Messerschmitt Bf 110 operational history
| Company type | Aircraft |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation, Military |
| Founder | Messerschmitt AG (originally Bayerische Flugzeugwerke) |
| Headquarters | Germany |
| Products | Twin-engine heavy fighter aircraft |
| Parent | Bayerische Flugzeugwerke / Messerschmitt AG |
Messerschmitt Bf 110 Operational History
The Messerschmitt Bf 110, frequently but incorrectly referred to as the Me 110, was a twin-engine heavy fighter, or Zerstörer—a German term meaning "Destroyer." This classification described a long-range, heavily armed fighter designed to operate over both friendly and enemy airspace, targeting hostile bombers and fighters alike. The designation "Bf" stems from its production prior to Bayerische Flugzeugwerke becoming Messerschmitt AG in July 1938; therefore, it was never officially named Me 110.
During the Second World War, the Bf 110 served prominently within the Luftwaffe. Hermann Göring was a notable advocate for this aircraft, affectionately dubbing it his Eisenseiten ("Ironsides"). Although development of its intended successor, the Messerschmitt Me 210, commenced before the outbreak of war, persistent developmental issues delayed its full replacement. Consequently, the Bf 110 continued operational service throughout the conflict alongside its successors, the Me 210 and Me 410.
The Bf 110 demonstrated considerable effectiveness during early military operations in Poland, Norway, and France. However, its principal drawback was limited maneuverability in aerial combat. This shortcoming became apparent during the Battle of Britain when units equipped with Bf 110s suffered severe losses and were subsequently withdrawn from frontline daylight engagements. Redeployed as night fighters—a role in which they excelled—the Bf 110s found renewed purpose.
Following the Battle of Britain, the aircraft experienced a successful tenure as both an air superiority fighter and strike platform across various theaters. In campaigns throughout the Balkans, North Africa, and on the Eastern Front, it provided crucial close air support to German ground forces as an effective fighter-bomber (Jagdbomber-Jabo). Later in the war, adaptations transformed it into a highly capable night fighter, becoming the primary nocturnal interceptor for the Luftwaffe. A significant number of Germany’s top night fighter aces operated the Bf 110 at some point during their careers. Notably, Major Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer—the highest-scoring night fighter ace—flew this aircraft exclusively, achieving 121 confirmed kills over 164 missions.
Polish Campaign
At the onset of the Polish Campaign, the Luftwaffe launched a large-scale assault targeting the airfields utilized by the Polish Air Force. The Bf 110s served primarily as escorts for the bombers and engaged any Polish fighter aircraft encountered.Template:Fix/category[citation needed] It is reported that Hermann Göring ordered in Template:When that all Bf 110s within the Luftwaffe's Zerstörerwaffe be made available for combat missions. According to the Luftwaffe Order of Battle, approximately 102 Bf 110s participated during the September Campaign, with around 10 losses sustained. Polish aviators were often unacquainted with the Bf 110, frequently mistaking them for bombers.Template:Fix/category[citation needed] Future ace and commander of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 as well as Jagdfliegerführer Rumänien, Wolfgang Falck, achieved his initial aerial victories over Poland, alongside future night fighter ace Helmut Lent and Gordon Gollob, later General der Jagdflieger. Falck’s unit, I./ZG 76, claimed a total of 31 kills during this campaign, with 19 confirmed. I(Z)./LG 1 also played a role by escorting German bomber formations attacking Warsaw, claiming 30 kills on the first day alone. Polish fighter units reported losses amounting to 17% on that day, escalating to a staggering 72% within five days. Additionally, JGr 2 recorded 28 aerial and 50 ground victories.
