Zerstoerergeschwader 76

 M8+??    &   2N+??   (only III./ZG76)

 

Version: 08-05-08 (D-M-Y) - 55 pics

Erstaufstellung

The Geschwader was formed with Stab in April 1940 and two Gruppen already in May 1939.
In Autumn 1941 the Gechwader was disbanded and the units were sent to NJG 1, NJG 3 and SKG 210

 

There was no ZG 76 active from November, 1941 => November, 1943

 

Zweitaufstellung

In November 1943, ZG 1 was formed again out of several units, mainly NAGr. and some units even formed new.
The I./- and III./- disbanded in the end of 1944, the II. Gruppe converted to FW 190 and fought till February 1945

 

 

 

Erstaufstellung - Code M8 & 2N (only III./ZG76)

 

Geschwaderstab (A)
Geschwaderkommodore:
  • GenMaj Walter Grabmann, 15.4.40 - 31.7.41
1940, April 4   -   Formed at Koeln-Wahn
I. Fliegerkorps
1940, April 4   -  Messerschmitt Bf 110  -   Koeln-Wahn, Germany
 M8+?A
1940, July   -  Messerschmitt Bf 110  -   Laval
 M8+?A
X. Fliegerkorps
(Northern Germany & Scandinavia)
1940, October   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C -   Stavanger-Sola, Norway
M8+?A
Luftflotte 5
(Norway, from 12.40)
1940, October   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110D-1/R1 'Dackelbauch'  -   Stavanger-Sola
Used for long range operations over the North Sea. Only a few were built because of poor performance.

Bf 110D-1/R1 'Dackelbauch'  M8+FA
(1941, Spring)
1941, August 1   -   Became Stab/Jagdfliegerführer Norwegen
(Actually Grabmann had already functioned as Jafü Norwegen since June 1941)

 

 

 

 

I. Gruppe
Gruppenkommandeure:
  • Hptm Günther Reinecke, 1.5.39 - 30.4.40
  • Hptm Werner Hansen (acting), 30.4.40 - 11.5.40
  • Hptm Werner Restemeyer, 11.5.40 - 15.8.40
  • Hptm Graf von Stillfried und Rattonitz, 8.40 - 7.9.40
  • ?

Gruppenstab (B)

1. Staffel (H)

2. Staffel (K)

?

3. Staffel (L)
1939, May 1   -   Formed from II./ZG 141 in Olmuetz, Germany
2. Flieger-Division
(Northern Germany)
1939, May 1   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109D & Bf 110B/C   -   Olmuetz, Germany
Note early placement of swastika in the middle of the fin !
 M8+?B  M8+?H  M8+?K  M8+?L
2. Flieger-Division
(Northern Germany)
1939, September-October "Fall Weiss" (Invasion of Poland)
1939, August 26   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C-1   -   Maerzdorf, Germany
 M8+?B  M8+?H
 M8+DK
Bohemia, September 1939		  M8+?L
 Luftflotte 2
(Northern Germany)
1939, October   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C-1   -   Boenninghardt, Germany
1939, December 14   -   Battle of Heligoland Bight, 1939 (under Stab/JG1)
Shot down 9 out of 24 RAF Wellington bombers on a mission over the Heligoland Bight.
Three other Wellingtons failed to return which gave the mission a 50% failure rate!
1939, December 16   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C-1   -   Jever, Germany
 M8+AB
Gruppenkommandeur
  M8+DH
Leutnant Helmut Lent
-
-
-
-
-
-
 M8+GK
Staffelkapitaen
Wolfgang Falck
On February 17, 1940, Falck officially got his fifth kill, and was soon thereafter transferred to I/ZG 1 as the new Gruppenkommandeur, taking his lucky "G" with him.		  M8+?L
X. Fliegerkorps
(Northern Germany & Scandinavia)
Unternehmen Weserübung (Assault on Denmark and Norway)

... At 07:05 the five Gladiators that are ready, take off again.
At 07:35 the Norwegian air patrol, flying at 1800 meter, sight 8 Bf110 heading north 5-600 meters below (just above the clouds).
It is the German Me110 Staffel with the mission to assist the paratroop assault on Fornebu. Lt Tradin orders break of formation and independent selection of targets

