Messerschmitt Bf 110 Night Fighters

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 night fighter of NJG6 (Werk Nr 110054) in 1944.

by J. Richard Smith

A widespread impression was created in the years that followed the Second World War that the Messerschmitt Bf 110 was a dismal failure. Certainly, when faced with modern single-engined fighters, the Bf 110 was outclassed, but in the role of bomber interception, especially at night, the Messerschmitt product was an undoubted success. It remained in service with the Luftwaffe until the end of the war, although by that time it was being replaced by the Ju 88G and He 219 night fighters.

Development of the Bf 110 began in 1934, the prototype flying for the first time on 12 May 1936, powered by two 910-horsepower Daimler Benz DB600 engines. A small batch of Bf 110As and Bs preceded the first major production model, the Bf 110C powered by 1,100-horsepower DB601 units.

The high speed and heavy firepower of the Bf 110 led an enthusiastic Göring to create a special Zerstörer (destroyer) force from the élite of the fighter squadrons to fly the machine. This force proved successful during the early campaigns in which the Luftwaffe was involved, but the Battle of Britain quickly revealed the shortcomings of its aircraft. Although relatively fast, the Bf 110 lacked the maneuverability and acceleration of the Spitfires and Hurricanes to which it was opposed. During the months of August and September 1940, no less than 223 Bf 110s were lost in combat, and it was realized that the aircraft could no longer operate in daylight as a fighter against effective opposition.

Sometime earlier, on the night of 15/16 May 1940, ninety-nine RAF bombers had attacked the Ruhr. A ground haze had rendered the searchlights, and consequently the extremely effective anti-aircraft gun network, impotent, and stressed the urgent need for the establishment of a proper night fighter force.

Later in the month I./ZG 1, which had already flown some night interception missions with its Bf 110s, was transferred from Denmark to the western front. The unit's commander, Hptm. Wolfgang Falck, was asked to concentrate his group on combating the British raids, the first nocturnal success coming on 19 July 1940, when Oblt. Werner Streib shot down a Whitley bomber. The following day, I./ZG 1 was renamed I./NJG 1 and two further groups established. Falck was made commander of the new Geschwader and Oberst Josef Kammhüber was ordered to create a night fighter division.

Equipment at this time was rather rudimentary, both I. and III./NJG 1 operating standard Bf 110Cs fitted with flame dampers. The first night fighter aid to be introduced into the Luftwaffe was the Spanner Anlage infrared sensing device. This was actuated by the hot exhaust gases emitted by the enemy bomber registering as a trace on the Q-Rohr sighting screen. The first success using this device came on the night of 18/19 October 1940, when Oblt. Ludwig Becker of 4./NJG 1 flying a Do 17Z destroyed a Wellington.

Towards the end of 1940 the first effective German night fighter control system was established. Known as Himmelbett (four-poster bed) the system comprised a Freya radar set with a range of 100 miles, two shorter-range Würzburg sets, one for tracking the fighter and one for following the bomber, and a Seeburg plotting table. By March 1941 a chain of Himmelbett stations (popularly known as the "Kammhüber Line") stretched from Belgium to the Danish border.

The success of the Himmelbett system led to a low priority being placed on the development of airborne radar sets. The first set to be used operationally was the Lichtenstein BC which had a range of two miles and worked on a frequency of 490 mHz. The installation of the set necessitated a series of cumbersome prong-like antenna known as Matratzen (mattresses) being fitted to the nose of the aircraft. The task of introducing the set into service was entrusted to a squadron of I./NJG 1 at Venlo.

By the end of 1942, the German night fighter arm had been expanded to sixteen groups divided amongst five Geschwader. The majority of these were equipped with the Bf 110F-4 and G-4, which, although possessing an adequate performance to deal with the Wellington, Stirling and early Halifax bombers of the RAF, were hard put to it when attempting to chase the new Avro Lancaster. Despite this inadequacy in the Bf 110 night fighter's performance, deliveries continued to increase.

