place against 4 Squadron SAAF and No. 80 Squadron RAF. The following day four Bf 110s and their crews were lost in what was described as a "bad day for the Bf 110s of III./ZG 26." On 4 December, over the Trigh Capuzzo, Sergeant Dodd, 274 Squadron shot down a Bf 110 piloted by Major Karl Kaschka. Oberleutnant Wehmeyer landed alongside the wreck to find the gunner dead and Kaschka dying. On 12 December the group shot down two 12 Squadron SAAF Martin Maryland bombers and a 55 Squadron Blenheim over the sea. However, on 24 December, Kaschka's replacement at III./ZG 26, Hauptmann Thomas Steinberger was lost at sea with another 9./ZG 26 crew on a ferry flight from Crete. By 31 December 1941, III./ZG 26 had flown 2,962 sorties in North Africa. 483 of these were close air support. They had lost 11 killed, six in accidents, 27 missing, nine captured and 16 wounded. By 16 January 1942, only 7./ZG 26 remained on the frontline in Africa. It possessed eight aircraft, but only four were operational. Twelve days later, on 26 January another crew was lost; one was captured the others died of wounds. On 13 April, in an unusual episode, Bf 110s of 7./ZG 26 landed at an abandoned British airfield [name unspecified] and destroyed the installations after climbing out of their aircraft. Further details in updated sources indicate six 7./ZG 26 Bf 110s escorted Italian Savoia-Marchetti SM.82s to the airfield. While three Bf 110s flew cover, 60 Italian personnel landed and destroyed abandoned fuel and lubrication tanks in an operation lasting until 10:00. ZG 26 engaged in maritime and air escort sorties. On one such operation it lost one of three 7./ZG 26 Bf 110s escorting Junkers Ju 52 transports. They were unable to prevent nine Ju 52s from being shot down by Allied fighters on 12 May. KGrzbV 400 and III./KGrzbV 1 lost four each, KGrzbV1 lost a single transport. The wing operated in the close air support role in May 1942, losing one on 2nd and 12th, then operating in support of the Battle of Gazala. On 27 May the group claimed two Hurricanes for one crew lost and captured; though their opponents were probably P-40s from 5 Squadron SAAF. ZG 26 lost a further crew killed and another aircraft severely damaged by the end of the day. During April and May 1942, III./ZG 26