Messerschmitt Bf 110 G4 (730301)  [@ RAF Hendon]

The Messerschmitt Bf 110 was designed in response to a 1934 specification for a long-range escort fighter and Zerstorer (destroyer) aircraft. Three prototypes were completed with DB 600 engines, the first of these flying on the12^th May 1936. Four pre-series Bf 110 A0s were ordered, powered by 610hp Jume 210B engines, while a small number of  Bf 110 B0 trials aircraft were fitted with the 690 hp DB 600A, but these were inadequate and the first production model, the Bf 110 C1, used the more powerful (1100 hp) DB 601A. The aircraft also featured several aerodynamic improvements over the Bf 110 A0, such as square-cut wingtips (which increased speed but had an adverse effect on manoeuvrability) and an improved cockpit canopy. Armament comprised four 7.9 mm (0.31 in) MG17 machine guns and two 20 mm (0.79 in) MGFF cannon, the former in the upper half of the nose and the latter in a detachable tray attached to the fuselage belly. In addition, a manually operated MG15 machine gun was provided in the rear cockpit. First deliveries were made in 1938. The Bf 110 C was also produced in fighter-bomber (C4, C7) and reconnaissance (C5) sub-variants.

Fighting as a day-fighter (Zerstoerer) became more and more difficult. The Bf 110 couldn’t match the performance of the single engined fighters such as the Spitfire or Hurricane. Later on the Allies also introduced twin engined fighters like the P38 Lightning, or even the Mosquito with its superb speed and altitude performance, were vulnerable to Bf 109s and Fw 190s especially when flown by experienced pilots. Despite suffering very serious losses during the Battle of Britain the aircraft continued in quantity production and in 1940 the Messerschmitt factories turned out 1008 Bf 110 fighters and 75 reconnaissance aircraft. The Bf 110 D was originally intended as a long-range escort fighter, and the Bf 110 D0 pre-series aircraft featured a large ventral fuel tank, but the drag this created impaired the aircraft's performance to the extent that it was deleted in the production Bf 110 D1 and replaced by external wing tanks. The D2 could be used in either the fighter or bomber roles and could carry up to two 1000 kg (2205 1b) bombs, and the D3 was a D1 with bomb racks attached. The Bf 110 E1 and E2 were designed as fighter-bombers and were able to carry four 50 kg (110 1b) bombs under the wing in addition to the larger bombs slung under the fuselage, while the E3 was a special long-range reconnaissance model.

The Bf 110 F was similar to the E but with a strengthened airframe and upgraded armour. Designed either as a fighter-bomber (F1), a long-range fighter (F2) or a long-range reconnaissance (F3), it was the F4 that was specifically designed as a 3-crew night-fighter. Earlier variants had 1300 hp DB 601 engines, but the final major production aircraft, the Bf 110 G, produced in larger numbers than any other variant, adopted the 1350 hp DB 605 engine. Produced for all roles, but it was in the night-fighter role of the G2 but mainly the G4 that the Me 110 truly excelled and was responsible for the majority of Bomber Command's night losses due to fighter attack from early 1943. Fitted with additional fuel tanks for a longer endurance, many of the Bf 110 G night-fighters were fitted with the “Schraege Musik”, special machine guns firing at an angle of about 45° to a point above the fighter. This helped the crew to shoot down a bomber when flying parallel to it but underneath it. A flame extinguisher, “Flammenvernichter” was also fitted instead of the normal exhaust system to help to subdue the blue exhaust flames.

At the beginning of 1945, werknummer 730301, was based at Grove, Dänemark, with the “Stammkennzeichen” D5+RL to I/NJG 3. Complete with its FuG 220 Lichtenstein radar aerials it is a heavily armed night-fighter variant. Due to its radar equipment, 730301 was transferred to the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough in August 1945 for flight testing. Saved from being scrapped, 730301 spent the post war years stored at various locations until in 1980 when after a short restoration 730301 was placed on display at Hendon. This is the only intact aircraft of this type remaining anywhere in the world.