Milch spent 1942 and 1943 trying to kill the Me-410 program. That must change before anyone can consider a night fighter version of the Me-410.
That's not supported by a read of the minutes of meetings between Milch et alter at the RLM.
It was Goering who stopped and started the Me 210/410 program (first as early as March 1942,he even threatened to court martial three officers from the GL Division).
Milch was confronted with dealing with the practicalities arising from these decisions and the fact that the Me 210 wasn't fit for service. He revived and kept Bf 110 production going,but that's not the same as trying to kill the Me 210/410. Milch remained ambivalent towards the Me 410,hardly surprising considering the mess it had made of German production plans,not just the failiure to be produced itself but having to keep several other types in production long after they were to have been discontinued. He did consider it a good heavy day fighter but considered it a waste of time as a bomber.He regarded the bombing of England as "harrasment" and thought the use of the Me 410 in this role a lot of effort to put one 500Kg bomb on target. Galland liked it,Pelz didn't want it,he considered it not robust enough for the hurly burly of service life. His units had written off 80 by November 1943,30 in take offs or landings,30 during training and only 20 to enemy action. Ultimately the two men convinced Goering and Galland got what Pelz didn't want. The Me 410 would be a heavy fighter.
6 Oct 1942:
NJG 2 reports that the Do 217 is unsuited for night fighting. The Bf 110's gross weight is already pushing the limit and even the He 219 might be too heavy.
8 Jan 1943:
The He 219 cannot met the needs of the night fighter service. Milch says that it is fortunate that in addition to the Bf 110 G the Ta 154 will soon be available to supplement the inventory.
(Once again he didn't have the benefit of hindsight)
On 16th July 1943 at a meeting about nightfighters it is clear that there are not enough Bf 110s to go around. The "General der Nachtjagd" is offered Ju 88 C-6s but declines,preferring Bf 110s for his force. He does demand the Ju 88 G and it is agreed that the "Technisches Amt."will ensure that this type enters production without any problem.
On 30th July Kannhuber describes the Ju 88 C-6 as a "sick bird",too small and with too short a range. He wants Bf 110s equipped with SN-2 radars. At the same meeting the Me 410 is mentioned but Galland is adamant that they should be equipped as Zerstorer for day light use.
It is this month that Oberfeldwebel Paul Mahle equips the first Bf 110 G-4 with two oblique upward firing MG FF/M. "Schrage Musik" was born.
3rd Aug 1943:
The Generalfeldmarschall (Milch) explains that an increase in Bf 110 production to 200 aircraft is not possible given the current resources.
Converting another factory over to production of this older type of aircraft is not acceptable. Me 410 production will increase markedly during the second half of 1944........Milch would like to use the Me 410 in the day fighter role,leaving the Bf 110 for the night.
It seems that the RLM/Luftwaffe did not consider the Bf 110 obsolete as a nightfighter at all.
Milch was hardly killing off The me 410,he had to keep the Bf 110 in production as there was simply no viable alternative. The Me 210/410 did not work in 1942/43.
It is not until September 1943 that Me 410 production is agreed:
The Me 410 is to be built according to the following formula:the required number of reconnaissance aircraft (currently 10 per month),the remainder to be equally divided between zerstorers and bombers.
No mention of night fighters. The earliest mention I have found of the possibility of the Me 410 as a nightfighter comes in a meeting on 25th Feb 1944 when,at a "Developmental Meeting at The General Staff" Eschenauer raises the possibility,saying that Luftflotte 3 are endeavouring to fit the type with oblique firing armament (schrage musik).He thinks that the Me 410 should be built as a heavy fighter only and the bomber version abandoned. Milch agrees with the caveat that he will need "to bring it up with the Reichmarschall". Von Lossberg interjects that the Me 410 will be an unsuitable night fighter "because of its landing characteristics".
There were never enough Me 410s to go around and the RLM concentrated on fitting heavier and heavier armament to the zerstorer version. The Bf 110 soldiered on as a night fighter because it was available. There was never any serious consideration of the Me 410 as a nightfighter. It was used as a night
intruder but that is an entirely different thing.
Steve