The Phoney War and the "Battle of German Bight"
The majority of units tasked with defending western Germany from air raids were equipped with Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters. Among the Bf 110 units assigned to this defensive role was Lehrgeschwader 1. On 23 November 1939, LG 1’s Bf 110s secured their first Allied kill by downing a Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 from the Armée de l'Air near Verdun. Barely three weeks later, on 18 December 1939, the Bf 110 contributed to Germany’s inaugural victory over British forces in World War II. During this engagement, RAF Bomber Command dispatched 22 Vickers Wellington bombers targeting the German naval base at Wilhelmshaven. While Bf 109 units provided support, it was predominantly the Bf 110s that excelled in their role as bomber interceptors. By the conclusion of this raid, German forces claimed to have shot down 38 RAF bombers. Actual RAF losses amounted to eleven Wellingtons destroyed and six more damaged to varying extents; some accounts suggest a twelfth Wellington was lost. This operation influenced RAF Bomber Command to reconsider daylight bombing raids over Germany in favor of nocturnal missions.
Invasions of Denmark and Norway
During Operation Weserübung, the invasion of Denmark and Norway, the Bf 110-equipped Zerstörerwaffe played a significant role. Two Zerstörergeschwader, specifically (1 and 76), deployed a combined total of 64 aircraft for this operation. On April 9th, Bf 110s destroyed twenty-five Danish military planes stationed at the Værløse airbase through ground strafing attacks; only one Danish Fokker C.V managed to take off but was promptly shot down. During these operations, Victor Mölders—brother of famed ace Werner Mölders—accepted Aalborg’s official surrender after arriving at its airfield. Clad in flight gear, he was transported into town by a local milkman to arrange accommodations for I./Zerstörergeschwader 1’s (ZG 1) Bf 110 crews.
In Norway, Bf 110s facilitated securing Oslo-Fornebu airport by escorting Junkers Ju 52 transports carrying paratroopers (Fallschirmjäger). These forces encountered resistance from several Gloster Gladiator fighters and machine gun fire from ground troops; both sides lost two aircraft during this clash. The Messerschmitt crews were unaware that many preceding transport waves had aborted their landings and that the airport remained unsecured. After landing their payloads, numerous transports were destroyed on the ground. Remaining Bf 110s provided strafing runs against the airfield and supported ground forces in capturing it; this air support proved crucial and demonstrated the Zerstörerwaffe’’’s effectiveness as fighter-bombers in subsequent operations. During these engagements, future Luftwaffe ace with over a hundred kills, Helmut Lent, achieved his fifth and sixth aerial victories against Norwegian opposition.
Drawing on combat experience gained in Norway, modifications were implemented to extend the operational range of the Bf 110C, resulting in the development of the Bf 110D Long Range (Langstrecken) Zerstörer. Various external fuel tanks were trialed: initially a large centerline ventral tank holding approximately 1,200 L (320 US gal), nicknamed Dackelbauch (dachshund’s belly), followed by underwing tanks with capacities of either about 300 L or up to roughly 900 L (240 US gal). These variations produced no fewer than four versions of the Bf 110D. However, due to cold weather conditions and limited understanding of fuel vapor behavior, the sizeable Dackelbauch tank occasionally exploded during North Sea patrols, causing unexplained losses and leading crews to develop an aversion toward this variant. Additionally, handling deteriorated since the already less maneuverable Bf 110 became heavier with added fuel tanks.
The Zerstörerwaffe demonstrated strong performance when intercepting predominantly British bomber formations. On June 13th, 1940, a squadron of Skua dive bombers attempting an attack on the German battleship Scharnhorst was intercepted by combined forces of Bf 109s and Bf 110s; eight Skuas were downed within eight minutes—four credited to Bf 110 pilots including notable ace Herbert Schob, who emerged from the war as one of its most successful pilots flying this type. Total losses for German forces during this campaign numbered just over twenty aircraft. In July, RAF raids continued against Norway; notably on July 9th, seven out of twelve attacking Bristol Blenheim bombers targeting Stavanger were shot down by mixed squadrons of Bf 110s from ZG 76 and Bf 109s from JG 77.
Western Campaign, 1940
In the spring of 1940, Walter Horten, serving as the technical officer for Jagdgeschwader 26, was invited to engage in a simulated dogfight against a Bf 109E. The Bf 109 consistently outperformed the Bf 110 during these trials. Following the exercise, Horten cautioned:
Gentlemen, exercise great caution if you ever confront the English. Their fighters are all single-engined, and once they understand the vulnerabilities of the Bf 110, you might face a severe and unpleasant surprise.
