the bombers but was blocked by ZG 26. Bf 109s were also present and inconclusive engagements began. No. 85 Squadron accounted for one He 111, but lost a Hurricane to the Bf 110s. KG 53 lost four He 111s destroyed and one damaged. Its personnel losses amounted to 12 dead, two wounded and four prisoners of war. A further five were rescued by British ships, bringing the total number captured to nine. No. 151 Squadron engaged III./ZG 26 but two of the Hurricanes were brought down, including Squadron Leader Eric King directly above the airfield. The low losses of the group in the face of fighter attacks were down to the determination of ZG 26. It cost the unit seven Bf 110s and a further six damaged. According to one source, the total losses of ZG 26 amounted to 12 destroyed and seven damaged throughout the entire day. Another source gives a list of 15 Bf 110s written off: 13 destroyed, two written off and six damaged on 18 August 1940. The results of the Hardest Day highlighted the vulnerability of Bf 110, which along with the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka, was largely withdrawn from the battle for air superiority for a time The German High Command ordered that the continued use of the Bf 110 necessitated their escort by Bf 109s. On 25 August, in a rare post-18 August foray, ZG 2 made an appearance over England but suffered significant losses. On 6 September ZG 26 was ordered to attack the Brooklands Hawker factory but lost three Bf 110s and their crews when intercepted by 1 Squadron near Kenley. On 11 September, as the Luftwaffe turned to The Blitz, ZG 26 was ordered to provide escort to He 111s from KG 26. The Bf 110s failed to protect their charges, losing five Bf 110s and one damaged from Stab., 1., 2., 4., 6., and 9./ZG 26. Their assailants were from 17, 46 and 73 Squadron. The persistence in using ZG 26 in fighter sweeps cost the wing another two crews on 25 September with two aircraft damaged in combat with 152 and No. 607 Squadron RAF near the Isle of Wight. The following day 70 Bf 110s from ZG 26 flew as escort for KG 55 as it bombed the Spitfire factory at Southampton. Two fighters were lost (from I. and III./ZG 26) in combat with No. 238 Squadron;