Schnellkampfgeschwader 210 Schnellkampfgeschwader 210 ( SKG 210 ) was a Luftwaffe fast bomber wing of the Second World War . The unit was created in April 1941 and absorbed by the Zerstörergeschwader 1 on 4 January 1942 . Origins 1940 . SKG 210 had its origins in " Erprobungsgruppe 210 " ( ‘ Test Wing 210 ’ ) , formed at Köln - Ostheim airfield under the command of Hptm . Walter Rubensdorffer in July 1940 . The unit initially raised to oversee the testing and operational development of the newly introduced Messerschmitt Me 210 . However , such were the delays in that aircraft ’ s development that the unit was utilised to develop tactical and strategic practices required to operate the in - service Bf 110 in the fighter - bomber and ground - attack role . " 1 . Staffel " was formed from 1 staffel , Zerstörergeschwader 1 ( ZG 1 — 1st Destroyer Wing ) commanded by Hptm . Martin Lutz , a Spanish war veteran with 2 confirmed kills . " 2 . Staffel " was formed from the already battle - seasoned 3 . Staffel , Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 ( StG 77 — 77th Dive Bomber Wing ) under Oblt . Wilhelm - Richard Rössiger . " 3 . Staffel " had its origins within " 4 ( jagd ) . / Träger Gruppe . 186 . " This unit was originally raised to equip the German aircraft - carrier " Graf Zeppelin " , which was launched in 1938 but never commissioned . Using the Bf 110C - 6 ( equipped with the MG - 101 30mm cannon ) , the Bf 110D - 0 and Bf 109E - 4B fighter bombers , the unit carried out anti - shipping operations during the initial stages of the Battle of Britain . Switching to low level precision bombing operations in August , " Erprobungsgruppe 210 " targeted Royal Air Force ( RAF ) fighter airfields , often using the element of surprise due to their low level approach and causing extensive damage . Losses could be often high however , as on 15 August 1940 when the unit lost 6 Bf 110s and a Bf 109 , including Hptm . Rubensdorffer . 1941 . By the time the unit was re - designated I . Gruppe , Schnellkampfgeschwader 210 in April 1941 the unit was based at Abbeville , undertaking missions against shipping and land - based targets . The unit , comprising " Stab " . , I . and II . " gruppen " , then moved East to prepare for the attack on Soviet Russia as part of " Fliegerkorps II " and originally based at Radzyn . Some 50 servicable Bf 110s took part in Operation Barbarossa from two units ; Zerstörergeschwader 26 and Schnellkampfgeschwader 210 . The Bf 110 gave valuable support to the German Army , carrying out strike missions in the face of heavy AA and ground defences . In the opening air strikes , on 22 June , SKG 210 claimed 344 Soviet aircraft destroyed , more than any other unit , for the loss of 7 Bf 110s destroyed and damaged . A large number of ground kills were achieved by these Bf 110 units in the east . SKG 210 flew over the Central part of the front supporting the German army ' s encirclement and overrunning of Russian land forces in the Bialystok and Minsk areas in the early phase of the campaign , and flew in support of the advancing Army Group Centre advance to Moscow in 1941 . Between 22 June 1941 and 26 July 1941 the unit claimed to have destroyed 823 Soviet aircraft on the ground and 92 in the air , 2 , 136 vehicles and 165 tanks destroyed for 57 Bf 110s lost to enemy action . With the coming of winter SKG 210 continued to operate in support of the army , covering their retreat . As part of 1 . / SKG 210 " Leutnant " Eduard Tratt flew numerous ground attack and fighter missions during 1941 and had claimed another 9 air victories over Soviet aircraft by the end of 1941 .