Throughout the Phoney War, several French aircraft fell to Bf 110 fighters. On 2 April, Hauptmann Hannes Gentzen, commander of ZG 1, became the Luftwaffe’s top fighter ace by downing a P-36 Hawk near Argonne. For the assault on the Netherlands, a total of 145 Bf 110s were deployed under the command of Oberst Kurt-Bertram von Döring's Jagdfliegerführer 2. During this operation, the Bf 110 proved its effectiveness as a strike platform; on 10 May, ZG 1 reported destroying 26 Dutch aircraft grounded at Haamstede airfield. From 11 to 13 May, most of the 82 aerial victories recorded over Belgium were credited to ZG 26’s Bf 110 units. However, these successes were offset by the loss of nine Bf 110s to RAF fighters on 15 May. By this time, Oberstleutnant Friedrich Vollbracht’s ZG 2 had claimed destruction of 66 Allied aircraft.
The Bf 110 units also encountered opposition from the Swiss Air Force after several German incursions into Swiss airspace. Swiss Bf 109s managed to shoot down approximately five Bf 110s during these engagements. In Fall Rot's Operation Paula, aimed at annihilating remaining French Air Force assets in central France, Luftwaffe losses totaled 101 aircraft; only four were Bf 110s. No further losses of this type occurred for the remainder of that campaign.
The western campaign in 1940 highlighted the Bf 110’s susceptibility when operating in contested airspace. While it performed adequately against Belgian, Dutch, and French air forces with comparatively light losses, it was rapidly outmatched by growing numbers of Hurricane and Spitfire fighters. This was especially evident when assigned to close-range bomber escort duties—a role for which it was not designed—where it could not leverage its superior speed and altitude capabilities and was forced into a reactive posture against enemy attacks rather than proactively seeking out adversaries as originally envisioned by the Zerstörer concept. During this campaign, the Luftwaffe lost 60 Bf 110s, representing about one-third of its initial strength.
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain exposed critical flaws in the Bf 110’s performance as a daytime fighter against nimble single-engine opponents. Its relatively large size made it less maneuverable than Hurricanes and Spitfires and more visible to enemy pilots. Although it boasted a higher top speed than contemporary RAF Hurricanes, its acceleration was subpar. Nevertheless, it was better suited for long-range bomber escort missions than many other aircraft at that time and did not suffer from the limited range issues that affected the Bf 109E.
The design excelled in "high escort" tactics where Bf 110 squadrons operated ahead of bomber formations to clear enemy fighters using their speed and firepower advantages through diving attacks before disengaging and climbing away—an approach later termed "Boom-and-Zoom" by American pilots. However, in "close escort" roles where they flew alongside slower bombers, their tactical advantage diminished significantly as they lost mobility and were forced into defensive reactions against alert enemy fighters capable of evading or counterattacking them effectively. This lack of tactical flexibility severely limited their ability to engage single-engine fighters on an even footing.
Hans-Joachim Göring, nephew of Hermann Göring and pilot with III./Zerstörergeschwader 76 flying the Messerschmitt Bf 110, was killed on 11 July 1940 when his aircraft was downed by Hurricanes from No. 87 Squadron RAF. His plane crashed into Portland Harbour.
The most devastating day for Bf 110 units during the battle was on 15 August 1940 when nearly thirty were lost—equivalent to an entire Gruppe. Another twenty-three were lost over the following two days. After this period, operations involving Zerstörer units declined markedly—not because they could not survive hostile skies like Ju 87 Stukas—but due to insufficient replacement aircraft failing to keep pace with attrition.
A brief resurgence occurred on the final day of August when ZG 26 claimed thirteen RAF fighters destroyed for three losses and five damaged aircraft. However, heavy losses continued with fifteen Bf 110s lost each on both September 4 and September 27. The Luftwaffe began the battle with approximately 237 operational Bf 110s but suffered losses totaling around 223 by its conclusion.
