In April 1941, The test unit responsible for developing the Bf 110 into a ground attack platform,
Erprobungsgruppe 210, was expanded in to full strength combat unit by incorporating the men and machines from III/ZG 76. This new unit was dubbed
Schnellkampfgeschwader 210 (Fast Bomber Wing 210). In June 1941, SKG 210 participated in Operation Barbarossa in support of Army Group Center's push through Belarus and Western Russia, taking part in the battle for Minsk, Smolensk, and Moscow. At the beginning of 1942, the unit would again expand and be renamed. This time, a 3rd group comprising of 109E's was added and it's name would fall in line with the other Bf 110 equipped wings, with a proper "Destroyer" title:
Zerstörergeschwader 1.
This aircraft belonged to 1./SKG 210 in the summer of 1941. Built as an Bf 110E-3/Trop, it had the dust filters over the engine intakes and the deeper oil coolers under the engine nacelles. However, the camouflage pattern not in desert colors, but the RLM 02 beige and 71 olive green scheme. Interesting variations from the standard is the use of RLM 70 black-green on the canopy frames and nose. Also, the underside is an odd shade of a pale green or beige seen on many Bf 110's that matches neither RLM 65 nor the later 76. The SKG 210 emblem is painted on the fuselage sides and a yellow Eastern Front theater band wraps the fuselage aft of the cockpit. The prop spinner is mainly blue, with white tips and a black and white base plate.