It was not until 24 July 1943 that the first real blow was delivered to the German night fighter force and the Himmelbett reporting system. On this night the RAF used the Window metal foil jamming device for the first time, effectively blotting out German radar screens with a mass of echoes. An interim solution to the jamming of Himmelbett was proposed by Oberst Viktor von Lossberg, known as Zahme Sau (Tame Boar) tactics. This involved the infiltration of the Bf 110 night fighter into the bomber stream as it approached or left the target and attacking visually.

One of the most interesting night fighter weapons introduced at this time for the Bf 110 was the Schräge Musik (Jazz Music) gun installation. The invention of an armorer, Paul Mahle of II./NJG 5, Schräge Musik comprised two 20-mm cannon mounted behind the crew cabin firing upwards at an angle of between 70 and 80 degrees. The device was first successfully used on 17 August 1943, when Gefr. Paul Hölker of 5./NJG 5 flying a Bf 110 shot down two bombers.

At the end of 1943 three new airborne radar sets were introduced into the Luftwaffe which considerably improved matters. Most important was the Lichtenstein SN-2 interception radar which had a four-mile range and worked on the unjammed frequency of 90 mHz. The other two devices, Naxos and Flensburg, were "passive" sets responding respectively to the emissions of the British H2S and Monica radars.

With this new equipment, the Luftwaffe's night fighter force again became very effective. At the end of 1943 there were eight Geschwader still equipped in the main with the Bf 110. On 21 January 1944, 548 bombers attacked Magdeburg, losing fifty-five of their number to night fighters. A week later forty-four aircraft were lost from a force of 683 bombing Berlin, and on 19 February, seventy-eight failed to return from a force of 823 attacking Leipzig. The greatest air battle came on 30 March 1944, when ninety-four bombers were lost from a force of 795 attacking Nuremberg.

Between 18 November 1943 and 31 March 1944, RAF Bomber Command lost 1,047 aircraft, probably three-quarters of them to night fighters. Many pilots achieved high victories including Maj. Helmut Lent with 102, Maj. Prinz Heinrich zu Sayn Wittgenstein with eighty-three and Maj. Heinz Schnaufer with 121. All these flew the Bf 110 during the major part of their careers.

By June 1944 the Bf 110 was being rapidly phased out of service, although it did continue, mainly with NJG 1, until the end of the war. Following the invasion of France and the development of a British device to jam Lichtenstein SN-2 radar, the Luftwaffe's night fighter force was rendered virtually impotent. Towards the end of 1944 the night fighter force was called upon to make almost suicidal attacks on Allied armor and troops, and by April 1945 virtually all its groups had been reduced to squadron strength.

The Bf 110 Night Fighter Pilot

The career of Hans-Joachim Jabs can be considered typical of that of a successful Messerschmitt 110 night fighter pilot. Jabs was born at Lübeck on 14 November 1917, and joined the Luftwaffe in December 1936. He trained initially on Bf 109 single-engined fighters, but in common with many others, was transferred to a Bf 110 group, II./ZG 76. Jabs served with this unit from March to September 1940, being one of the few Bf 110 pilots to emerge successfully from the Battle of Britain. During August and September, he claimed to have shot down eight Spitfires and four Hurricanes and was awarded the Knight's Cross on 1 October 1940.

After the Battle of Britain, II./ZG 76 was withdrawn from operations and re-trained for night fighting. It eventually became operational as III./NJG 3 in November 1941, but it was not until 26 June 1942 that Jabs scored his first night victory, destroying a Stirling bomber of the RAF.

In November 1942, Jabs was transferred to the newly-formed IV./NJG 1 commanded by one of the originators of the German night fighter arm, Hptm. Helmut Lent. Based at Leeuwarden in northern Holland, the group was equipped with Bf 110F-4s carrying Lichtenstein C-1 radar equipment. On 17 December 1942 Jabs shot down two four-engined bombers, followed by two more in January 1943.

In common with several other night fighter groups, IV./NJG 1 was called upon to operate against the day bombers of the U.S. Eighth Air Force which were just beginning to make their presence felt over Germany. On 4 February 1943 Jabs led eight Bf 110s from his 11th Staffel against a formation of Boeing B-17s attempting to bomb Emden. Flying their cumbersome radar equipped fighters against the heavily armed bombers presented the Luftwaffe pilots with a formidable task. During the action that followed, Hptm. Jabs and two of his pilots, Uffz. Naumann and Ofw. Grimm each shot down a B-17, but all eight Bf 110s landed back at Leeuwarden in a damaged condition.

