A II.ZG26 Me-410 Hornisse claims a rare fighter on fighter success before finding itself under pressure from an 8th Air Force P-51 Mustang.
The Me-410 was designed as a heavy fighter but was usually no match for the growing swarms of Allied single engine fighters during mid 1944.
However when employed as a bomber destroyer the Hornisse could be moderately successful against unescorted bombers.
II.ZG26 were the only unit to utilize a variant of the Me-410 with the BK 5 50mm cannon in its nose.
Designed to be a “stand off” weapon able to fire outside to the range of a bombers defensive weapons, the large explosive charge almost assured the destruction of any bomber it hit. The weapon was generally disliked by its crews and was useless in a turning dogfight against more nimble Allied fighters.
II.ZG26s most successful attack came on the 20th June 1944 when shepherded by Me-109s their Hornisse’s claimed 20 B-17s destroyed and damaged 3 others.