On an unusual note after the Battle of Britain ended, Rudolf Hess undertook a solo flight on May 10, 1941 in a Bf 110 from Augsburg to Scotland in an apparent attempt to negotiate peace between Germany and Great Britain.
Balkans Campaign
During April 1941’s invasions of Yugoslavia and Greece, Messerschmitt Bf 110C and Es were actively deployed. I./ZG 26 and II./ZG 26 operated in this theater where they encountered Yugoslav Air Force Messerschmitt Bf 109s—a repeat scenario reminiscent of earlier clashes over Switzerland where German forces suffered defeats. On April 6 alone, I./ZG 26 lost five aircraft while shooting down two Yugoslav Bf 109s; II./ZG engaged several Hawker Fury biplanes but lost two fighters themselves.
In Greece on April 20, II./ZG 26 claimed five Hurricanes from No. 33 and No. 80 Squadrons RAF at a cost of two losses among their own ranks. This battle saw notable casualties including ace Marmaduke Pattle (No. 33 Squadron) killed in action as well as F/Lt W.J. “Timber” Woods (No. 80 Squadron) who had scored six-and-a-half kills. Among German claimants were Staffelkapitän Hauptmann Theodor Rossiwall and Oberleutnant Sophus Baagoe who increased their tallies to twelve and fourteen victories respectively; Baagoe himself later perished during a strafing mission over Crete on May 14 amid British defenses including Gloster Gladiator pilots. Approximately twelve Bf 110s were lost during operations over Crete.
North Africa, Mediterranean, and Middle East
During the Rashid Ali Rebellion and subsequent Anglo-Iraqi War in May 1941, twelve Bf 110s from 4./ZG 76 were deployed under "Flyer Command Iraq". Arriving early May, these aircraft participated in a brief desert campaign lasting ten days where future night fighter ace Martin Drewes claimed two RAF Gladiators before two German aircraft sustained severe damage from enemy raids. By May 26 all operational Bf 110s had been lost or rendered unserviceable leading to evacuation of personnel.
One captured example (Wk-Nr 4035) was flown by RAF as serial HK846 ("Belle of Berlin") based in Cairo intended for pilot training on captured equipment but crashed en route to South Africa in Sudan.
In North Africa proper, the Bf 110 primarily supported Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive-bomber units with nearly one-fifth of missions focused on ground attack roles during 1941. Several experienced aces were lost in aerial combat while overall attrition remained significant.
Notably on May 22–23 night operations saw deployment of Bf 110s as night fighters over desert terrain; Oberleutnant Alfred Wehmeyer achieved three nocturnal kills within one week against Allied bombers. By August 1942 stalemates allowed III./ZG 26 to relocate to Crete providing convoy protection where multiple United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) B-24 Liberators were shot down.
On September 29 Oberleutnant Helmut Haugk single-handedly engaged eleven B-24 bombers destroying two—a demonstration of the type’s effectiveness in night fighting roles that would be further exploited in Europe.
Finally in February 1945 two Bf 110G-4s were supplied to Croatia’s Air Force (ZNDH), one destroyed by Allied bombing at Zagreb while another retreated safely to Klagenfurt alongside other withdrawing Croatian aircraft.
Eastern Front
At the outset of Operation Barbarossa, only fifty-one airworthy Bf 110s participated across three units: ZG 26, Schnellkampfgeschwader (SKG) 210 (formerly Erprobungsgruppe) and ZG 76. The aircraft provided critical support for ground forces by conducting strike sorties despite facing intense anti-aircraft artillery fire.
Bf 110 pilots achieved substantial success destroying enemy ground targets; among them Leutnant Eduard Meyer earned a Knight's Cross for eighteen aerial victories coupled with forty-eight ground kills including tanks; Oberleutnant Johannes Kiel claimed sixty-two aircraft destroyed on ground plus nine tanks and twenty artillery pieces along with later credits including submarine and motor torpedo boat sinkings.