On 19 February 1943 Jabs destroyed three Stirlings in one night, and on 9 April he shot down his first Lancaster bomber. Eventually, Jabs was to destroy ten of these fast and formidable aircraft. Six RAF bombers fell to his guns in June, and on 1 August Jabs took over from Lent as commander of IV./NJG 1.

During the months that followed, Jabs continued to add to his victory score, being awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 24 March 1944. Also in that month he took over command of NJG 1 from Werner Streib, holding this position until the end of the war. At this time NJG 1 was still equipped in the main with the Bf 110, although some He 219s had been delivered to I Gruppe.

Perhaps the most remarkable operation in which Jabs was involved came on 29 April 1944. He was preparing to land his Bf 110G-4 at Arnhem-Deelen when he was "bounced" by no less than eight Spitfire IXs. Managing to avoid the first pass by the British fighters, Jabs opened fire with his 30-mm cannon, blasting one of his enemy from the sky. Collecting their wits, the Spitfires again came into the attack, but Jabs was able to repeat his previous maneuver, sending another British fighter down in flames. A furious chase developed, Jabs crash-landing his machine and managing, with his crew, to dive for cover before his Bf 110 was shot to pieces.

His last two victories came on 21 February 1945, when he destroyed two RAF Lancasters. During the five and a half years of the war, Jabs had flown 710 operational sorties and destroyed fifty Allied aircraft, eventually reaching the rank of Oberst­leutnant. He survived the war.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4R3B2M2 Zerstorer 9.NJG1 G9+HT WNr 160128 FuG220; Fritzlar, 1945.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4R3B2M2 Zerstorer 9.NJG1 G9+HT WNr 160128 FuG220; Fritzlar, 1945.

Bf 110 of Nachtjagdgeschwader 4 (NJG 4).

A nightfighter of the type Bf 110G-4 of the night fighter unit stationed in Großsachsenheim 6.

An early model Bf 110G of 9./NJG 3 with Matratze UHF radar antennas for FuG 202/212 use.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4.

A Luftwaffe Bf 110G-2 night fighter of NJG1 prepares for a sortie in 1943.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G4 Zerstorer 2.NJG6 2Z+GK; Germany, 1943.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstorer 3.NJG6 2Z+LL; Mainz Finthen, 1943.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstorer 3.NJG6 2Z+LL; Mainz Finthen, 1943.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstorer 5.NJG6 C9+EN Wilhem Johnen WNr 740055; Dubendorf, 1944.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G4 9.NJG4 3C+BT based at Juvincourt on patrol over France.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4d/R3; France, 1944.

FuG 220 and FuG 202 (center) "Lichtenstein" SN-2 VHF band, and B/C UHF band night fighter radar antennas on the nose of a Bf 110G-4 being serviced by Luftwaffe ground crew on Grove airfield, Denmark postwar in August 1945, before the aircraft was sent to the UK for research.

A Bf 110G-4b/R7 night fighter, Air Min 30, carrying the W.Nr. 730037. This machine was displayed at the exhibition of German aircraft held at Farnborough in October and November 1945.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstorer 7.NJG6 2Z+GR; Hungary, 1944.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstorer 7.NJG6 2Z+GR; Hungary, 1944.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 nightfighter.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstorer NJG6; Munich, May 1945.

When Wilhelm Johnen force-landed this Bf 110G-4 at Zurich, Switzerland, in April 1944, the Allies finally learned about the night fighter's Shräge Musik gun installation.

