Messerschmitt Bf 110 Operated by Iraq

The 1941 Iraqi coup d’état, also called the Rashid Ali Al-Gaylani coup or the Golden Square coup, was a nationalist coup d’état in Iraq on 1 April 1941 that overthrew the pro-British regime of Regent ‘Abd al-Ilah and his Prime Minister Nuri al-Said and installed Rashid Ali al-Gaylani as Prime Minister.

To support Iraqi efforts Germany sent aircraft including twelve Messerschmitt Bf 110s from ZG 76 and twelve He 111, along with 13 Junkers Ju 52 transports (most were recalled to assist operations in Crete) under the command of Oberst Werner Junck. While all Bf 110s arrived in Iraq, only five He 111 made it for various reasons. The force operated from an air base near Mosul, to the north of Bagdhad, bearing Iraqi markings although operated by Luftwaffe personnel.

While Bf 110s and He 111s initially flew successful missions, their lack of supplies and replacements hampered operations. By the end of May, with nearly no supplies left the losses to the German force were catastrophic.

Italy sent a force of 12 Fiat CR.42 fighters, but they arrived too late to have an impact. On the 28th of May, British forces were advancing on Baghdad. With no Bf 110s and only two flyable He 111 left the German forces left Iraq during the night.