In northern sectors between Kirkenes (Norway) and Murmansk port during early-mid-1942 significant victories occurred such as those by Zerstörer unit ten.(Z)/JG5 escorting Ju88 bombers engaging Soviet SB-2 bombers escorted by Hurricanes from Soviet regiments resulting in disproportionate Soviet losses despite some overclaiming by German pilots including expert Theodor Weissenberger who scored his first twenty-one victories flying the Bf 110 before transitioning later to Me 262 jets.
When flown by experienced crews especially in ground attack roles like Operation Blau starting July 3 1942 where Hauptmann Wolfgang Schenk repeatedly struck Soviet convoys destroying thirty vehicles out of fifty targeted while earning Oak Leaves addition to Knight’s Cross; his deputy Leutnant Rudolf Scheffel also earned Knight's Cross after scoring five aerial kills plus destroying fifty tanks during same operation.
While initially able to contend effectively against slower Soviet Polikarpov I-153s, I-15bis and I-16 fighters due to superior tactics/training early losses mounted rapidly mid-to-late 1942 with examples including:
- March 11: six.(Z)/JG5 losing three aircraft against Soviet P-40 Tomahawks
- July 8: four ZG1's Bf 110Es downed by LaGG-3 fighters without Soviet losses
- July 13: five ZG1 machines shot down by same unit LaGG-3s including probable kill by Soviet ace Dmitriy Nazarenko
- September 17: engagements with Yak-1 fighters resulted in immediate loss of two ZG1's planes plus collision kill involving Polikarpov I-16 ramming incident killing German crew
- September 19: two more ZG1 aircraft destroyed near Stalingrad including ramming attack killing Staffelkapitän Theo Kehl
At start of Operation Blau June 28 1942 Luftflotte 4 fielded eighty-six operational Zerstörer including fifteen dedicated reconnaissance versions across three units; just one month later heavy fighter losses led to disbandment of ZG 2 with survivors merging into ZG 1.
Subsequently numbers declined further with many withdrawn for reconnaissance roles or redeployed back to Germany for Defense of the Reich missions.
Defence of the Reich
Withdrawn eventually from daylight combat roles due to vulnerability issues, the Bf 110 found renewed purpose as a night fighter where its extended range and formidable firepower proved valuable throughout remaining war years.
Its airframe accommodated a dedicated radar operator position along with space for radar antennae housed within an open nose section—an advantage over single-engine fighters lacking such capacity—although increasing weight from armament additions and radar equipment gradually degraded performance metrics.
Besides night fighting duties it also served as ground attack platform beginning with C-4/B variants as well as day bomber interceptors exploiting heavy armament particularly effective against Allied bombers when unescorted; equipped with powerful combinations of twenty-millimeter and thirty-millimeter cannons capable of quickly disabling enemy bombers.
When outfitted with four sixteen-inch (21 cm) Werfer-Granate rocket tubes mounted under wing panels alongside other armaments however it became increasingly susceptible to Allied escort fighters especially following tactical shifts led by Jimmy Doolittle late in 1943 which facilitated growing American air superiority over German airspace; consequently formations suffered heavy attrition rates during late ’43 into ’44.
The pinnacle achievements came as night fighter equipped often with innovative upward-firing twin autocannons known as Schräge Musik, enabling attacks from below exploiting blind spots on British bombers lacking ventral turrets—such installations initially positioned mid-cockpit but later relocated rearward for improved effectiveness.
Notably Luftwaffe ace Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer emerged as highest-scoring night fighter pilot flying primarily Bf 110 variants accumulating121 confirmed kills during Defense of Reich operations; others such as Helmut Lent transitioned successfully from daylight roles building upon modest earlier tallies aided also by complementary platforms like Junkers Ju 88 and Dornier Do 217 though none matched prominence achieved by the twin-engine fighter.
Daylight Operations
Beginning January 1943 Eighth Air Force initiated daylight bombing raids deep into Germany beyond range offered by existing fighter escorts; despite Bomber Command reservations believing crews could penetrate defenses unaided initial attack targeted Wilhelmshaven employing sixty Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses encountering resistance primarily from JG-1 units yet succeeded delivering payload while losing three bombers.
Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring mandated full deployment including night fighter forces against these raids leading second mission February 4 aimed at Hamm marshalling yards diverted due poor weather conditions targeting Emden industrial area instead; JG-1 again engaged now supported by eight Nachtjagdgeschwader (night fighter) group’s Bf 110s lacking advanced attack tactics developed elsewhere which hampered effectiveness versus heavily armed bomber formations accustomed to suicidal consequences attacking from rear-above positions per Luftwaffe doctrine—thus crews attempted beam assaults creating formation gaps exploited notably by Hans-Joachim Jabs achieving his sole day victory flying night fighter type though all eight participating machines sustained significant damage during engagement which cost five bombers overall including one mid-air collision incident involving Focke-Wulf Fw 190 escort fighter.
Jabs reflected:
This was my only day victory in a night fighter.
We flew these missions at no greater than Schwarm strength, and were ourselves never escorted. It was wasteful to use highly trained night fighter crews in this role,
and it was given up when US escorts appeared.
Subsequent raids saw continued losses among both sides including three bombers downed March 4 at cost of two defending Bf 110s while limited American fighter range afforded windows allowing Zerstörer units opportunities against bomber streams before rapid redeployment demands toward Eastern and Mediterranean fronts led to depleted formations requiring extensive reconstitution preventing sustained success.
By autumn ’43 these units returned forming Reichsluftverteidigung (RLV) groups combining both Bf 110s and Me 410 heavy fighters based near Hannover Austria France respectively; October 4 engagements near Frankfurt-Saar region yielded four bomber kills offset by nine own losses following encounters with Republic P-47 Thunderbolt escorts resulting in casualties without clear confirmation if attackers were downed themselves.
During February ’44 “Big Week” offensive changes introduced by Lt Gen Doolittle involving increased P-51 Mustang escort presence led to catastrophic outcomes for twin-engine fighters exemplified February 20 mission where thirteen scrambled machines faced ambush resulting eleven shot down within minutes plus additional ground strafing damage inflicted at home bases; further sorties suffered similar fates demonstrating escalating vulnerability amid evolving air superiority dynamics forcing reconsideration regarding continued frontline use culminating April ’44 final effective engagements before mass losses prompted cessation as primary day-fighting weapon system replaced gradually yet imperfectly due lackluster alternatives delaying full phase-out until war’s end.
Night Fighter Operations
Throughout World War II the Bf 110 formed backbone of Nachtjagdgeschwader night fighter wings initiating defensive operations over Germany already autumn ’40 albeit facing minimal opposition until arrival of British heavy bomber raids circa ’42 onward.
A particularly notable episode occurred overnight August 17–18 1943 involving use of experimental Schräge Musik upward-firing cannon system mounted initially mid-cockpit behind pilot allowing attacks exploiting blind spots beneath RAF Lancaster and Halifax bombers lacking ventral turrets; NJG 5 pilot Leutnant Peter Erhardt famously destroyed four bombers within half an hour using this tactic while RAF crews remained unaware due tracerless ammunition combined with stealthy firing angles causing confusion attributing sudden explosions often mistakenly attributed solely to flak fire rather than unseen intruders until later adoption repositioned cannon mount toward extreme rear cockpit improving efficacy further.
In September ’43 Arthur Harris intensified strategic bombing campaigns targeting cities such as Hannover achieving high accuracy but suffering steep bomber attrition rates primarily inflicted by robust German defenses centered around night fighter operations heavily reliant upon Bf 110 squadrons responsible alongside flak batteries for destruction estimates exceeding two thousand seven hundred RAF bombers that year alone despite introduction later countermeasures such as Window chaff disrupting radar detection plus Mosquito diversionary tactics temporarily reducing interception success although overall night fighting remained dominated numerically and tactically by twin-engine types supplemented increasingly by Ju 88 platforms.