An early pre-radar Messerschmitt Bf 110C night fighter of Stab II/NJG 1 with Commander Walter Ehle [left – 36 victories, 33 at night; on the night of 25-26 May 1943 he downed five RAF Bomber Command aircraft; killed in a night landing accident on 18 November 1943] and his radio operator Hans Weng at St. Trond in Belgium, circa late 1940/early 1941.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstorer NJG1 G9+xx.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstorer 9.NJG1 G9+HT; Schleswig, 1941.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstorer 8.NJG1 G9+BS; Operation Donnerkeil.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstorer 7.NJG1 G9+BR Wolfgang Thimmig.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstorer 7.NJG1 G9+BR Wolfgang Thimmig.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstorer 6.NJG1 G9+HP; Deelen, Arnhem, 1941.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstorer 6.NJG1 G9+CP; Deelen, Arnhem.

 

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstorer 6.NJG1 G9+CP; Deelen, Arnhem.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstorer 5.NJG1 G9+EN; Ostheim, Koln, Germany.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstorer 5.NJG1 G9+EN; Ostheim, Koln, Germany.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstorer 5.NJG1 G9+EN; Ostheim, Koln, Germany.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstorer 5.NJG1 G9+DN; Belgium, 1941.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E2 Zerstorer 6.NJG1 G9+GP Niklas WNr 2654; 1942.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E2 Zerstorer 6.NGJ1 G9+AP; crash, February 24, 1942.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E2 Zerstorer 5.NJG1 G9+LN Heinz Wolfgang Schnaufer; St Trond, Belgium, 1942.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer NJG1.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer NJG1 G9+xx; 1942.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer NJG1 G9+Fx taxiing.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer 7.NJG1 G9+MR.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer 7.NJG1 G9+ER.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer 4.NJG1 G9+HM WNr 4384; landing accident, Herdla, February 20, 1942.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstorer 4.NJG1 G9+HM; Paul Gildner, Rudi Muller, Leeuwarden.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstorer 4.NJG1 G9+HM; Paul Gildner, Rudi Muller, Leeuwarden.

Whitley T4145 No. 58 Sqn RAF; shot down by Paul Gildner, April 8, 1941.

Wellington BU-M N2746 No. 214 Sqn RAF; shot down by Paul Gildner, March 13, 1941.

Vickers Wellington Mk Ic KO-P X9873 RAF No. 115 Sqn; belly landed, Holland, November 1, 1941.

Mosquito NF30 VY-T MV549 No. 85 Sqn RAF; shot down by Stab II./NJG1 Adolf Breves flying Bf 110G-4 G9+CC; near Dusseldorf, Monday, December 18, 1944.

Blenheim Mk IV R2278 No. 110 Sqn RAF; shot down by Paul Gildner, March 13, 1941.

Blenheim Mk IV GB-X T1895 No. 105 Sqn; shot down by Paul Gildner, March 1, 1941.

Luftwaffe pilots NJG1; Trondheim, Norway, February 1942.

Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstorer NJG1 emblem; Lister, February 25, 1942.

Messerschmitt Bf 110F Zerstorer NJG G9+FX.

Messerschmitt Bf 110F Zerstorer NJG1.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstorer 8.NJG1 G9+CS.

Messerschmitt Bf 110F Zerstorer I.NJG1; 1943.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstorer Stab III.NJG1 G9+BD.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C-4 L1+DH NJG 3 under maintenance at Derna during the summer of 1941. Note the port gear door, the underside of the tailplanes and most of the fin still in RLM 65, possibly spare parts from another machine.

Maintenance on a Bf 110.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C-4 1./NJG 3; Sicily, 1941.

