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It's common knowledge that the bf110 performed poorly during the Battle of Britain, but it seems to have done much better over Dunkirk against British fighters. Looking in 'Battle of France, Then and Now', the bf110 had a slightly positive exchange ratio against Hurricanes and Spitfires. There is some uncertainty in the numbers due to several engagements involved bf109s being with the bf110s and the fact that some reasons for losses are conjecture, but the much maligned bf110 seems to have held it's own.
My question is why did they fare so badly a few months later over England.
It's common knowledge that the bf110 performed poorly during the Battle of Britain, but it seems to have done much better over Dunkirk against British fighters. Looking in 'Battle of France, Then and Now', the bf110 had a slightly positive exchange ratio against Hurricanes and Spitfires. There is some uncertainty in the numbers due to several engagements involved bf109s being with the bf110s and the fact that some reasons for losses are conjecture, but the much maligned bf110 seems to have held it's own.
My question is why did they fare so badly a few months later over England.
The exchange ratio of the Bf-110 was positive at the BoB as well. "common knowledge" indeed appears to be a "common myth". Also factoring in that the Bf-110c was the worlds most effective bomber interceptor platform in 1940 may explain why the exchange ratio was that positive. From known losses and kills such as analysed by danish author
Christer Bergström, Luftskrid over kanalen (2006)
* Spitfire: 550 confirmable kills 329 losses -exchange ratio is 1.7: 1
* Hurricane: 750 confirmable kills 603 losses -exchange ratio 1.2: 1
* Bf 109 780 confirmable kills 534 losses – exchange ratio 1.5: 1
* Bf 110 340 confirmable kills 196 losses – exchange ratio 1.7: 1
The Bf-110 suffered from a negative exchange ratio only when forced to close escort orders in late august and early september 1940. Before and after this time (when these orders were lifted again), the exchange rate was very positive in favour of the Bf-110 as was the mean average from august to oct.
* Spitfire: 550 confirmable kills 329 losses -exchange ratio is 1.7: 1
* Hurricane: 750 confirmable kills 603 losses -exchange ratio 1.2: 1
* Bf 109 780 confirmable kills 534 losses – exchange ratio 1.5: 1
* Bf 110 340 confirmable kills 196 losses – exchange ratio 1.7: 1
Isn't Christer Bergström Swedish?
By my count in the book "Battle of France-Then and Now", that wasn't quite true in BoF, but the overall ratio's of the two German types v British fighters were pretty similar.If those statistics are accurate, the Bf-110 did better against British fighters than the Bf-109 did.
How many Me-110s were employed in the daylight fighter role after 1940? I'd hazard a guess not many. From mid 1940 onward most Me-110 units were converted to night fighters, photo recon and light attack. It's not surprising that Me-110s in such units fared poorly when jumped by day fighters. A-20s and Beaufighters in light attack units didn't fare too well in air to air combat either.110 never even matched its 1940 daylight fighter results v the British in any later campaign.