Trying to identify this 110 shot down in Africa or the MTO. Pictures included.

[Ltbear]

maby a combination between battle damedge and straifing by the allieds. Planes written of as 100% losses was normaly stripped down where you took all the parts that was salvageble.


LTbear

[John Vasco]

To correct and clarify a few things in this thread.

I./ZG 1 was not transferred to the Med. Front. When II./ZG 1 moved to the Med area, I./ZG 1 remained in Russia.

When II./ZG 1 was withdrawn from Montecorvino, it was not redesignated 1./ZG 26. Ltbear, you need to differentiate betwen first Staffel (1.) and first Gruppe (I.). The re-designation of II./ZG 1 did not occur until mid-1944.

S9+MP shown at Montecorvino is a Bf 110 G-2, as evidenced by the later style Bordfunker's canopy. There is no evidence whatsoever to show that II./ZG 1 in the Med flew any 'E' variants. The 'E' was being phased out with the Gruppe once they started receiving the 'F' variant on the Russian front. By the time they reached the Med area, they were equipped with the 'G-2' variant. It is known they had on charge one old 'C' variant in the Med, probably passed on to them by III./ZG 26.

[Richie]

That's always a really good place to look "az is biz". Great pics, skins and excellent source for photos.

[Richie]

I sent this pic of Hans-Joachim Marseille into "Az is biz" about a year ago that I scanned out of a German book about JG27. I never saw it before I bought the book.

[150GCT_Veltro]

@Mysticpuma, i post these other info from Ferdinando D'Amico.

Originally Posted by veltro

A meno di errori di trascrizione (e considerando una pagina mancante al rapporto...), questi sono i Bf 110 trovati sul campo di Montecorvino:

S9+EN
S9+AP
S9+PP
S9+SP
S9+MN
S9+NP
S9+BN
S9+XN
S9+AN
S9+FM
S9+GM
S9+CM
S9+LM
S9+AM
S9+BN
S9+NN
S9+L?
S9+BC
S9+DN
S9+OT
S9+BP
CK+A1

insieme ai resti di altri sei Bf 110 completamente distrutti e non identificabili.

Purtroppo non risulta proprio lo "S9+MP"... anche se le probabilità che sia stato trovato in zona sono elevate (e non scarterei anche l'ipotesi di un errore di trascrizione, ad esempio, dello "NP")

Vi sono almeno tre filmati girati alle truppe inglesi che occuparono il campo di Montecorvino:

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65...s-dive-bombers

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65...munition-boxes

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65..._British-pilot

Tuttavia, il fatto che a Montecorvino furono basati gli Spitfires della RAF, fa venire qualche dubbio che la foto con i due ufficiali USAAF accanto al Bf 110 sia stata scattata su quel campo...

Tanto per fare degli esempi, a Trapani/Milo venne ritrovato il Bf 110 "S9+VP" ed a Catania lo "S9+BN".

These are the Bf-110 found on the Montecorvino airfiled, and 6 more were totally destroyed so was not possible to recognize the code.

S9+EN
S9+AP
S9+PP
S9+SP
S9+MN
S9+NP
S9+BN
S9+XN
S9+AN
S9+FM
S9+GM
S9+CM
S9+LM
S9+AM
S9+BN
S9+NN
S9+L?
S9+BC
S9+DN
S9+OT
S9+BP
CK+A1

There is not a S9+MP but this could be due also to an error in the code transcription (for ex. S9+NP). So, there are however high probabilities that S9+MP could have been found in Montecorvino aswell.

There are also three movies from British Troops about Montecorvino:

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65...s-dive-bombers

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65...munition-boxes

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65..._British-pilot

However, the fact that the RAF Spitfires were based in Montecorvino, brings some doubt the photo was taken on that field ... because of the two officers USAAF next to the Bf 110.

Some other examples: in Trapani airfiled was found the BF-110 S9+VP and in Catania S9+BN.

[Mysticpuma]

Thank you for the update.

I wonder then if this 110 may actually have been a victory of the 325th FG (it was taken by one of their pilots). Very intriguing!

Cheers, MP

[veltro205]

Glad to have been of help, Mystic...!

As far as your hypothesis is concerned, my opinion is that in no way that Bf 110 may have been a combat casualty: the fuselage virtually intact and the neat dismantling of the wings clearly indicate one example cannibalized by the unit and left on the abandoned airfield (wheter it is Montecorvino or elsewhere, the thing still applies.).

As I have said, there are strong possibilities that this example is among those reported abandoned in the airfield area, only transcribed with a wrong individual letter.

At least, this is what experience and observation do suggest.

HTH, all the best

P.S. I have already expressed privately to Ralph my congratulations for the fantastic work you've done. I can only repeat to you directly my admiration and heartfelt gratitude as a researcher.

Ferdinando 'veltro' D'Amico

[Skarphol]

Threads like this one is the main reason that I keep reading this forum! Very interesting!

I do not completely agree with this though:

Originally Posted by veltro205

...in no way that Bf 110 may have been a combat casualty: ...

The reason for scavenging parts of the Bf 110 is probably because it has been damaged beyond repair. The bullet holes in the fuselage indicates that it might be a victim of enemy action.
So it could well be the 325th FG who is responsible for the permanent grounding of this plane.

Skarphol

[veltro205]

One of the "habits" of soldiers everywhere is to shoot at and loot wrecks of enemy material, so a few bullet holes or some bent metal foil - IMHO - does not add anything to the story.

HTH, all the best

Ferdinando 'veltro' D'Amico

[Monguse]

Veltro and Ferdinando glad you posted and helped clear things out.