The main steed of JG300 is the Messerschmitt BF109G-10 which is provided as a stock CFS3 aircraft.  We also like to fly the stock CFS3 FW190-A8 fighter and the Ju-88 bomber.

Another aircraft that we love to fly is the incredible Messerschmitt BF110 “Zerstorer” series from the Groundcrew team

And of course the AvHistory 1% aircraft collection increases the available aircraft selection and finally provides us with a copy of the excellent FW190D-9 “Long Nose” variant. 

JG300 trim colors are RED in all areas - nose, wingtips, fuselage band and rudder.

Messerschmitt Bf 109G series

The Bf 109G (dubbed the 'Gustav' by German pilots), was introduced into service in late summer 1942. The emergence of the Spitfire Mk IX and the P 51D had finally shown the Bf 109 to be on the verge of obsolescence, and to counter this, Messerschmitt sacrificed handling and maneuverability for outright performance.

The Gustav was thus powered by the much heavier and more powerful DB 605A (1,475 hp). The Bf 109G-5 introduced the DB605D engine with MW-50 water-methanol power-boosting (making possible a maximum power of 1,800 hp for combat bursts), and the more familiar armament of the hub-firing 30mm Mk 108 cannon and two nose-mounted MG131s, whose larger breech blocks were covered by raised fairings forward of the windscreen, giving rise to the nickname 'Buele'(bump).

Most important of all “Gustavs” was the Bf109G-6 which, in various versions, was powered by AM, AS, ASB, ASD, or ASM versions of the DB 605 engine. Numerous “Rustatze” kits were produced to increase armament, including those to produce the Bf 109G-6/U4 which was armed with two 30mm Mk 108 under-wing cannon, and the G-6/U4N night-fighter carried radar. Fastest of all the Gustavs was the Bf109G-10 with the DB 605D engine with MW-50 and a bulged cockpit canopy (known as the 'Galland hood'), and a top speed of 429 mph at 24,280 ft.

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Series

Conceived in 1937 as a contemporary of the Hawker Typhoon, and for the same reason - to replace the first generation of monoplane interceptors (the Hawker Hurricane and the Messerschmitt Bf 109).  Detail design commenced under the leadership of Oberingenieur Blaser and the first prototype was flown by test pilot Hans Sander at Bremen on June 1st 1939.  Service trials at Rechlin went ahead in 1940 without undue problems, although Luftwaffe pilots suggested that the proposed armament of the Fw 190 A-1 (four synchronized 7.9-mm/0.31 MG 17 machine guns) would meet with spirited criticism in combat service.

Early in 1943, there appeared the Fw 190A-5 with slightly lengthened engine mounts, and with it a much increased range of Rustsatze (field conversion kits), and later in the year the Fw 190A-8 with GM-1 nitrous-oxide power boosting and all the adaptability afforded the A-5.

The Fw 190A-3, with 1,700 hp BMW 801D, four 20mm and two 7.9mm machine guns began to equip the only other Luftwaffe fighter Geschwader in the west, JG 2. Thus, by the time the RAF was ready to introduce it's new Spitfire IX and Typhoon fighters to combat over the Dieppe landings in August 1942, the Luftwaffe could field some 200 Fw 190As in opposition. Unfortunately, not only had the RAF underestimated the number of these fighters available but they were unaware that a new version, the Fw 190A-4, had appeared with a water-injected 2,100 hp BMW 801D-2 engine and a top speed of 416 mph. The result was a stinging defeat for the RAF, which lost a total of 106 aircraft, including 97 to Fw 190s.

Development of the D-series occupied two whole years, from about April 1942 until May 1944. This led to the definitive production Fw 190D-9, or 'Dora-Nine', in May 1944. The D-9 was fitted with three bomb racks, a low-diving sight and MW-50 injection. Deliveries to the Luftwaffe began in August, the first recipient being III/JG 54 at Oldenburg. From the start it was obvious to the front-line pilots that, even though designer Kurt Tank himself dismissed the 'Dora' as an emergency solution when he visited them, it was actually a superb aircraft and at least a match for the P-51D or any other allied fighter. Early in production the cockpit canopy was replaced by the bulged type previously introduced on the Fw 190F-2 to give better all-round view. Beyond question, the 'Dora-9) was the best piston-engine fighter to see widespread service with the Luftwaffe.

