Bf-110 is THE fighter

[Blue 5]

Which means the Germans already realized that the 110 was a pig.

Possibly something along those lines but less binary. Fom memory, Fink (Bomber Commander, Luflotte 2) and Osterkamp (Fighter Commander Luftlotte 2) seem to have come to this arrangement to allow the JG to maximise their exchange rate with Fighter Command (Osterkamp appeared to be worried about draining the 109 strenght prior to the actual landing).

Having the 110s as close support was the outcome, though it does have an obvious disadvantage given the design. Maybe the lack of Zerstorer spokesman at their meeting was the critical factor?

[Kurfürst]

Originally Posted by Blue 5

They didn't; it was more nuanced than that; JG26 – with the blessing of Goering – worked around a 3-tier system that saw one Gruppe on sweep, one on high cover and one on close. It was sometimes adopted by other units. The rationale behind the 110s being used as close support was to free up 109s for less constrained escort. Had the 109s been present in sufficient strength then the heavier fighters might have been allowed to operate more imaginatively as Er. 210 was.

Indeed - German tactics were far more complex than just the simplified, common version of 'everyone flies close escort'. Wood and Dempster describe these tactics:

"By September, standard tactics for raids had become an amalgam of techniques. A Freie Jagd would precede the main attack formations. The bombers would fly in at altitudes between 16,000 feet (4,900 m) and 20,000 feet (6,100 m), closely escorted by fighters. Escorts were divided into two parts (usually Gruppen), some operating in close contact with the bombers, and others a few hundred yards away and a little above. If the formation was attacked from the starboard, the starboard section engaged the attackers, the top section moving to starboard and the port section to the top position. If the attack came from the port side the system was reversed. British fighters coming from the rear were engaged by the rear section and the two outside sections similarly moving to the rear. If the threat came from above, the top section went into action while the side sections gained height to be able to follow RAF fighters down as they broke away. If attacked, all sections flew in defensive circles. These tactics were skilfully evolved and carried out, and were extremely difficult to counter.

Its a good hint for Blue pilots, too. Basically on bomber escort I'd fly the 110 as top cover, lurking above the bombers and waiting for somebody making a try.. BnZ works splendidly in the 110. When I was flying a Hurri in Battleground Europe, a well flown 110C, fighting in the vertical was literally untouchable..