The Messerschmitt Bf 110 C was a German twin-engine heavy fighter developed in the late 1930s as part of the Luftwaffe’s concept of a long-range escort aircraft, or Zerstörer (destroyer). Designed by Willy Messerschmitt, it first flew in 1936 and entered service in 1939. The C-variant featured improved Daimler-Benz DB 601 engines, better armour, and heavier armament than earlier models.
The Bf 110 C saw extensive combat during the early years of the Second World War, notably in Poland, Norway, France, and the Battle of Britain. Although effective against bombers and ground targets, it proved vulnerable to faster single-engine fighters, leading to its later use as a night fighter and strike aircraft.