Zerstorer!

dhfan…Aircraft of the Fighting powers Vol 1 page 61, refers to “The Messerschmitt Me110 AND JAGUAR.” Descibing the Jaguar as a bomber version along with a picture. (See attached.)

I have attached front and rear scans of the postcard in question.(The picture is used in the above.)

Regards Mike

Although I can’t lay my hands on them at the moment to check, I’m pretty certain that the BF 110 is called Jaguar in one or more editions of Aircraft of the Fighting Powers.
Obviously without checking I’ve no idea now if it was generally or a specific variant.

Uffz. Balthasar Aretz of 2.Staffel, Erprobungsgruppe 210, August 1940.

John Vasco interviewed crewmembers from 2./Erpr. Gr. 210 and that is what they told him…

“as a mocking reference to the propaganda term”

I’m curious. Is the story that the Erpro 210 used “Jaguar” on their aircraft to mock the British even likely?

The joke seems to go that the Bf162 was used as a propaganda plane after the development of this bomber type stops. However, as a result of this ruse the British are alerted to the possibility of a Bf110-like bomber. Eventually the Germans actually do develop and use a bomber version of the Bf110. If anything the warning has been fulfilled and the LW propaganda gave this away. The type is effectively on the British enemy aircraft recognition charts before it has even been used in action.

It seems more probable that Erpro 210 heard the catchy “Jaguar” name given to the type in British news reports and adopted it themselves.

Hi,

“The Bf 162, is it basically a 110 with new nose and different engines (well, it would be equivalent to an early 110, A version?)”

Very different in all aspects of the engineering of the entire aircraft. The crew sat side by side in the Bf 162.

“I wonder if that was twist to the “Jäger” (hunter) word?”

Jaguar is Jaguar in German so I believe the big cat was in mind for the moniker.

Panzerkampfwagen V Panther, no ‘morphing’ involved.

Excellent thread! Lots of great books on an under estimated aircraft.

The Bf 162, is it basically a 110 with new nose and different engines (well, it would be equivalent to an early 110, A version?)

BTW, “Jaguar”. I wonder if that was twist to the “Jäger” (hunter) word? Much like Panzer morphed into Panther?

That explains it. Many thanks.

In the late 30’s Messerschmitt started the Bf 161/162 project, a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft (later the Bf 161), and a bomber (later the Bf 162). Called the “Jaguar” it only got to the prototype phase. It was a twin engined, twin tail plane design. It appeared in the earlier aircraft recognition books. Heavily retouched photos of one of the prototypes were circulated in the press at the time by the Germans for propaganda purposes. It had camouflage, fake, retouched operational codes and armament. This was taken as evidence of the type being used operationally. There are early RAF combat reports that mention engaging “the new Messerschmitt Jaguar fighter-bombers”. This was clearly a misidentification of the Bf 161/162 and they were actually engaging Bf 110s. It is reported that some Bf 110 crews of 2./Erprobungsgruppe 210 mocked these earlier RAF misidentifications by painting the name “Jaguar” on the noses of some of their Bf 110s.

Below is the previously mentioned propaganda photo of the Bf 161/162. The similarities to the Bf 110 can be appreciated:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]261164[/ATTACH]

Why did the RAF habitually refer to the Bf 110 as a Jaguar in combat reports? Did the Luftwaffe ever name it as such or was it an incorrect translation of the German word Jager (that should have an umlaut over the a but my PC will not do it)?

Thank you, Aviart. That’s exactly the information I needed. You’re a genius.

Here it is shown on perhaps the most famous Bf 110E of all.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]261137[/ATTACH]

Simon

I have always loved the 110

It’s the master compass access hatch. Not always best to trust post-war cutaways.

A diagram produced by Messerschmitt in July 1942:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]261136[/ATTACH]

Could be? But the compass is a bit behind that position on cutaway drawings?

Master Compass access?

Sorry, I have no idea. That’s why I was asking.

Isn’t it merely an inspection hatch? Something to do with the radio maybe?

Bf 110

Hi All,

I would very much appreciate someone telling me the purpose of the circular hatch or whatever it is as indicated.

Thank you very much.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]261130[/ATTACH]

Regards,

Simon

Perhaps the rack type had to fit the bomb type (i.e. ETC250 was only for 250-kg weapons and ETC500 was for 500-kg weapons).

I feel like the -110 could probably have carried the smaller weapons if the need arose…just my thoughts though.

Been absent from here for a few days, so just catching up.
You may be right about bomb-type to bomb-rack. However with the ‘E’ variant, and the C-7, provision was made for underwing bomb racks that carried smaller bombs, as well as the fitment of a ‘rail’ that carried the SD2 anti-personnel bombs (pages 128 & 129 of the book I mentioned in my last-but-one post).