II. Gruppe Zerstörergeschwader 76

4. Staffel II. Gruppe Zerstörergeschwader 76 - 4./ZG76 coded M8+

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 4./ZG76 (M8+CM) crash landing 01

Photo 01: M8+CM belly-landed by an unknown pilot, Note the first style fully-enclosed Bordfunker's central rear canopy.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 4./ZG76 (M8+CM) Martin Drewes France 1940

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstörer 3./NJG1 (G9+WD) pilot Martin Drewes 01

Photo 01: Major Martin Drewes, the Kommandeur of III./NJG1 (Left) with his crew shortly after his 47th victory, a Lancaster, which he shot down in the early hours of 3 March 1945. Drewes flew two Bf 110s, the one in the background here being G9+WD which earlier, in January 1944, when night fighter crews were ordered to attack US bombers in daylight, had been stripped of its radar and 20 mm cannon pack beneath the fuselage in order to increase its speed. In these daylight attacks, Drewes destroyed four US bombers, but for night work he flew his other Bf 110G-4, G9+MD, which retained its radar but had no victory markings. The G9+MD was eventually destroyed when the bomb load of a bomber attacked with 'Schrage Musik' exploded and debris so severely damaged Drewes' Bf 110 that the crew were forced to bale out. Thereafter, the G9+WD was restored to the night fighter role, although in various post-war correspondence and interviews, Drewes maintains that he had his nose armament changed to machine guns as the 30 mm havy cannon blew such large pieces off the bombers that he feared his own aircraft would be damaged. Unlike other Bf 110s of the period in which the 'Schrage Musik' was mounted in the rear gunner's position, on G9+WD it was positioned behind the pilot's seat. This machine carried the Nachtjagd badge on the nose and a design on the tail featuring the Knight's Cross and ribbon in natural colors with the number '25' in yellow outlined in black. Major Drewes was awarded the Oak Leaves on 17 April 1945 and finished the war with 52 victories.

Pilots NJG1 pilot Martin Drewes 01

Photo 01: Martin Drewes' military career started in November 1937 when he joined 6. Panzer Regiment at Neuruppin as an officer cadet. On being promoted to Leutnant he transferred to the Luftwaffe and received his pilot's badge in April 1940.After Zerstorer training at Schleissheim, he was posted to II./ZG 76 at Jever on 8 Febmary 1941 and flew a number of operations in Iraq. Returning to Germany, he trained as a night fighter pilot and was posted to III./NJG3, achieving his first night victory, a Stirling, during a raid on Berlin on 17 January 1943. In June of the same year he was posted to IV./NJG1 and, by 1 March 1944, he was Gmppenkommandeur of III./NJG1 at Laon-Athies in France. Drewes scored heavily throughout 1944 and was decorated with the Knight's Cross on 27 July after some 48 victories.The Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross followed on 17 April 1945, by which time Drewes had been promoted to the rank of Major and had claimed the destruction of 50 bombers.

Martin Drewes with Schnaufer, Jabs, Forster, and von Bonin 01

Photo 01: Heinz Schnaufer (IV./NJG1, far left, with the Kommodore and other Kommandeure of NJG1 at St. Trond in 1944. From the left are: Hptm. Martin Drewes (III./NJG1); Major Hans-Joachim Jabs, the Kommodore of NJG1; Hptm. Paul Forster (I./NJG1); and Hptm. Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin (II./NJG1).

Messerschmitt Bf 110G2 Zerstörer 4./ZG76 (M8+KM) Wertheim Germany 1944

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-2/R1 Zerstörer 4./ZG76 (M8+KM) Prague, Czechoslovakia - Spring 1944

Bf 110G-2/R1 with underslung 37 mm cannon were operated by ZG 76 within the 'Defense of the Reich' system from Kbely and Ruzyn airfields (Gbell and Rusin). This armament variation could have been devastating to the USAAF, but for the fact that its combat use rather complicated. The M5 modification using the Wfr.Gr. 21 was set up so that, due to weight savings, one rocket would be carried under each wing instead of two. The aircraft was a combination of R1 and R2 field modifications, and had the GM 1 (R2) system installed for high altitude performance. This was located in the rear cockpit and required the removal of the rear firingMG82Z. Besides the national markings, fuselage codes, yellow fuselage band, and white-tipped spinners, the aircraft carries other identifying features. The fuselage cross has a wider white segment at the expense of the black centre. The individual aircraft letter 'K' is repeated under the wing.Atypically, yellow can be found on the rear fuselage in the vicinity of the tail surfaces. Aircraft of ZG 76 with this armament configuration engaged allied formations on May 12, 1944, when the USAAF attacked Germany's largest refineries at STWBrux in Czechoslovakia, and thus initiated what became known as the 'Battle for Fuel'.

