Lonnie Ortega Aviation Art

The Bf 110G had quite a lot in common with the Bf 109G. Both aircraft had to be developed from earlier versions when the new aircraft that were meant to replace them failed to live up to expectations. In this case that aircraft was the Me 210. When Messerschmitt first suggested a new version of the Bf 110 in the summer of 1941, work on the Me 210 was still going well, and so the project was turned down. However by the start of 1942 the Me 210 was displayed some serious problems, leading to the cancellation of the project in April 1942. These flaws had become apparent somewhat earlier. In January 1942 work began on a new version of the Bf 110. The only significant change between the Bf 110F and the 110G was the use of the new DB 605 engine. This was about the same size as the DB 601F used in the older aircraft, so very little changes had to be made to the basic airframe. It was strengthened to accommodate the heavier engines, allowing it to carry a heavier payload. It was this that gave the Bf 110G its long life. As new demands were made on the Luftwaffe, the 110G was able to carry the extra equipment. More powerful guns, rockets, extra fuel and an increasingly complex array of radar sets would place more and more weight on the aircraft. The pre-production Bf 110G-0 appeared in May 1942. It handled very well when unencumbered, but when fully loaded the performance suffered badly. As a day fighter the Bf 110G would have a short lifespan, but as a night fighter it would remain in use until the end of the war. By the middle of 1944 the Me 410 was beginning to replace the Bf 110G in both day and night service. Production of the Bf 110G ended in February 1945. It had not been included in the Emergency Fighter Program of November 1944, an attempt to streamline the German aircraft industry, and so when the last aircraft already under construction were finished, production ended.