The Cheating Plane that Became a Killer at Night

On the night of August 17, 1943, the Royal Air Force's bombers embarked on a perilous mission deep into the heart of Nazi Germany. Unbeknownst to them, the enemy had a cunning strategy in store.

Defending the German skies for years, the Messerschmitt BF 110, also known as the backbone of the Nachtjagdgeschwader, faced its true test in 1942 when British heavy bombers began appearing on the horizon.

Suddenly, chaos erupted. Aircraft shuddered violently, and the deafening echoes of explosions reverberated through the darkness. They were under attack - from an invisible opponent.

They couldn't see where the enemy was coming from; there were no telltale signs, no tracers to follow. Few even saw the elusive German fighters. Fewer still returned fire.

Astonishingly, the RAF bombers reported nothing unusual despite excellent visibility. They couldn't fathom the new weapons or tactics employed by the German night fighters.

Tracerless ammunition and attacks on their blind spots left them bewildered. At first, they thought it was just exceptionally accurate flak. But it would be years until the Germans’ secret was unveiled.
---

Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.

As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.

All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.