Schönherr in the 2. Schwarm of 1. Staffel/Zerstörergeschwader 76 detected them first and they turned down and away.
1. Schwarm continued unaware for some seconds straight ahead before taking the full impact of the attack.
It’s obvious from German reports that the Gladiator attack came as a complete surprise.
A long air combat begins as more and more German aircrafts turn up. There is no absolute evidence on how many aircrafts are shot down by the Gladiators,
but 2 Bf 110 and 2 He 111 seems to be a common opinion, against one Gladiator forced down (nbr.427).
This was Sergant Shye who was hit in the arm and forced to land. It is likely that he fell victim to Leutnant Helmut Lent of 1./ZG 76, who was certainly credited with this victory as his fifth of the war.

A little later with one damaged engine Lent tries to land with much to high speed and overshoots and crashes at the other side of the airstrip.
Losses from Luftwaffe: 9 April 1940:
Bf 110C 1/ZG 76 crew: none missing  (Lent)
Bf 110C 1/ZG 76 crew: none missing
Bf 110C 1/ZG 76 crew: two dead
Bf 110C 1/ZG 76 crew: none missing
1940, April 9  -   Start  in Westerland:
1940, April   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C   -   Westerland/Sylt, Germany
 M8+AB
Gruppenkommandeur
Bf 110C-3  M8+DH
Leutnant Helmut Lent
Crashlanded with one engine damaged at Oslo. Came to rest in the garden of a nearby house.
Bf 110C-3  M8+DK
-
-
-
-		  M8+?L
...in the meantime, the Me 110s were out of fuel. They had to land or crash! Lent, one engine damaged by the Norwegian Gladiators, was selected to land his aircraft first, while the others provided covering fire. He brought his aircraft in hot and fast. At the last minute he had to dodge a Ju-52 landing on an intersecting runway, and ran off the field, through the perimeter wire and down an embankment, coming to rest in the garden of a house adjoining the field. The other Me 110s proceeded to land, arranging their aircraft so that the tail gunners were turned toward the Norwegian positions to provide covering fire as the remaining Ju-52's landed. But the Norwegians had been ordered to withdraw, and the airfield was secured quickly, even as Lent and his gunner arrived on foot with their aircraft weapon, anticipating a fight.

The remaining undamaged aircraft were quickly serviced and refueled, and started flying patrols over the Oslo Fjord.
Lent, flying one such patrol that evening, intercepted and shot down a lone Sunderland patrol aircraft flying over the fjord.
1940, September 4   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C   -   Aalborg-West, Danmark

 M8+DB
-
-		  M8+?H
Bf 110D-3  M8+JK
(Summer 1940)
-		  M8+?L
1940, October 4  -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C & D   -   Stavanger-Sola, Norway
1./ZG76 at Oslo-Fornebu September.4.40 - 11.4.40, 2./ZG76 at Aalborg-West 6.5.40 - 16.5.40.
Aalborg, Danmark Oslo-Fornebu, Norway Stavanger, Norway Stavanger, Norway
 M8+AB
Gruppenkommandeur		  M8+?H  M8+?K
Bf 110D-1/R-1  M8+AL
Staffelkapitaen
Oberleutnant Gordon Mac Gollob
Spring 1941
 
 M8+BB
Gruppenadjutant
Bf 110C-1  M8+CH 
Leutnant Hans-Ulrich Kettling (FF)
Obergefreiter Fritz Volk (BF)
The completely enclosed rear canopy is typical of the C-1.
(Spring 1941)
Bf 110C-3  M8+HK
Oberfeldwebel Leo Schuhmacher
Bf 110D-1/R-1  M8+SL
-
1941, May 20  -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C & D   -   Trondheim-Vaernes, Norway
1941, June 21  -   Messerschmitt Bf 110E   -   Stavanger-Forus, Norway
 M8+AB
Gruppenkommandeur
 M8+VH 		 M8+?K  M8+?L
1941, September 7   -   redesignated II./NJG1 at Deelen-Arnhem:
became Stab II./NJG1 became 3./NJG1 became 5./NJG1 became 6./NJG1

