Bf-110 is THE fighter

[Blue 5]

Criticizing the Germans for parking their fighters next to the bombers instead of sweeping out ahead is easy to do with 20/20 hindsight.

They didn't; it was more nuanced than that; JG26 – with the blessing of Goering – worked around a 3-tier system that saw one Gruppe on sweep, one on high cover and one on close. It was sometimes adopted by other units. The rationale behind the 110s being used as close support was to free up 109s for less constrained escort. Had the 109s been present in sufficient strength then the heavier fighters might have been allowed to operate more imaginatively as Er. 210 was.

The 8th tried something similar once they had enough aircraft and experience; one squadron ahead, one above and one close. They could pursue retiring fighters if the bombers remained covered.