Me 410 Night Fighters?

**ianh** · 23rd January 2021, 23:38

Hi all

Over the years I've come across quite a few mentions in ORBs of RAF bombers on night raids getting into combats with "Me 410"s (or "Me 210"s). But I don't think I've come across books referring to Me 410s in that sort of night fighter role (per Me 110's or Ju 88's).

So can anyone please tell me the extent to which, if at all, '410s were used as night fighters (as opposed to intruders or daylight interceptors)? Or were all those combat reports mis-identifying their attacker?

Thanks

Ian

**Alain12** · 24th January 2021, 07:56

Hello ,

M Lt James Morris " Slick " Morris 0-730573 20 FG born 09/04/1920 Columbus Ohio , the first P-38 ace off the 8 USAAF was shot down by a Me-410 wich he imself attacked on july 7 1944 in P-38 J-15 42-8397 and became POW near Bernburg , he was send to Stalag Luft 1 Barth.

Regards

Alain12

**COL BRUGGY** · 24th January 2021, 08:39

Hello,

Getting back to Me 410 Night Fighters, it would be better to ask this question over on TOCH. But, whilst I'm about it, I will mention the following:

From Jan Forsgren's, The Messerschmitt 210/410 Story.

Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Me 210 and Me 410 units (1941-1945)

I./NJG 1: Unit code G9+, it was formed on 22 June 1940 at Moenchengladbach. The first Gruppenkommandeur was Hptm Guenther Radusch. Initially flying Messerschmitt Bf 119s, I./NJG 1 became a highly successful night fighter unit, operating from bases in the Netherlands and Western Germany. The purpose-designed night fighter Heinkel 219 began to arrive in April 1943. The He 219 did not completely replace the Bf 110 until early 1944. In march and April 1944, four Me 410A-1s were recorded as being on charge with I./NJG 1. However, it seems likely that these were not used on operations. In May 1945, I./NJG 1 was based at Westerland on the island of Sylt and at Husum. (p.141).

I./NJG 5: Unit code C9+, it was formed at Stendal from II./ZG 2 in September 1942. The Messerschmitt Bf 110 remained the unit's main type of aircraft until August 1944, when replacement with Ju 88Gs began. Only one Me 410A-1, coded C9+EK, was taken on charge in April 1944. The reason behind this was to attempt to counter the DH.98 Mosquito, which was causing (the) Luftwaffe severe headaches. The following month, this Me 410 had been transferred to another unit. I./NJG 1 [sic] ended the war in May 1945 at Redlin. (p.141).

A few Me 210/410 losses/incidents whist in NJ service:

Me 210. 0110.062: Stkz NT+CF. To III./ZG 1 2N+DA. Sustained 10 per cent damage in forced landing at Trapani, Sicily, 26 December 1942. Repaired. To I./NJG 1. Sustained 20 per cent damage in a forced landing at Achmer, 5 December 1943. Repaired. To I./ZG 101. Sustained 10 per cent damage in landing accident at Memmingen, 15 June 1944. The latter incident possibly involved W Nr 150062. (p.165).

Me 410 W Nr 2309. Stkz DF+EH. To Stab IV./NJG 1 G9+AE. Shot down in error by Luftwaffe fighter over Kimbrueck on 9 October 1943. (p.173).

(Hungarian-built) Me 210.150.018: Stkz PD+VH. Delivered on 1 December 1943. To NJG 1. Destroyed in Allied bomb raid on 21 July 1944. (p.197).

See:
The Messerschmitt 210/410 Story.
Forsgren,Jan.
N.p.:Fonthill Media,2019.
pp.141, 165, 173 & 197.

Given the above, I would say encounters between BC aircraft and NJG Me 210/410s over the continent, would be highly unlikely.

Col.

**Graham Boak** · 24th January 2021, 16:18

The most thorough works I've seen on the Me.410 (eg Petrick) all specifically rule out use as a night fighter, as testing showed it to be unsuitable. Which would not stop the odd individual examples being delivered as hack aircraft, and possibly pressed into use on isolated occasions. However there are also BC reports of Me.163 encounters, which (knowing what we know of its characteristics now) would be totally unlikely. Given the stress of the situation with the combination of the difficulty seeing anything at night and the general level of aircraft recognition at the best of times, it isn't surprising that what was expected to happen was sometimes reported.