 

 

 

 

II. Gruppe
Gruppenkommandeure:
  • Hptm Walter Schmidt Coste, 1.5.39 - 31.12.39
  • Maj Erich Groth, 1.1.40 - 12.8.41
  • Maj Heinz Nacke, 14.8.41 - 11.41
  • Maj Herbert Kaminski, 5.10.43 - 9.8.44
Gruppenstab (C) 4. Staffel (M) 5. Staffel (N) 6. Staffel (P)
1939, May 1  -   formed from I./JG144 in Gablingen
from Stab I./ZG144 from 1./ZG144 from 2./ZG144 from 3./ZG144
7. Jagddivision
(Southern Germany)
1939, May 1  -   Messerschmitt Bf 109D  -   Gablingen
 <<+  
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm Walter Schmidt Coste
(1.5.39 - 31.12.39)		  ?+    ?+    ?+  
6. Flieger-Division
(Germany)
1939, June   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109D  -   Markersdorf
 <<+  
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm Walter Schmidt Coste
(1.5.39 - 31.12.39)		  ?+    ?+    ?+  
1939, September-Oktober "Fall Weiss" (Invasion of Poland)
(Known as Jagdgruppe 176 between 9.9.39 and 3.2.40)
1939, September 1  -   Messerschmitt Bf 109D-1  -   Gablingen and Grosselfingen, Germany
 <<+  
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm Walter Schmidt Coste
(1.5.39 - 31.12.39)		  ?+    ?+  
 5+  
Gablingen 1939
1939, October   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109D  -   Eutingen, Germany
 <<+  
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm Walter Schmidt Coste
(1.5.39 - 31.12.39)		  ?+    ?+    ?+  
1940, January 2   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109D  -   Nellingen, Germany
 <<+  
Gruppenkommandeur II. ZG 76
Major Erich Groth
(1.1.40 - 12.8.41)		  ?+    ?+    ?+  
Re-equipped with the new Messerschmitt Bf 110C.
It kept as its Gruppe emblem the Haifisch (Sharkmouth), soon painting it on the nose of their new mounts as well.
1940, February 3   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109D/ Bf 110C-3   -   Garz auf Usedom, Germany
 <<+  
Gruppenkommandeur II. ZG 76
    +10
Martin Drewes (?)		  ?+    ?+  
 1940, Summer   -   Battle of France/Battle of Britain
I. Fliegerkorps
(France)
1940, March   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C-3  -   Koeln-Wahn, Germany
 M8+AC
Gruppenkommandeur II. ZG 76		  M8+?M  M8+?N  M8+?P
1940, May   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C-3  -   Nellingen, Le Mans, France
 M8+AC
Gruppenkommandeur II. ZG 76		  M8+?M  M8+?N  M8+?P
1940, June   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C-3  -   Abbeville, France
Le Mans was used as a forward base.
Just for example: All codes of the Gruppe : 4 Stab and 1 Staffelkapitaen + 3 Schwaerme à 4 A/C (in 2 Rotten à 2)

 M8+AC
Gruppenkommandeur II. ZG 76
Major Erich Groth
(1.1.40 - 12.8.41)		  M8+AM
Staffelkapitaen		  M8+AN
Staffelkapitaen		  M8+AP
Staffelkapitaen
 M8+BC  M8+BM  M8+BN  M8+BP
 M8+CC  M8+CM  M8+CN
 M8+CP

