File:Messerschmitt Me410A-1 U2 Hornisse (50108503016).jpg

Messerschmitt Me410A-1/U2 Hornisse (Hornet) at the RAF Museum, Cosford, Shropshire, 8 July 2020. The Me410 was a multi-role combat aircraft that was a complete redesign of the Me210, originally intended to replace the ageing Me110. The Me210 was rushed into service before being properly tested and developed and was an unmitigated failure. Too much had been invested in the Me210 to abandon the programme so huge effort and even more resources were poured into making it a functional aircraft. Eventually, this aim was achieved and it was redesignated the Me410 to overcome the stigma aircrew attached to the Me210.

The Me410 became a reasonably successful aircraft but it never really shook off the appalling reputation of the Me210. Ironically, the highly respected Me110 remained in production until the end of the war and far outnumbered the Me410's in service.

The preserved example at Cosford was a formidably-armed 'Pulk Zerstorer' (Formation Destroyer') anti-bomber heavy fighter variant with a Umrust Bausatz factory conversion set of 2x20mm MG151/20 cannon in a tray installed in the bomb bay to accompany the standard fitting of 2x20mm MG151/20 cannon and 2x7.92mm MG17 mg in the nose, plus 2x13mm MG131 mg, one each in a remote-controlled barbette either side of the fuselage controlled by the gunner in the cockpit. The preserved aircraft at Cosford served with 5 Staffel, II/ZG26 'Horst Wessel' and was captured at Vaerlose, Denmark in May 1945. The engines and outer wings had been removed at the time of my visit.