CFS 3 Notes

One of the major shortcomings of this game is the lack of a stock Dora and the inexcusable mistake in the Fw 190s ammo count that should be 2,000 MG rounds and 800 cannon rounds.

Junkers JU-88 Series

To look at, the Junkers Ju88 looks clumsy and all out of proportion. But as it was shown during the period of the Second World War, it was perhaps one of the most versatile aircraft of the period. It was first designed back in 1936 as a "Schnellbomber" a fast daylight bomber and surprisingly had its first flight in that same year and was soon to display its superior performance. With the demise of Professor Junkers, the engineers saw the potential of this fast medium bomber and felt that still improvements could be made that Germany could produce an outstanding aircraft. Knowing the advantages of tactical dive bombing, with the pilot aiming the aircraft at the target, tests were carried out after dive brakes had been fitted. It was to prove that the Ju88 could add another advantage over other bombers that had been produced in Germany at the time.

The Ju88 gained success in the raids on radar stations where it proved that its dive bombing capabilities were to prove successful. In many massed raids, the attrition rate was not to the proportions of the He111 and Do17, this was possibly due to the fact that when under attack, the Ju88 could break into as dive at considerable speed.
This was proved in a number of mass attacks by Ju88s during the Battle of Britain. One of the most successful of the Luftwaffe raids was and attack on Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight on August 12th 1940. They managed to carry out their attack successfully, then if they were intercepted by British fighters as they were on this occasion, they were able to dive at high speed thus evading contact with the fighters.

The Ju88 remained unchanged during the Battle of Britain. But the following year the Ju88C was introduced and with its three MG machine guns mounted in the modified solid nose, as well as a 20mm Cannon, and two MG15 machine guns able to be fired from the fuselage it made the Ju88 almost a fighter rather than a bomber. Other variants included the Ju88D which was a long range reconnaissance aircraft, the Ju88 G was primarily developed for the night fighter role, and the Ju88H which had a lengthened fuselage and had an increased fuel capacity had to further variants, one as a fighter and the other as a reconnaissance aircraft.

As the war continued, and the British fighters became faster, more maneuverable and better armed, the Luftwaffe suffered badly. But still the Ju88 could claim that its losses were far less than that of the Heinkel and the Dornier. In all, over 15,000 Ju88s were built during the 1939-1945 war, and many historians claim that had more Ju88s been built and used during the Battle of Britain and in the Blitz on London, damage would have been far greater than it was.

Messerschmitt BF110 Series

The Messerschmitt Bf110 was the backbone of the German Luftwaffe when it came to night fighting. But, it wasn't always held in such high regard by the Germans.

Originally developed as a heavy day fighter to attack enemy bombers in 1934, the twin-engine aircraft failed miserably in that role during the Battle of Britain. Smaller, faster and more maneuverable aircraft like the British single-engine Spitfire and Hurricane easily moved in from behind to attack.

The Messerschmitt 110s "could not outrun them, they could not outturn or out climb them," says Renald Fortier, curator of aviation history at the Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa. "There was a gunner behind the pilot [in the Messerschmitt] with only one machine gun so when the Spitfires attacked with eight machine guns, they were in great trouble."

Still, the Messerschmitt 110 had heavy firepower, high speed and long range. As long as it avoided the single-engine British fighters, it was an effective fighter. After being fitted with radar (that looked like deer antlers) on its nose, the aircraft took to the skies at night, becoming the first night fighter of the Luftwaffe.

Armed with two 20 millimeter cannons and five 7.9 millimeter machine guns, the aircraft attacked the British bombers from below in the dark of night thus decreasing the risk of being detected. The Messerschmitt 110s became the aerial mainstay of the German night fighting system called Helle Nachtjagd or "Illuminated Night fighting." They were later joined by the Junkers Ju-88.    About 6,100 Messerschmitt Bf110s were built.  

The BF110 Zestorer aircraft for CFS3 is available at:  GroundCrewDesign

Other Aircraft

JG300 members are free to choose other aircraft to fly and have fun.