Bf 110 ve variant� G-2/R1 se 37 mm kanonem v podtrupov� gondole operovaly u ZG 76 v r�mci syst�mu obrany ��e tak� z pra�sk�ch leti�� Kbely a Ruzyn� (Gbell & Rusin). Takto siln� v�zbroj mohla b�t pro bombard�ry USAAF zni�uj�c�, ov�em jej� pou�it� v boji bylo zna�n� komplikovan�. Krom� v�sostn�ho ozna�en�, k�dov�ho znaku, �lut�ho pruhu na trupu a b�l�ch �pi�ek vrtulov�ch ku�el� stroj nenese jin� rozpozn�vac� prvky. Trupov� k�� m� siln�j�� b�l�ramena na �kor �ern�ho st�edu. Individu�ln� p�smeno �K� je zopakov�no na spodn� plo�e k��dla. �lut� se neobvykle objevuje i na �pi�ce trupu v oblastiocasn�ch ploch. Letouny ZG 76 s touto v�zbroj� zas�hly proti spojeneck�m formac�m tak� 12. kv�tna 1944, kdy USAAF podnikla prvn� velk� �tok protinejv�t��m n�meck�m rafineri�m STW Br�x na �zem� �eskoslovenska a zah�jila tak tzv. �v�lku o benz�n�.

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Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 4./ZG76 (M8+MM) Ofw Anthony and Uffz Nordmeier Werk Nr 3615 France 1940

Profile 0A: Messerschmitt Bf-110C 4./ZG76 (M8+MM) flown by Ofw Anthony and Uffz Nordmeier Werk Nr 3615 based in France 1940, this aircraft was shot down by RAF Polish pilot flying a Hurricane MkI RAF 303Sqn RF-V Paszkiewicz Zestrzelił R4217 England 30th Sep 1940.MkI RAF 303Sqn RF-V R4217 Paszkiewicz Zestrzelił

Source: Militaria XX wieku Special 2007-03 (04) Kagero | Polish | 92 Pages

Messerschmitt Bf 110G2 Zerstörer 4./ZG76 (M8+KM) Wertheim Germany 1944

Photo 01: M8+KM of 4./ZG76.

5. Staffel II. Gruppe Zerstörergeschwader 76 - 5./ZG76 coded M8+

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstorer 5.ZG76 (M8+BN) Martin Drewes in France 1940 IWM HU 108211

Messerschmitt Bf 110C of 5./ZG 76 wearing the 'Haifischmaul' (shark's mouth) marking of II Gruppe. IWM HU 108211

Imperial War Museum IWM HU 108211 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205234612

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 5./ZG76 (M8+AN) color photo Balkans 1941

Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer 5./ZG76 (M8+DN) 01

Photo 01: M8+DN of 5./ZG76.

Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer 5./ZG76 (M8+DN) crash landing at St. Omer France 01

Photo 01: 29 May 1940. - M8+DN of 5./ZG76 crash landed north-west of St. Omer following damage in combat, with Bordfunker Uffz. Albert Links wounded.

Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer 5./ZG76 (M8+FN) Germany 1944

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 5./ZG76 (M8+GN) 00

Messerschmitt Bf 110C of 5./ZG76 Black 'G' of 5./ZG76 carries features that were common to this Gruppe throughout 1940. The distinctive 'Sharksmouth', emblem adorns the lower nose, while a solid two-tone upper surface camouflage of 70/71 is seen. Unlike other units, II./ZG76 did not lighten the fuselage sides of its aircraft and this upper surface scheme was carried to the end of the Battle of Britain. The later-style larger fuselage cross is evident, the swastika is now painted on the fin only, and one victory bar is painted on the portfin.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 5./ZG76 (M8+GN) 01

Photo 01: This Bf 110C, MS+GN, carries two-tone green camouflage down the fuselage sides, with the standard size fuselage cross and swastika on the fin only, features which became more prevalent as the Luftwaffe headed inlo the Baltic of IIriiain.'I'he IIn carries one victory har.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 5./ZG76 (M8+KN) 01

Photo 01: MS+KN of 5./ZG76 parked by the perimeter track of an unidentified airfield.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 5./ZG76 (M8+LN) 01

LEFT Two unknown crewmen face the camera in front of M8+LN of 5./ZG76.

6. Staffel II. Gruppe Zerstörergeschwader 76 - 6./ZG76 coded M8+

Messerschmitt Bf 110C 4 6./ZG76 (M8+AP) flown by Heinz Nacke based in Greece 1941

Artwork Bf 110E, Heinz Nacke, 6./ZG 76, Greece, 1941 This mount was flown by Heinz Nacke who achieved 14 victories in WW2. All his victories are dated from May 12 to August 30, 1940. Nacke was awarded the Knight's Cross on November 2, 1940. His combat career started in the Spanish Civil War and he participated in the Balkans campaign as a 6./ZG 76 member. Later, he commanded II./ZG 76 (redesignated III./ NJG 3 later on, Erprobungskommando 25 that tested heavy weapons for the destruction of four-engined bombers. He returned to the Mediterranean area as the CO of II./ZG 1 based in Montecorvino, Italy. He had to withdraw from the frontline unit thanks to an injury suffered in a crash landing. Oberst Heinz Nacke passed away in 1984.

