 1943: Uffz Huhn unverletzt.

Balss, Deutsche Nachtjagd:
Ursache: In 550 m Höhe Explosion des linken Motors, welche zum Absturz führte.

Regards
Leo

[TigerTimon]

Thank you very much Carsten Petersen (and the others)!

[Denniss]

neither of these two units reported G-4 losses for 2/43, just for the following month. Are we sure these were G-4?

[ju55dk]

GQM say G-4.