By October ’43 General Josef Kammhuber expressed grave concerns regarding unsustainable losses urging Hermann Göring cessation of costly daylight commitments involving night fighter crews whose casualty rates escalated dramatically within months yet fortunes improved late summer ’43 highlighted notably during Hamburg raids inflicting severe bomber losses albeit accompanied by substantial Luftwaffe crew fatalities underscoring high price paid for temporary defensive gains preventing deep penetration bombing runs until eventual erosion under mounting Allied pressure throughout ensuing months culminating ultimate strategic defeat despite formidable resistance centered around dedicated night fighting assets like the venerable Messerschmitt Bf 110.
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Bekker, Cajus. The Luftwaffe War Diaries. MacDonald and Company, 1968 (originally 1964). ISBN 0-306-80604-5.
- Bergstrom, Christer, and Andrey Mikhailov. Black Cross – Red Star, Air War over the Eastern Front. Volume 2: Resurgence. Military History, Pacifica, 2004. ISBN 0-935553-51-7.
- Bergstrom, Christer, Andrey Dikov, and Vladislav Aptipov. Black Cross – Red Star, Air War over the Eastern Front. Volume 3: Everything for Stalingrad. Eagle Editions Limited, 2006. ISBN 0-9761034-4-3.
- Bykov, Mikhail Yurevich. Asy Velikoy Otchestvennoy (Aces of the Great Patriotic War). Yauza-Eksmo, Moscow, Russia, 2007. ISBN 978-5-699-20526-4.
- Caldwell, Donald, and Richard Muller. The Luftwaffe over Germany: Defense of the Reich. Greenhill Books, London, UK, 2007. ISBN 978-1-85367-712-0.
- Deighton, Len. Fighter: The True Story of the Battle of Britain. Pimlico, London, UK, 1996. ISBN 0-7126-7423-3.
- Eden, Paul. The Encyclopedia of Aircraft of WWII. Aerospace Publishing Ltd, London, UK, 2004. ISBN 978-1-904687-83-2.
- Evans, Richard J. The Third Reich at War. Penguin Group, New York, US, 2008. ISBN 978-0-14-311671-4.
- Freeman, Roger A. The Mighty Eighth War Diary. Motorbooks International, Osceola, WI, originally published 1981; reissued 1990. ISBN 978-0-87938-495-1.
- Hooton, E.R. Luftwaffe at War; Blitzkrieg in the West: Volume 2. Chevron/Ian Allan, London, UK, 2007. ISBN 978-1-85780-272-6.
- Hooton, E.R. Luftwaffe at War; Gathering Storm 1933–39: Volume 1. Chevron/Ian Allan, London, UK, 2007. ISBN 978-1-903223-71-0.
- Likso, T., and D. Canak. Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo u Drugome Svjetskom Ratu (The Croatian Airforce in the Second World War). Zagreb, Croatia, 1998. ISBN 953-97698-0-9.
- Nesbit, Roy Conyers and Georges van Acker. The Flight of Rudolf Hess: Myths and Reality. History Press, Stroud, UK; originally published in 1999; reprinted in 2011. ISBN 978-0-7509-4757-2.
- Mankau, Heinz and Peter Petrick. Messerschmitt BF 110/Me 210/Me 410: An Illustrated History. Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, PA, 2003. ISBN 0-7643-1784-9.
- Murray, Williamson. Strategy for Defeat: The Luftwaffe 1935–1945. Air Power Research Institute, Maxwell AFB, AL., 1983. ISBN 0-16-002160-X.
- Middlebrook, Martin. The Peenemunde Raid: The Night of 17–18 August 1943. Pen & Sword Aviation, Barnsley UK., 2004. ISBN 1-84415-336-3.
- Savic, Dragan and Boris Ciglic. Croatian Aces of World War II. Osprey Aircraft of the Aces – No.49; Oxford Publishing; London UK., 2002. ISBN 978-1-84176-435-1.
- Smith J.R., and Antony L. Kay.German Aircraft of the Second World War. Putnam Publishing; London UK.,1972.ISBN0-85177-836-4.
