He111H-2, 1/KGr100, Meucon/Vannes, France, Aug-Nov 1940.

Kampfgruppe 100 specialised in precision bombing using the X-geraet and later the Y-geraet systems. During the "Blitz" bombing of London and other manufacturing and industrial towns it was incorrectly assumed by RAF intelligence that they were a pathfinder force and always the first aircraft over the chosen target. However KG55 and KG26 also had pathfinder groups and it was not KGr.100's sole responsibility. After the invasion of Russia, Kampfgruppe (KGr) 100 became a full Kampfgeshwader (KG) and reverted to more usual bombing methods. 


The aircraft represented by this skin wears the distempered soot-black undersides and overpainted national markings, a scheme applied to all KGr100 aircraft on their arrival at Vannes in early August 1940. This 1 Staffel aircraft took part in numerous raids on British cities, and failed to return on 6th November 1940 after a raid on Bimingham, and ditched off the Dorset coast. The crew, Hans Lehmann (pilot), Otto Paul (navigator/bomb aimer) Ludwig Meyerhofer (gunner) and Heinz Bitter (flight engineer/gunner) took to the water. Lehman, Meyerhofer and Bitter were picked up and became POWs, but Otto Paul drowned shortly after evacuating the aircraft. His body was recovered the next day and buried with full military honours at Eype St.Peter Church, Symondsbury, Dorset by the RAF. No.80 Wing (Radio Counter-Measures) had been re-transmitting the signal from Meucon/Vannes radio beacon from Templecombe in somerset, causing Lehman and his crew to become totally lost and disoriented. When they ditched they believed the were somewhere off the coast of Spain. 

Modified 3DZ:

* Non-mirrored
* Texture warp on right-hand side of rear fuselage eliminated
* Panel for Geshwader, Gruppe or Staffel badge for side of cockpit added, replaces warped (and much smaller) panel
* New middle distance and long distance models to match the changes.

Modified Tex. file

Based as usual on Mikko "Migge" Kossenen's KG53 He111. Shading on lower rear fuselage sides lightened (now you can read all the codes, not just the top halves), fuselage and upper wing Balkankreuz replaced.

Thanks to: Captain Kurt, whose He111B showed me a) that it could be done, and b) how to do it - thanks Kurt, once again I am in your debt.
	   Alessandro Borges, for 3DZ studio, without which none of this would be possible.

Comments and queries welcome via the SimHQ forum.

Cheers

Stew

References: Aero Detail 18, Heinkel111, Aero Detail (Japan) ISBN 4-499-22670-8

	    He111 Over All Fronts, Franz Kober, Schiffer Military History (USA) ISBN 0-88740-313-1

	    The First Pathfinders, Kenneth Wakefield, Crecy Books (UK) ISBN 0-947554-20-3

	    The Hardest Day, Dr Alfred Price, Arms and Armour Press (UK) ISBN 0-85368-831-1