Messerschmitt Bf 110D0 Zerstorer ZG76 Stammkennzeichen Stkz SF+DO Norway May 1940.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer I./ZG76 Dackelbauch 01

Photo 01: The front view of a Dackelbauch of I./ZG76 being re-fuelled. Note the re-fuelling point in the front centre of the Dackelbauch.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer I./ZG76 Dackelbauch 02

Photo 01: A head-on view of the Dackelbauch, showing its bulbous shape to good effect.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer I./ZG76 Dackelbauch 03

Photo 01: White spinner tips identify this Dackelbauch as a D-0 of I./ZG76.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer ZG76 Dackelbauch 01

Photo 01: A C-1 of an unknown Staffel of Zerstorer Geschwader 76. Note once again the two antennae running from the cockpit aerial, and the early style underwing cross placed near the wingtip with the individual aircraft letter 'F' inboard of it.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer ZG76 01

Photo 01: The nose of this Wekusta 76 Bf 110 shows the Staffel emblem and the name Rosetta above it.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstorer 1./ZG76 01

Photo 01: A Bf 110C-1 of I./ZG76. Note the two antennae extending from the cockpit mast. The spinner tip and the aircraft letter 'B' on the nose would appear to be in yellow, making this a 3.Staffel machine. The emblem is not identified, but appears to be a figure of a bird standing at the top of northern Europe, not dissimilar to the emblem used by JG1 when it was based in that locality.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer 1./ZG76 Dackelbauch 01-03

Photo's 01-03: Three views showing a Dackelbauch being fitted to a Bf 110D of I./ZG76. Note the individual aircraft letter, G, on the nose, and the fuel staining on the front of the ribbed fairing.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer 1./ZG76 Dackelbauch (SF+ ) 01

Photo 01: A line-up of Dackelbauch. The partial factory code 'SF' can be seen. Note that all the Dackelbauch in the photographs carry the solid two-tone upper surface camouflage.

Messerschmitt Bf 110 2./ZG76 1939 01

Photo's 01-02: Two aerial views of Bf 110's of 2./ZG76 on an unknown airfield in the winter of 1939/40.

Emblem Bf 110 2./ZG76 01

Photo 01: An unusual temporary placement of the emblem of 2./ZG76 on one if the unit's Bf 110s. This is believed to be the aircraft of the one-time Staffelkapitän, Wolfgang Falck.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C 2./ZG76 1940 01

Photo 01: A Sharksmouth of II./ZG76 almost completely hidden from the air. It carries the solid camouflage all the way down the fuselage sides, a feature of this Gruppe throughout the Battle of Britain, and teeth in the mouth that are closer together than was normally the case with this emblem.

Pilots 2./ZG76 pilot Groth and Jabs October 1940 01

Photo 01: Two 'Ritterkreuztriiger' of II./ZG76. Left is Hptm. Groth with Oblt. Jabs alongside, both displaying the Knight's Crosses they were awarded on 1 October.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 2./ZG76 (M8+ ) 01

Photo 01: An unknown Oberleutnant poses with two Unteroffiziere in front of a Bf 110 of II./ZG76.The cable along the top of the fuselage and the under wing bomb rack identify the aircraft as an 'E' variant. Note the 'N' on the port engine cowling, denoting the fitment of the DB601N engine. Heavy staining can be seen on the port undercarriage door.

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstörer 2./ZG76 01

Photo 01: This Bf 110D of II./ZG76 carries the famous 'Sharksmouth' emblem of the Gruppe and a white machine guns cowling. Of interest is the asymmetrical application of the Sharksmouth. Note the bomb rack under the fuselage.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 2./ZG76 0

Photo 01: Bf 110E of II./ZG76 fitted with under-wing supplementary fuel tanks, but lacking a bomb rack.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 2./ZG76 02

Photo 01: Bf 110E of II./ZG76 carrying under-wing fuel tanks and a bomb rack of particular interest is the fact that the rear of the Sharksmouth emblem slightly overlaps the Erprobungsgruppe 210 emblem. The likely explanation is that this aircraft initially saw service with Erprobungsgruppe 210 and suffered damage. Sent to a repair facility, it was then re issued to II./ZG76, who did not bother to remove the Erprobungsgruppe 210 emblem, but simply applied its own without regard to the previous emblem. Note that light areas of the propeller spinners have been given an application of mottle.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 2./ZG76 03

Photo 01: Bf 110E of II./ZG76 fitted with under-wing supplementary fuel tanks, but lacking a bomb rack.

Photo 01: A line-up of II./ZG76 Bf 110s with supplementary fuel tanks under the wings and white engine cowlings.

3. Staffel I. Gruppe Zerstörergeschwader 76

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstörer 3./ZG76 01

Photo 01: This Bf 110 of III./ZG76 carries a lighter camouflage not only on the fuselage sides but also on the engine cowlings. The three small wasps emblem is seen to good effect.

Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer 3./ZG76 1941 01

Photo 01: Bf 110s of III./ZG76 taxi-iog along what appears to be a frozen road in early 1941.

Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer 3./ZG76 1941 01

Photo's 01-02: Two views of a Bf 110 of III./ZG76 that has suffered port undercarriage failure. Note the light area around the extended rear fuselage.
*ASISBIZ this looks to me like (L1+MN) or (L1+MH)

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstörer 3./ZG76 01-02

Photo's 01-02: Two views of Bf 110G-2s of 3./ZG76.The fuselage band carried by these aircraft appears to be yellow when compared to the white of the fuselage cross. W Gr. Mortar tubes can be seen under the wings as well as supplementary fuel tanks. A yellow ring in the Staffel colour of yellow is carried on the spinners.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstörer 3./ZG76 Wunsdorf 01

Photo 01: Gen Oberst Weise addresses personnel of III./ZG76 at Wunsdorf. Note that the Bf 110G-2 carries not only two W Gr. Mortar tubes under each wing, but unusually, another two under the fuselage.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 5./ZG76 01

Photo 01: Mechanics work on the port engine of this Bf 110C of 5./ZG76.With no other engine in sight it is likely that the it has been removed to carry out maintenance work on it, or the engine bay, rather than a complete engine change taking place. Of interest is the fact that this machine does not carry the individual aircraft letter of the aircraft within the Staffel under the port wing, as was the norm.