 M8+DC 		 M8+DM  M8+DN
 M8+DP
X  M8+EM  M8+EN  M8+EP
X  M8+FM  M8+FN  M8+FP
X  M8+GM  M8+GN
Bf 110C-3  M8+GP
X  M8+HM  M8+HN  M8+HP
X  M8+IM  M8+IN  M8+IP
X  M8+KM  M8+KN  M8+KP
X  M8+LM  M8+LN  M8+LP
X  M8+MM  M8+MN  M8+MP
X  M8+NM  M8+NN
 M8+NP  (6 kills)
Leutnant Hans-Joachim Jabs
1940, August   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C-3  -   Cherbourg-West, France
 M8+AC
Gruppenkommandeur II. ZG 76
 M8+AM 		 M8+?N
 M8+CP
 M8+BC  M8+?M  M8+?N
 M8+IP  (9 kills)
Leutnant Hans-Joachim Jabs
 (15. August 1940)
During the Battle of Britain, II/ZG 76 was stationed in Northern France, flying escort for bombers attacking England. Success did not come as easily against the RAF, and losses mounted quickly.
On a single day alone, "Black Thursday", August 15, 1940 II./ZG 76 lost 8 aircraft to RAF guns.
The Messerschmitt Bf110 did not fare well against the RAF, and by October, most of the Bf 110s had been withdrawn from the Channel front.
Luftflotte 2
(Channel Coast & German Bight)
1940, September   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C-3  -   Jever, Germany
 M8+AC
Gruppenkommandeur II. ZG 76		  M8+?M  M8+?N  M8+?P
1941, February   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C-4   -   Wittmundhafen, Germany
 M8+AC
Gruppenkommandeur II. ZG 76
 M8+DM
Martin Drewes		  M8+?N
 M8+IP  (19 kills)
Oberleutnant Hans-Joachim Jabs
 M8+AC
Gruppenkommandeur II. ZG 76		  M8+?M  M8+?N
Bf 110C  M8+IP
(Sicily, May 1941 - on the way to the balkans?)
VIII. Fliegerkorps
(Balkans)
1941, May   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C & D  -   Argos, Greece
Note, that these are Balkan markings, no yellow underwing tips!
If you see them here, they are wrong. Only cowling and fin/moving surfaces in yellow.
Argos "Sonderkommando Junck"
Mosul, Iraq		 Argos Argos
 M8+AC
Gruppenkommandeur II. ZG 76
Bf 110D-3 (__+__)
Staffelkapitaen Martin Drewes		  M8+?N
 M8+AP
Staffelkapitaen Hptm. Heinz Nacke
 M8+BC
Gruppenadjutant
Bf 110D-3 (__+__)
Staffelkapitaen Martin Drewes
Raschid
 M8+CN
-
-
 M8+CP
-
-
 M8+CC  M8+?M  M8+?N
 M8+IP
Oberleutnant Hans-Joachim Jabs
 M8+CC  M8+?M  M8+?N
Bf 110D-3  M8+SP
(W.Nr. undistinguishable)
In the summer of 1941 the Bf110s of II./ZG 76, the "Haifischgruppe" (Shark Group) returned to Germany after operations in the Balkans.
The Gruppe landed at the Magdeburg-East airfield where this wonderful photo of M8+A?, a Bf110E, was taken.
The color photograph reveals the yellow identity markings worn by this aircraft.
Similar markings where worn by all Bf 110 reconnaiseance and Zerstoerer units during the Balkan Campaign of April - May 1941......
....................
II./ZG76 applied the yellow markings to the engine cowlings, the upper part of the fuselage nose, and the rudders (including the inner surfaces)
of it's aircraft.
The spinners where black with a white segment and yellow nose ring.
Also clearly visible is the sharkmouth, which is outlined in red, not black as often appears in color drawings
 
Luftflotte 3
(Channel Coast & German Bight)
1941, July   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110D-3  -   Leeuwarden
*** 5./ZG76 at De Kooy 9.7.41 - 25.10.41, and then moved to Leeuwarden.
 M8+AC
Gruppenkommandeur II. ZG 76		  M8+?M  M8+?N  M8+?P
Luftflotte 5
(Norway)
1940, August ???   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110D-3  -   Stavanger, Norway
Scandinavia tactically belonged the Eastern front and the plane had yellow underwing tips & fuselage band.

