Bf 110G-4 "3C+LB," Stab I./NJG 4 (1:72)

When performing the task of escort and air superiority that they were originally designed for; the Bf-110 Zerstorers �Destroyers� were very good against Poland and the Scandinavian countries early in WWII. But once they were put into this role during the Battle of Britain and came up against the much faster and more agile Hurricanes and Spitfires the Bf-110 suffered tremendous losses. They were withdrawn from this and found their calling as night fighters that inflicted large losses on the British bombers that were unescorted. The tables turned once again as soon as the long range P-47 and P-51 were put into action. The bombers could now fly to and from the target with fighter protection. Once considered the elite of the Luftwaffe by Goring his Bf-110s once again ended up as no match for Allied air power.

This aircraft belonged to Willi (Wilhelm) Herget nicknamed �der Kleine� (Titch � a small person referring to his small build). Even though he now belonged to I/HJG 4 he continued to use the Bf-110 painted in the scheme of his former unit. Willi had been assigned to II/ZG 76 that was known as �Haifisch Gruppe� (Shark Fish Group) and was adorned with a shark mouth painted on the aircraft nose. Over the course of WWII Herget flew more than 700 sorties and accumulated 71 victories of which 57 were at night. On one sortie Herget is credited with downing 8 British bombers in less than one hour.