Sonderkommando Junck Bf110
Al Rashyd, Iraq, May 1941

Al Rashyd (Baghdad), mid-May 1941. A Staffel-strength unit of Bf.110D-3s was committed to Sonderkommando Junck, the Luftwaffe undercover detachment supporting the revolt against the British in Iraq in 1941. These were machines from 4./ZG76 which had hastily received Iraqi markings upon their arrival in Mosul in mid-May 1941. After only two weeks of combat, the Germans departed for Syria by the end of May having lost no less than a dozen Bf 110s during their involvement in the Arab country. Some of these planes had a RLM79/RLM78 desert camouflage scheme, but others operated in Iraq in their standard continental 'Grauen' scheme, like this one. (Camouflage: RLM74 Graugrun/RLM75 Grauviolett upper surfaces w/ RLM76 Lichtblau undersurfaces).

And from surfcity.kund.dalnet..monwealth_smith3.htm:

At 07:55 on 17 May two Gladiators flown by 94 Squadrons Sergeant Smith (K7899) and Sergeant Dunwoodie (N5857) flew a reconnaissance over Rashid, where they saw two Bf 110Cs of 4./ZG 76 (Sonderkommando Junck) taking off. Diving on these, each pilot made a quarter attack on one, both German fighters being claimed shot down in flames. Dunwoodie reported:

“At approximately 0755 hrs on 17 May 1941 we arrived over Rashid aerodrome, and after completing a half circuit of the airfield, I noticed two twin-engined machines in front of one of the hangars. One of these machines commenced to take off immediately, and both Sgt Smith and myself dived towards the aerodrome, only to see the second machine take off as well before we were in position to attack. As soon as the aircraft left the ground, they did a steep climbing turn, and by then I observed Sgt Smith in engagement with one of them. I immediately engaged the second and a dogfight ensued. By this time I had identified the enemy as Me110s.
After a few minutes combat, in which I was able to get in a few short bursts with my guns, I observed one Me110 flash past my port wing in a dive with masses of smoke pouring from both engines and Sgt Smith hot on its tail. A few seconds later I was able to get in an excellent astern attack on the other aircraft, putting a burst right up the fuselage. Almost immediately there was a terrific flash and the Me110 became a mass of flame and disintegrated in the air. I then observed the one that Sgt Smith had shot down blazing furiously on the ground. The one that I had shot down was scattered over a wide area in pieces, all of which were ablaze. Both machines crashed within a half-mile of each other, approximately one mile south east of Rashid aerodrome.”