Hobby Master 1/72 HA1810 BF 110E 1 (Z)/JG 77 flown by Lt Felix-Maria Brandis Malmi Finland 1942
A new release of The Messerschmitt BF110 diecast plane model from Hobbymaster
When performing the task of escort and air superiority that they were originally designed for the Bf-110 Zerstorers “Destroyers” were very good against Poland and the Scandinavian countries early in WWII. But once they were put into this role during the Battle of Britain and came up against the much faster and more agile Hurricanes and Spitfires the Bf-110 suffered tremendous losses. They were withdrawn from this and found their calling as night fighters that inflicted large losses on the British bombers that were un-escorted.
1(Z)JG77 was called the “Flying Dachshunds” because of the units 3 mascots. The unit had 3 real Dachshunds named Barnsee, Herdia and Lockheed, named after the unit’s first victory, a Lockheed Hudson. Painted on the aircraft nose was a Dachshund with a Rata (Polikarpov I-16) in its mouth. While on the Eastern front Lt. Felix-Maria Brandis was the unit CO and scored 14 victories. LN+LR was one of Brandis’ aircraft but on February 2, 1942 while flying LN+AR he failed to return from a sortie. In June 1942 LN+LR was lost to AAA fire.