Hobby Master 1/72 HA1812 BF 110E-2/Trop 3U+KS 8./ZG 26 North Africa 1941
Hobbymaster 1/72 BF 110E-2/Trop 3U+KS, 8./ZG 26, North Africa, 1941
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 They were withdrawn from this and found their calling as night fighters that inflicted large losses on the British bombers that were un-escorted.
The aircraft belonging to ZG 26 carried the “Horst Wessel” insignia on both sides of the nose as well red tipped propeller spinners and white bands around the rear portion of the fuselage denoting their service in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. From April 1941 until late December 1941 the third Gruppe, 8th Staffel, Zerstorergeschwader 26 was based in North Africa at Derna, Libya. Bf-110E-2 3U+KS spent much of its time providing long range maritime escorts along the North Africa coast.