- Treadwell,Terry C.Messerschmitt Bf110 (Classic WWII Aviation). Cerberus Publishing Ltd., Bristol Avon UK.,2005.ISBN1-84145-107-X.
- Weal John.Messerschmitt Bf110 Zerstörer Aces World War Two.Osprey Publishing; London UK.,1999.ISBN1-85532-753-8.
Further reading
- Aubusson, Charles, Les guêpes en Méditerranée, Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire, December 2001, issue 105, pp. 9–14 (French; translated title: The Wasps in the Mediterranean)
- Bergstrom, Christer, Black Cross – Red Star, Air War over the Eastern Front. Volume 4. Stalingrad to Kuban, Vaktel Books, 2019, English, ISBN 978-91-88441-21-8
- Campbell, Jerry L., Messerschmitt BF 110 Zerstörer in action, Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., Carrollton, Texas, 1977, English, ISBN 0-89747-029-X
- Ciampaglia, Giuseppe, Destroyers in Second World War, IBN editore, Rome, Italy, 1996, English, ISBN 88-86815-47-6
- de Zeng, H. L., Stanket, D. G., and Creek, E. J., Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933–1945: A Reference Source, Volume 2, Ian Allan Publishing, London, UK, 2007, English, ISBN 978-1-903223-87-1
- Donald, David (editor), Warplanes of the Luftwaffe, Aerospace Publishing, London, UK, 1994, English, ISBN 1-874023-56-5
- Garello, Giancarlo, La chasse de nuit italienne (3): la méthode scientifique, Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire, September 2001, issue 102, pp. 9–16 (French; translated title: Italian Night Fighters: The Scientific Method)
- Geust, Carl-Fredrik and Petrov, Gennadiy, Red Stars Vol 2. – German Aircraft in the Soviet Union, Apali Oy, Tampere, Finland, 1998, English, ISBN 952-5026-06-X
- Hirsch, R.S. and Feist, Uwe, Messerschmitt Bf 110 (Aero Series 16), Aero Publishers Inc., Fallbrook, California, 1967, English
- Ledwoch, Janusz, Messerschmitt Bf 110 (Aircraft Monograph 3), AJ-Press, Gdańsk, Poland, 1994, English, ISBN 83-86208-12-0
- Mackay, Ron, Messerschmitt Bf 110, The Crowood Press Ltd., Wiltshire, UK, 2000, English, ISBN 1-86126-313-9
- Munson Kenneth , Fighters and Bombers, Peerage Books , New York , US ,1983 ,English ,ISBN 0-907408-37-0
- Osché Philippe , Messerschmitt Bf 110 contre Messerschmitt Bf 109 en Suisse, Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et Son Histoire , January 2000 ,issue82 ,pp35–40 (French; translated title: Messerschmitt Bf 110 versus Swiss Messerschmitt Bf 109)
- Price Alfred , Messerschmitt Bf 110 Night Fighters (Aircraft in Profile No.207), Profile Publications Ltd., Windsor Berkshire UK ,1971 ,English
- Roba Jean-Louis and Charlier Roland , Combat sur la Beauce : la chasse nuit allemande sur Messerschmitt Bf110 (1ère partie), Avions : Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire , July1997 ,issue52 ,pp7–8 (French; translated title: Combat over Beauce: The German Messerschmitt Bf110 Night Fighter)
- Roba Jean-Louis and Charlier Roland , Combat sur la Beauce : la chasse nuit allemande sur Messerschmitt Bf110 (2ème partie), Avions : Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire , August1997 ,issue53 ,pp14–15 (French)
- Roba Jean-Louis and Cony Christophe , Donnerkeil :12 février1942, Avions : Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire , August2001 ,issue101 ,pp10–19 (French; translated title: Operation Donnerkeil:12 February1942)
- Van Ishoven Armand , Messerschmitt Bf110 at War, Ian Allan Ltd., Shepperton Surrey UK ,1985 ,English ,ISBN0-7110-1504-X