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Overclaiming was rampant during the BoB, as well as the entire War.... Take those numbers with a grain of salt... The 110's were easy meat for the RAF...
Look how well the P-38 did.
In 1940 the 110 was much like the P-38, not as good relatively speaking, but no slouch.
As long as the 110 jock did not dog fight with the enemy units (EA), but instead "boom and zoom" attacks (diving from alt, unloading full firepower at target, and then climb away to set up for next pass), using its speed to get away, while the tail gunner would pepper any EA that would slowly close in (a diving 110 is faster then a level flying Spitfire)
In Sept 1940, they started escorting the 110's with 109 top cover... If that doesnt tell u it was outclassed, and not about tactics, I dont know what would...
The 110 fallacy is similar to the Do-17 "easy-to-kill" fallacy.
A quick look at loss statistics during the BoB show a much higher higher Ju-88 losses then Do-17's, even taking into consideration there was slightly more 17's then 88. Same comparing 111 with 88's. Simple ratio shows 88's suffered the most losses of the 3.
Poor performance of the 110 in BoB is largely due to failure of tactics and command.
The Me 110 was outclassed by the Hurricanes and Spitfires. Lets compare the Me110 to the P38. The P38 didn't shine in Europe but it did very well against the Japanese. It had a significant speed avantage over the Japanese opposition, the Me110 is slower than a Spitfire and not much faster than a Hurricane.
The P38 had a huge advantage in the dive, the Me110 doesn't have nearly such an advantage.
The Me110 doesn't have a climb advantage over the RAF fighters. So the question is how can you 'boom and zoom' to use your phrase if the opposition is at least as fast as you, can climb at least as well as you, can match you in a dive and turn inside you.
Your best bet is as a precision strike aircraft which was tried in the BOB. Sometimes it worked and sometimes the Me110 was hammered.
You are basing your plan on the assumption that the Me110 starts higher, not likely if the defenders have warning (radar) and can climb a lot faster than you.
Quote from the Me110 Tactical trials
para 54 The Hurricane 1 and Spitfire Vb were able to turn inside the Me110 at all hights.
para 55 The initial acceleration of the me110 in a dive was better than the SPitfire and the Hurricane but both were able to catch the Me110 and hold it with ease.
para 58 The angle of climb of the me110 is steaper than the Hurricane I and the Spitfire but these aircraft should not try to follow the me110 in a climb as they will not be making the best use of their own rates of climb, which in the case of the Hurricane 1 is equal to the Me 110 and in the Spitfire is considerably superior.
The Spitfire in the test was a 5b but if a Hurricane 1 can match the Me110 I am confident a Spitfire 1 will as well.
This is a "Hasty Generalization Fallacy", saying if the RAF Spit Vb can catch the 110, then all RAF aircraft could match the 110.The Spitfire in the test was a 5b (vs 110) but if a Hurricane 1 can match the Me110 I am confident a Spitfire 1 will as well.
Agreed Glider, the 110 from the very outset of hostilities in 1939 was outclassed... .