 M8+KC
Gruppenkommandeur II. ZG 76
Major Erich Groth
(1.1.40 - 12.8.41)		  M8+?M  M8+?N  M8+?P
1941, August  -   Messerschmitt Bf 110E-1  -   Pori, Finland

 M8+KC
Gruppenkommandeur II. ZG 76
Major Erich Groth
(1.1.40 - 12.8.41)		  M8+?M  M8+?N  M8+?P

 M8+NC 		 M8+?M  M8+?N  M8+?P
1941, November 1   -   redesignated  III./NJG3:
became Stab III./NJG3 became 7./NJG3 became 8./NJG3 became 9./NJG3

 

 

 

 

III. Gruppe
The early Wespen-Logo first appeared under II./ZG1, probably in may.
It was used all the time when this unit was III./ZG76  and even when it was renamed II./SKG210 later.
Somewhen before/after the next renaming to ZG1, the famous Wespen logo developed out of it.
Gruppenkommandeure:
  • Hptm Friedrich-Karl Dickoré, 26.6.40 - 15.8.40
  • Hptm Rolf Kaldrack, 16.8.40 - 24.4.41
  • Hptm Johannes Kiel, 1.11.43 - 29.1.44
Note: They kept the codes of II./ZG1:
Gruppenstab
(2N+?C)		 7. Staffel
 (2N+?M)		 8. Staffel
 (2N+?N)		 9. Staffel
(2N+?P)
1940, June 26  -   Formed from II./ZG1 at Trier-Euren
from Stab II./ZG1 from 4./ZG1 from 5./ZG1 from 6./ZG1
7. Jagddivision
(Southern Germany)
1940, June 26   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110D  -   Trier-Euren
 2N+?C   2N+?M   2N+?N   2N+?P 
Jagdfuehrer 3
(France)
1940, June 30   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C-3  -   Laval
 2N+?C   2N+?M 
Bf 110C  2N+BN 
(spring/summer 1940)
-
-
-
-
-
-
Bf 110C-3  2N+EP 
Staffelkapitaen
Oberleutnant Urban Schlaffer (FF)
Obergefreiter Franz Obser (BF)
(This aircraft was force-landed in England on 16 August 1940 after being damaged
by Spitfires from 602 Sqn RAF)
 2N+?C   2N+?M 
Bf 110C-4  2N+CN 
Oberleutnant Hans Muenich (FF)
Unteroffizier Adolf Kaeser (BF)
(spring/summer 1940)
Bf 110C  2N+EP 
(Shot down on 9th October 1940 by fighters of 310 (Czech) Sqn. RAF)
-
Luftflotte 5
(Norway)
1940, October   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110D  -   Stavanger-Sola & Herdla
 2N+?C   2N+?M   2N+?N 
Bf 110D  2N+DP 
Feldwebel Hans Peterburs
(Stavanger 1941)
1941, April 24   -   Redesignated II./SKG210
became Stab II./SKG210 became 4./SKG210 became 5./SKG210 became 6./SKG210

 

 

 

 

Ergaenzungs-Gruppe
Gruppenkommandeure:
  • Maj Wilhelm Lessmann, 5.41 - 7.41
  • Hptm Johann Kogler, 7.41 - 9.41
Gruppenstab (E) 1. (Eins) Staffel (R) 2. (Ausb) Staffel (S?)
1941, March   -   Formed in Aalborg-Ost as Erg.Staffel II./ZG76, but increased to Gruppe during the same month
Stab/Erg.Gruppe ZG76 1.(Eins)/Erg.Gruppe ZG76 2.(Ausb)/Erg.Gruppe ZG76
X. Fliegerkorps
(Northern Germany & Scandinavia)
1941, March   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C-1   -   Aalborg-Ost, Danmark

 M8+YE 
-
-
-
Bf 110D-2  2N+AR 
Norway, winter 1940-41.
The aircraft operated next to III. Gruppe,
this explains the 2N code.		 -
1941, March   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C-1   -   Wesermuende, Germany
- - -
1941, September   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C-1   -   Neubiberg, Germany
1. Staffel at Nellingen, 6.9.41 - 15.9.4
- - -
1941, September 15   -   Redesignated III./Nachtjagdschule 1
became Stab III./Nachtjagdschule 1 became 4./NJG3 became 5./Nachtjagdschule 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zweitaufstellung

 

 

