Just saw this German unit being mentioned on the Battlefield DVD Battle of Britain

Their main action during BoB were bombing the radar antennas and most important air fields as their specialty was accurate bombing. Is there more on their actions in books or elsewhere? Did they only fly Bf-110 for this purpose? Anything on their training and later actions? Any highly decorated pilots?

Thanx!

__________________

aeroqs_spitfire's Xanga Site about half way down the page...It sounds like they used 109's and were waiting for the Me210 to come along..

Now Erpro 210 broke up into its four sections, and Rubensdoerffer himself set course for a more inland CH station, Dunkirk, north-west of Dover. Hauptmann Martin Lutz had been assigned the first and easiest target, Pevensey CH, right at the start of their run and dead ahead as they raced towards land. Oberleutnant Wilhelm-Richard Roessiger had been ordered to follow the coast east to the towering masts just beyond Rye, while Oberleutnant Otto Hintze with his four fighter bombers was deputed to knock down those provocative towers above Dover.

Even while flying test were still going on, the RLM placed an order of 1000 Me 210 As in mid-1940. The first pre-production planes were under trials in a new established special test unit Erprobungsgruppe 210 at the end of 1940. The ErG 210 was to conduct operational testing of the Me 210 and develop combat tactics for the fighter-bomber. This unit was already well known, during the battle of Britain in Summer 1940, while it mainly flyed the Bf 110s and 109s awaiting for Me 210 deliveries. Its first leader was Hauptmann Walter Rubensdörffer, killed in action in a Bf 110 over England before he could ever fly a Me 210. Another important victim was Oberleutnant Heinz Forgatsch of 3./SKG 210. He died in an accident while testing a Me 210 at Rechlin.
History of the The Messerschmitt 410 Hornisse

Erprobungsgruppe 210

Gruppenkommandeure:

Hptm Walter Rubensdörffer, 7.40 - 15.8.40
Hptm Hans von Boltenstern, 16.8.40 - 4.9.40
Hptm Martin Lutz, 5.9.40 - 27.9.40
Obstlt Otto Hintze, 27.9.40 - 10.40
Maj Wilhelm-Otto Lessmann, 10.40 - 4.41
Formed 1.7.40 in Köln-Ostheim with:

Stab/Erpr.Gr.210 new
1./Erpr.Gr.210 from 1./ZG1 with Bf 110C
2./Erpr.Gr.210 from 3./St.G.77 with Bf 110D
3./Erpr.Gr.210 from 4./TrGr.186 with Bf 109E

On 24.4.41 redesignated I./SKG210:

Stab/Erpr.Gr.210 became Stab I./SKG210
1./Erpr.Gr.210 became 1./SKG210
2./Erpr.Gr.210 became 2./SKG210
3./Erpr.Gr.210 became 3./SKG210

And then:

I. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

Hptm Karl-Heinz Stricker, 24.4.41 - 13.9.41
Maj Ulrich Diesing, 15.9.41 - 1.42
Formed 24.4.41 in Abbeville from Erprobungsgruppe 210 with:

Stab I./SKG210 from Stab/Erprobungsgruppe 210
1./SKG210 from 1./Erprobungsgruppe 210
2./SKG210 from 2./Erprobungsgruppe 210
3./SKG210 from 3./Erprobungsgruppe 210

On 4.1.42 redesignated I./ZG1:

Stab I./SKG210 became Stab I./ZG1
1./SKG210 became 1./ZG1
2./SKG210 became 2./ZG1
3./SKG210 became 3./ZG1

And again:

I. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

Maj Joachim-Friederich Huth, 1.5.39 - 13.12.39
Hptm Wolfgang Falck, 14.12.39 - 22.6.40
Maj Ulrich Diesing, 1.1.42 - 2.3.42
Hptm Walther von Poka (acting), 2.3.42 - 7.3.42
Hptm Wolfgang Schenck, 7.3.42 - 20.8.42
Maj Joachim Blechschmidt, 20.8.42 - 12.4.43
Hptm Wilfried Hermann, 4.43 - 14.7.43
Hptm Max Franzisket, 14.7.43 - 19.7.43
Hptm August-Wilhelm Bier, 10.43 - 4.44
Maj Horst Grahl, 4.44 - 12.7.44
Formed 1.5.39 from I./ZG141 at Jüterbog-Damm with:

Stab I./ZG1 from Stab I./ZG141
1./ZG1 from 1./ZG141
2./ZG1 from 2./ZG141
3./ZG1 from 3./ZG141

On 22.6.40 ordered to Düsseldorf and disbanded:

Stab I/ZG1 became Stab I./NJG1
1./ZG1 became 1./Erpr.Gr. 210 (at Köln-Ostheim)
2./ZG1 became 2./NJG1
3./ZG1 became 3./NJG1

Reformed 4.1.42 at Lechfeld from I./SKG210 with:

Stab I./ZG1 from Stab I./SKG210
1./ZG1 from 1./SKG210
2./ZG1 from 2./SKG210
3./ZG1 from 3./SKG210

On 13.10.43 renamed I./ZG26:

Stab I./ZG1 became Stab I./ZG26
1./ZG1 became 1./ZG26
2./ZG1 became 2./ZG26
3./ZG1 became 3./ZG26

Reformed 10.43 at Lorient from V./KG40 with:

Stab I./ZG1 from Stab V./KG40
1./ZG1 from 13./KG40
2./ZG1 from 14./KG40
3./ZG1 from 15./KG40

In 1.44 3./ZG1 and 7./ZG1 exchanged designations. On 12.7.44 moved to Welzow and was renamed II./JG4:

Stab I./ZG1 became Stab II./JG4
1./ZG1 became 5./JG4
2./ZG1 became 6./JG4
3./ZG1 became 7./JG4


(I got the above from another forum, but I forgot to link when I was copying and posting, sorry..)

Major Eduard Tratt was a highly decorated pilot Aces of the Luftwaffe - Eduard Tratt and Aces of the Luftwaffe - Hans Roehrig

this appears to be a book often cited written by Vasco Messerschmitt Bf 110 by John Vasco - Schifferbooks.com


..Hope this helps.

__________________
"Don't be a fool and die for your country. Let the other sonofabitch die for his." George S. Patton

There is something of a 'minor classic' book written purely about this unit, 'Bombsights Over England' by John Vasco ( JAC Publications, 1990 and reprinted by Schiffer ). John Vasco is the acknowledged expert on Erpro 210 and their story during the Battle of Britain is very dramatic.

__________________
"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

..interesting page from the Battle of Britian Museum site & Vasco's Erpo 210 presentation

Kent Battle of Britain Museum Events Page

Thanx guys!!

Especially the emblem was pretty convincing...

__________________

Pleased to have found this Forum.

To correct an earlier post - Otto Hintze was never Gruppenkommandeur of Erprobungsgruppe 210. He was shot down on 29th October 1940 over England with the rank of Oberleutnant, receiving the usual one rank promotion while he was in captivity in Canada to Hauptmann.

When acting-Gruppenkommandeur Werner Weymann was KIA over England on 5th October 1940, Wolfgang Schenck took over leadership of the unit in the air. Lessmann was posted in on 1st November 1940. During this time, Hintze and his 3. Staffel were attached to LG 2, flying Jabo missions over England with the Bf 109 E fighter-bombers of that unit.

Note also that from 11th August 1940, 1./Erpr. Gr. 210 flew the Bf 110 D fighter-bombers; the Bf 110 C-6 was then only used on an emergency basis when not enough 'D's were combat ready.

Welcome John!

Great to have an expert on the subject on board!!

__________________

What a surprise! It's an honour having a recognised author among ourselves!

__________________

An honour indeed! For those who might like to know what else Mr. Vasco has produced, take a look here: Amazon.com: John Vasco: Books
He certainly is an authority.

Welcome aboard, and thanks for the clarification on this topic.

__________________

WWII Forums Rogues Gallery - send in your photo!
Comments, questions or feedback? Contact me at

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance." Socrates

Wow, it's an honor Mr. Vasco.
Welcome to the forum, and thanks for any information on this interesting subject!

__________________
"Don't be a fool and die for your country. Let the other sonofabitch die for his." George S. Patton