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Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer this aircraft was flown by an unknown crew of 6./ZG76

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 2./ZG76 (M8+DP) France 1940

Photo 01-02: A feature of the 'Haifisch' Gruppe, II./ZG76, was that throughout the Battle of Britain it retained the early style two tone solid upper surface camouflage on its aircraft. M8+DP displays such camouflage, as well as yellow spinner tips and the famous 'Sharksmouth' emblem of the Gruppe.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 6./ZG76 (M8+EP) over the English Channel August 1940

Photo 01: A German twin propelled Messerschmitt BF 110 bomber, nicknamed "Fliegender Haifisch" (Flying Shark, over the English Channel, in August of 1940. (AP Photo)

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Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer (M8+GP) this aircraft was flown by an unknown crew of 6./ZG76 during Battle of Britain

Messerschmitt Bf 110C-4 Zerstörer 6./ZG76 (M8+IP) Hans-Joachim Jabs Crete 1941

Messerschmitt Bf 110E 2./ZG76 (M8+IP) Hans-Joachim Jabs W.Nr 3866 00

Profile 00: Messerschmitt Bf 110E-1, M8+IP, II.JZG76 This Bf 110E-1 has the extended rear fuselage of the early 'E' production batch. A white machine gun cowling became prevalent in the 'Haifischgruppe' during 1941. The 'N' on the engine cowling signifies the fitment of DB601N engines. Hans-Joachim Jabs' daytime score of 19 victories can be seen in the white victory bars on the fin.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E 2./ZG76 (M8+IP) pilot Hans-Joachim Jabs W.Nr 3866 01

Photo 01: Hans-Joachim Jabs stands on the port wing root of his Bf 110E-1, W.Nr 3866, which carries 19 white victory bars on the port tin. The individual aircraft letter 'I' was yellow with no outline.

Hans-Joachim Jabs with Schnaufer, Drewes, Jabs, Forster, and von Bonin 01

Photo 01: Heinz Schnaufer (IV./NJG1, far left, with the Kommodore and other Kommandeure of NJG1 at St. Trond in 1944. From the left are: Hptm. Martin Drewes (III./NJG1); Major Hans-Joachim Jabs, the Kommodore of NJG1; Hptm. Paul Forster (I./NJG1); and Hptm. Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin (II./NJG1).

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 6./ZG76 (M8+IP) pilot Hans-Joachim Jabs 01

Photo 01: Hans-Joachim Jabs stands proudly before his Bf 110 which has its engines running.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 6./ZG76 (M8+IP) pilot Hans-Joachim Jabs 02

Photo 01: M8+1P of Hans-Joachim Jabs over the Channel.

Pilots NJG1 pilot Hans-Joachim Jabs 01

Photo 01: One of the most respected pilots in the Nachtjagd was Hans-Joachim Jabs, who became Kommodore of NJG1 on 1 March 1944. He began the war as a Zerstbrer pilot with II./ZG76 and shot down 19 enemy aircraft, 12 of which were British fighters over England.This was a remarkable record considering the terrible losses inflicted on the Zerstbrer units during the 'Battle of Britain' and for this feat he was decorated with the Knight's Cross on 1 October 1940.

Hans-Joachim Jabs with Schnaufer, Drewes, Jabs, Forster, and von Bonin 01

Photo 01: Heinz Schnaufer (IV./NJG1, far left, with the Kommodore and other Kommandeure of NJG1 at St. Trond in 1944. From the left are: Hptm. Martin Drewes (III./NJG1); Major Hans-Joachim Jabs, the Kommodore of NJG1; Hptm. Paul Forster (I./NJG1); and Hptm. Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin (II./NJG1).

Pilots NJG1 pilot Hans-Joachim Jabs Signed photograph

Messerschmitt Bf 110 E W.Nr. 3866 Hans-Joachim Jabs Staffelkapit�n 6./ZG 76 Argos 1941

The aircraft of Staffelkapit�n Hans-Joachim Jabs carried a white gun cover and a red/white sharkmouth, the standard marking of II./ZG 76 in 1941. This aircraft was equipped with the DB 601 N, but the white 'N' denoting this fit was carried on the engine cowl only if it had not been oversprayed by the yellow recognition marking of the Balkan campaign. This included, besides the engine cowls, also yellow fins and rudders. An increasing threat of night attacks on the territory of the Third Reich prompted the Luftwaffe high command to strengthen relevant defenses. As a result, by the end of the year, 6./ZG 76 was taken off day operations, transferred to Holland, redesignated 9./NJG 3, and employed in night operations. Hans-Joachim Jabs was attached to IV./NJG 1 in November, 1942, and from March, 1944 was the CO of NJG 1. In all, he shot down 22 aircraft by day, and a further 28 at night.

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Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer II./ZG76 (M8+NP) France 1940

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstörer 6./ZG76 (M8+SP) Heinrich Spitzner Argos Greece April 1941