Bf 110 NJG4.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E2 Zerstorer 7.NJG4 3C+AR Hans Karl Kamp; 1942.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstorer 7.NJG4 3C+GR; Northern Front, 1942.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstorer 7.NJG4 3C+GR; North Sea, 1942.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstorer Geschwader NJG4 3C+E.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstorer Geschwader Stab NJG4 3C+EA; on patrol, Channel Front.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E2 Zerstorer 7.NJG4 3C+AR Hans Karl Kamp; 1942.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E2 Zerstorer 7.NJG4 3C+GR; Mainz Finthen Airfield, 1942.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 NJG4.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 NJG1.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 NJG; Holland.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 R4+CC II./NJG2; Holland, 1942.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 NJG.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C 9/NJG3; Herdla airfield.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G with FuG 218.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstorer 6.NJG1 G9+JP Gustav Sarzio; Kaiserswerth, Dusseldorf, 1944.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstorer 2.NJG1 Adolf Breves.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G4 Zerstorer Stab III.NJG1 G9+WD Martin Drewes; Germany, 1944.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G4 Zerstorer Stab II.NJG1 G9+DC Leo Baro; Bad Langensalza, May 1945.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 Stab II./NJG1 G9+CC Walter Telsnig, Adolf Breves, Alfred Ofers; Dusseldorf, 1945.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 Stab II./NJG1 G9+CC Walter Telsnig, Adolf Breves, Alfred Ofers; Dusseldorf, 1945.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 Stab II./NJG1 G9+CC Walter Telsnig, Adolf Breves, Alfred Ofers; Dusseldorf, 1945.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G4 Zerstorer Stab I./NJG1 G9+BB.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 Zerstorer IV./NJG1 G9+EF Heinz Wolfgang Schnaufer WNr 720260; St Trond, Belgium, 1944.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G4 Zerstorer Geschwader Stab NJG1 G9+AA Hans Joachim Jabs WNr 140655.

The three-man crew of a Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 night fighter.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 night fighter equipped with Liechtenstein radar and a twin 20mm cannon ventral gun pod for additional firepower.

Schleswig, Germany, 19 June 1945. Halifax crew of No. 462 Squadron standing next to a Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 night fighter with the tail fin bearing 121 symbols made up of small roundels next to an aircraft and a date, representing the number of Allied aircraft destroyed by the pilot, Major Wolfgang Schnaufer. The tail fin is held in the Australian War Memorial's collection. Identified left to right: Flight Lieutenant M. Langworthy (pilot), Flight Sergeant Mitchell (gunner), Ray (bomb aimer), Flying Officer Ivan Campbell (navigator), Flight Sergeant Ted Casey RAF (engineer), unidentified (gunner), Warrant Officer Mick O'Brien (wireless operator).

The right-hand vertical stabilizer (tail fin) from Major Schnaufer’s Bf 110G-4 displayed with a Schräge Musik 20mm cannon in the Australian War Memorial World War Two Gallery.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G4-R1 Zerstorer 6.NJG6 2Z+OP WNr 5547; Dubendorf, 15 Mar 1944.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G4 Zerstorer 6.NJG6 2Z+OP WNr 5547; Dubendorf, Switzerland, 1944. In Swiss markings after landing in Switzerland where it was interned.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G4 Zerstorer 6.NJG6 2Z+OP WNr 5547; Switzerland, 1944.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G4 Zerstorer 7.NJG6 2Z+FR Wilhem Johnen; Neubiberg, 1945.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G4 Zerstorer Geschwader Stab NJG6 2Z+AA Herbert Lutje; Germany, 1945.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstorer 15.NJG6 2Z+GZ; captured southern Germany, April 1945.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstörer 4.NJG1 G9+FM with FuG 202; Leeuwarden, January 1942.

Messerschmitt Bf 110F4 Zerstorer 4.NJG1 G9+EM undergoing gun testing; 1942.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C-4 1./NJG 3; Sicily, 1941.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstorer NJG1; operating from Holland.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D3 Zerstorer 7.NJG1 G9+DR; North Sea, 1940.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstorer 7.NJG4 3C+DR lies abandoned; Reims, France, 1945.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstorer 7.NJG4 3C+DR lies abandoned; Reims, France, 1945.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G4 III.NJG4 3C+xx Juvincourt France after 5 September 1944.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G4 Zerstorer 8.NJG1 G9+VS WNr 110509; Bad Langensalza, Germany, 1945.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 Zerstorer 9.NJG1 G9+ST WNr 160535 FuG220; Fritzlar, 1945.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C NJG1.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 I./NJG1; Venlo, 1941/42.

Exhaust flame damper used on Messerschmitt Bf 110.

Interior view of Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 Schräge Musik installation:
(1) MG FF/M
(2) Main drums
(3) Reserve drums
(4) Pressurized container with pressure-reducing gear and stop valve
(5) Spent cases container
(6) FPD and FF (radio installation)
(7) Weapon mount
(8) Weapon recoil dampener.