Question on Drop Tanks

[mlshort0212]

Hey guys, this is my first time to post here, so be easy on me.

I am trying to find some information on how prevalent was the Luftwaffe's use of Drop-Tanks at the onset of Barbarossa thru Dec 1941).

Surprisingly, I cannot find any mention one way or another.

Any reference to this info would be greatly appreciated!

 

[MIflyer]

In the book about the Battle Of Britain, "The Narrow Margin" it is mentioned that the Luftwaffe had plywood drop tanks for the BF-109's but had stored them outside and thus they were in a too deteriorated condition for use in the BoB. I do not imagine that the tank's condition had improved by the time of Barbarossa.

 

[GTX]

I suspect they wouldn't have seen the need for them in this timeframe as the Luftwaffe was very much a tactical air arm in direct support of the Heer. Therefore, range beyond that required for initial air strikes and in direct support of the battlefield/advance was not needed.

 

[MIflyer]

They did use the big drop tanks on the BF-110's used for escort on the attack from Norway. The results were horrible; a number of the tanks refused to release and that strike pretty well got its arse shot off.

Without drop tanks the BF-110 was ony a little better off when it came to range than was the BF-109. P-36 and P-40 had more range even just on internal fuel. You can fit most of Western Europe inside of Texas.