Geschwaderstab (A)
Geschwaderkommodore:
  • Obstlt Robert Kowalewski, 25.1.44 - 24.7.44
1943, August   -   Reformed at Ansbach, Germany
7. Jagddivision
(Southern Germany)
1943, August   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110  -   Ansbach
 M8+?A
1944, April 25   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110 & Me 410  -   Prag-Gbell & Prag-Rusin, Czechoslovakia
 M8+?A
1944, June 13   -   Messerschmitt Me 410 HORNISSE  -   Wien-Seyring, Austria
 M8+?A
1944, July 11   -   Messerschmitt Me 410 HORNISSE  -   Malacky
 M8+?A
1944, July 24   -   Renamed Stab/JG76.

 

 

 

 

I. Gruppe
Gruppenkommandeure:
  • Hauptmann Paul Herzberg, 8(?).43 - 4.10.43
  • ?

Gruppenstab (B)

1. Staffel (H)

2. Staffel (K)

3. Staffel (L)
1943, August  -   Reformed at Ansbach
new from 1./NAGr.16 from 3./NAGr.12 from Stabsstaffel/St.G.1
7. Jagddivision
(Southern Germany)
1943, August  -   Messerschmitt Bf 110F-2; G-2  -   Ansbach
3./ZG76 at Graz in 11.43
 M8+AB
Gruppenkommandeur II./ZG76
Hauptmann Paul Herzberg
(8.43 - 4.10.43)		  M8+?H  M8+?K  M8+?L
1943, October 4   -   I. & II. ZG 76 attacked 130 bombers of the USAAF returning from missions to Frankfurt and Wiesbaden.
40 Bf 110G-2 equipped with the Wurfgranate 21 rocket-tubes, others with "Ruestsatz" R1: The Flak 37mm cannon.
At 11.00h they were surprised by 50 P-47 THUNDERBOLTs (with droptanks) of the 56. Fighter Group ("Hub Zemkes´s Wolfpack") unter command of Major David C.Schilling. The battle happened over the Eifel (a low mountain range in western Germany) and only lasted 10min.
7 out of 40 Bf 110G-2 were shot down - all crews KIA.
One of the unfortunate pilots was Hptm. Herzberg - Gruppenkommandeur I./ZG 76.
Information provided to me by the son of Grp.Kdr. II./ZG76, Hptm.Gehring - Dr.med.J.Gehring - see below und II./ZG76.
Detachments at Oettingen, 24.2.44 - 18.3.44 and 27.3.44 - 25.4.44; at Leipheim, 21.3 - 24.3.44
 M8+AB
Gruppenkommandeur II./ZG76
?
(? - ?)		  M8+?H  M8+?K  M8+?L
1944, April 25   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110 & Me 410   -   Prag-Gbell & Prag-Rusin, Czechoslovakia
1944   -   Messerschmitt Me 410B-2/U2/R2 HORNISSE  -   Brno, Czechoslovakia
 -+?
Gruppenkommandeur II./ZG76
?
(? - ?)
 -+M82  		 -+?  -+?
1944, June 13   -   Messerschmitt Me 410B-2/U-2/R-2 HORNISSE  -   Wien-Seyring, Austria
 -+?
Gruppenkommandeur II./ZG76
?
(? - ?)		  -+?  -+?  -+?
8. Jagddivision
(1944, June)
1944, July 12-20   -   Messerschmitt Me 410B-2/U-2/R-2 HORNISSE & Bf 109  -   Malacky
 -+?
Gruppenkommandeur II./ZG76
?
(? - ?)		  -+?  -+?  -+?
 

