Earlier this month the following very rare photos of aircraft of the 1.(F)/124 long range reconnoissance unit was sold on eBay.
When talking long range reconnoissance over the tundra of the northern flank of the Luftwaffe presence, we are usually talking about Junkers Ju 88 variants.
But the unit operated a small number of other makes and models only - and someone has obviously been able to copy the (my speculation) photos from the album of a technician of the unit, showing the only Messerschmitt Bf 110 operated by the unit.
The aircraft was a F-3 variant, as identified by the Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen for the unit. These records along with the strength returns of the unit show that it was operated by the unit from September 1942 and all the way through September 1943 when it was transferred to another unit.
The emblem and code G2 + ZH clearly identify it as an aircraft of the unit
As the unit was stationed at Kirkenes in the far north, and the only other unit operating the aircraft type in this area was the 13.(Z)/JG 5, my speculation was that this unit took over the aircraft. As the unit did indeed receive a single Messerschmitt Bf 110 F-3 from another unit, I believe this is proof enough that this lone swallow in the 1.(F)/124 did indeed end up in the Zerstörer Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5.
It did not stay long in the unit, however, by the end of October 1943 it had already been transferred on to another unit. I have not been able to trace this yet, and it is highly likely that it was transferred to a training unit at this stage of its life.
When talking long range reconnoissance over the tundra of the northern flank of the Luftwaffe presence, we are usually talking about Junkers Ju 88 variants.
But the unit operated a small number of other makes and models only - and someone has obviously been able to copy the (my speculation) photos from the album of a technician of the unit, showing the only Messerschmitt Bf 110 operated by the unit.
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| Aircraft technician H. Märtens in the pilot seat of G2 + ZH of 1.(F)/124 |
The aircraft was a F-3 variant, as identified by the Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen for the unit. These records along with the strength returns of the unit show that it was operated by the unit from September 1942 and all the way through September 1943 when it was transferred to another unit.
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| Full side view of the single Messerschmitt Bf 110 F-3 operated by 1.(F)/124 |
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| Closeup of the code of G2 + ZH of 1.(F)/124 |
The emblem and code G2 + ZH clearly identify it as an aircraft of the unit
As the unit was stationed at Kirkenes in the far north, and the only other unit operating the aircraft type in this area was the 13.(Z)/JG 5, my speculation was that this unit took over the aircraft. As the unit did indeed receive a single Messerschmitt Bf 110 F-3 from another unit, I believe this is proof enough that this lone swallow in the 1.(F)/124 did indeed end up in the Zerstörer Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5.
It did not stay long in the unit, however, by the end of October 1943 it had already been transferred on to another unit. I have not been able to trace this yet, and it is highly likely that it was transferred to a training unit at this stage of its life.
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