Messerschmitt Bf 110
Messerschmitt · Germany · first flew 1936 · fighter
The Messerschmitt Bf 110 was a German twin-engine heavy fighter and destroyer aircraft that served throughout World War II, pivoting from its failed Zerstörer role to become an effective night fighter.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.05 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin DB 601 engines on tapered mid-wing of German heavy fighter
- Twin tail fins on single tailplane
- Long glazed canopy for two-man crew
The twin-engine, twin-fin layout with a long glazed crew canopy and heavy nose armament is distinctive; the wing plan is cleanly tapered without dihedral; the twin Daimler-Benz inline engines in close-fitting cowlings differ from radial-powered contemporaries.
Specifications
- The Messerschmitt Bf 110 has a length of 13.05 m (43 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.27 m (53 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 560 km/h (348 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering service in 1939, the Bf 110 proved vulnerable to single-engine fighters during the Battle of Britain, requiring fighter escort itself. However, fitted with radar and upward-firing Schräge Musik cannon, it became the Luftwaffe's most dangerous night fighter, accounting for a significant proportion of RAF bomber losses.
Variants
The Bf 110C and D were the main early variants; the Bf 110F and G were the definitive night fighter versions with AI radar; the G-4 was the most-produced night fighter mark.
Where you'll see it
Served throughout the war with the Luftwaffe in all theatres from the Arctic to North Africa; the night fighter variants were the most operationally significant.
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- Messerschmitt Bf 109
- Messerschmitt Bf 109 D
- Messerschmitt Bf 109B-1
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