 

 

 

 

II. Gruppe
Gruppenkommandeure:
  • Hauptmann Oskar Gehring, 8.43 - 4.10.43
  • Major Herbert Kaminski, 5.10.43 - 9.8.44
  • ?
Gruppenstab (C) 4. Staffel (M) 5. Staffel (N) 6. Staffel (P)
1943, August  -   Reformed at Wertheim
new from 3./NAGr.4 from 3./Aufkl.Gr.11 from 3./NAGr.6
7. Jagddivision
(Southern Germany)
1943, August  -   Messerschmitt Bf 110F-2; G-2  -   Wertheim
Note: There is somehow an error: I have no idea, why the unit used the 2N code and some planes have the M8 code here?
Some sources also say 2N was used by II./ZG 1 at that time, but then, the places of the planes do not match?
Also, until September 1943, 2N was still used on Me210/410s of III./ZG1 ???
If you can help here, please drop me a line or two!
The aircraft were equipped with Wurfgranate 21 tubes and primarily used for day bomber interception
 2N+AC
Gruppenkommandeur II./ZG76
Hauptmann Oskar Gehring
(8.43 - 4.10.43)
Bf 110F-2  2N+FM 		 2N+?N  2N+?P
1943, October 4   -   I. & II. ZG 76 attacked 130 bombers of the USAAF returning from missions to Frankfurt and Wiesbaden.
40 Bf 110G-2 equipped with the Wurfgranate 21 rocket-tubes, others with "Ruestsatz" R1: The Flak 37mm cannon.
At 11.00h they were surprised by 50 P-47 THUNDERBOLTs (with droptanks) of the 56. Fighter Group ("Hub Zemkes´s Wolfpack") unter command of Major David C.Schilling. The battle happened over the Eifel (a low mountain range in western Germany) and only lasted 10min.
7 out of 40 Bf 110G-2 were shot down - all crews KIA.
One of the unfortunate pilots was Hptm. Oskar Gehring - Gruppenkommandeur II./ZG 76 (born 3.5.1912).
Information provided to me by his son, Dr.med. J.Gehring - Many thanks!
1944, January   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110F-2; G-2  -   (probably) Neubiberg (near Munich)
detachments at Leipheim, 24.2.44 - 24.3.44; at Hildesheim, 14.2.44 - 21.3.44; at Oettingen, 27.3.44 - 25.4.44; at Mamaia, 11.5. - 13.5.44.
 2N+AC
Gruppenkommandeur
Major Herbert Kaminski
(5.10.43 - 9.8.44)
Bf 110G-2/R3  2N+EM
-
Bf 110G-2/R3  2N+FN
-
Bf 110G-2/R3  2N+BP
-
1944, April 10   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110G-2/R3 ZERSTOERER  -   Ansbach (near Nuernberg)
Thes aircraft were equipped with a Bk 50 (37mm) cannon
 2N+AC
Gruppenkommandeur
Major Herbert Kaminski
(5.10.43 - 9.8.44)
Bf 110G-2/R4 (R1+R3)  2N+AM
Staffelkapitaen Lt. Helmut Haugk
-
Bf 110G-2  2N+LN
 two 20mm MG 151 under the fuselage and two in the nose.		  2N+AP
 2N+AC
Gruppenkommandeur
Major Herbert Kaminski
(5.10.43 - 9.8.44)
Bf 110G-2/R2  M8+KM
Also carries the M5 modification packs (four Nebelwerfer 210mm under the wings).
The R2 subvariant has the GM 1 nitrous oxyde system to boost high altitude performance,
this is the reason why this plane has no rear-firing guns and armor; this place accomodated the cylinder housing the nitrous oxyde
(1944)
     +A   
(Großenhain, Saxonia, 1944 ?)		  2N+AP
1944, April 25   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110G-2 & Me 410 HORNISSE  -   Prag-Gbell & Prag-Rusin, Czechoslovakia
 2N+AC
Gruppenkommandeur
Major Herbert Kaminski
(5.10.43 - 9.8.44)		  2N+?M
Bf 110G-2  2N+MN 		 2N+?P
1944, July 10   -   Messerschmitt Me 410 HORNISSE  -   Wien-Seyring, Austria
 2N+AC
Gruppenkommandeur
Major Herbert Kaminski
(5.10.43 - 9.8.44)		  2N+?M  2N+?N  2N+?P
Jagdfuehrer Ostpreussen
(East Prussia)
1944, July 30   -   Messerschmitt Me 410 HORNISSE  -   Powunden
 2N+AC
Gruppenkommandeur
Major Herbert Kaminski
(5.10.43 - 9.8.44)