MESSERSCHMITT Me210/Me410 HORNISSE (HORNET)

The Me210 and Me410 were developments of the twin-engined Messerschmitt Bf110. First flown in September 1939, the early version - the Me210 - proved extremely troublesome, suffering from in-flight instability and landing-gear problems. There were frequent accidents and production was terminated in April 1942 after 352 aircraft had been completed. Some 370 further examples were left incomplete on the production line. First flown in 1942, the sleek Daimler-Benz powered Me410, however, was much more successful and was built in large numbers as a two-seat tactical aircraft for fighter, ground-attack and reconnaissance operations. More than one hundred different variants and sub-variants had been produced by the end of 1944, using virtually every weapon available to the Luftwaffe. This book provides a detailed guide to the bewildering range of variants produced. It will enable readers to distinguish between the multitude of sub-types and identify the various modifications and weapons systems and conversion packs that were used.