W34 with strange equipment down during the Polish campaing
 

Hello,

Here is another eBay "special" that I'm trying to figure out. I want to use this a/c as the source for a color profile painting for the EOE Project. One of our working group members thinks that this is most likely a Junkers W34 of Kurierstaffel 4 that crash-landed in the vicinity of Piekoszow near Kielce, Poland, on 27.9.39. Somewhere I think that I've seen this a/c in a color profile, but can't remember where; perhaps in one of the Polish publications. It seems to have the code WI+00U-0, or something like that. It also carries a very strange antenna mast, and some kind of unusual radio? receiver on the top of the forward fuselage. I'm wondering if this a/c was used in some kind of special communication capacity, possibly trying to obtain airborne radio direction finding fixes on Polish ground unit radios? Anybody have any insights into this? According to our research, Kurierstaffel 4 was a liaison unit serving directly under Army HQ, and at that time was based at Kielce-Maslow Airfield.

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...#ht_548wt_1050

Any help with this one would be appreciated.

Regards,

Re: W34 with strange equipment down during the Polish campaing
 

To me, it looks like the standard radio fit for W34's. I don't have a lot of references for this aircraft, but they all seem to be just like this one.

Re: W34 with strange equipment down during the Polish campaing
 

Hi Larry

The correct reg. is WL-OQUO

Regards
Tom Willis

Re: W34 with strange equipment down during the Polish campaing
 

Tom

You are correct here, a W 34 hau c/n 2634. This a/c was then repaired at Letov 10/39 to 3/40 and then returned to LW service.

Tony

Re: W34 with strange equipment down during the Polish campaing
 

Hello,

Thanks Tom and Tony for the quick input. It sounds like we are all talking about the same a/c. My understanding is that this kind of registration, WL-OQUO, is a civil registration, not military. Is that correct? Why would an a/c of a Courier unit subordinate to Army HQ be carrying a civil registry (if the unit ID is accurate), if my understanding is correct. Reminds me of the early registration for the Seenotflugkdo units.

Also, is Dogsbodymk1 correct that the unusual-looking antennas are actually standard for this type of a/c, and were they for some special capabilities that these a/c had?

And finally, does anyone remember the publication source for a color profile of this a/c or am I dreaming too vividly?

Regards,

Re: W34 with strange equipment down during the Polish campaing
 

The reason for the civilian marking was probably that it was a civilian aircraft mobilized into the Luftwaffe. Having such an aircraft sent to a Kurierstaffel seems logical.

At the same time (fall 1939), mobilized Tiger Moth were used by RAF schools and some crashed and were lost before receiving military serials.

We now know that the war was just starting then, but at the time German leaders were sure that England and France will not react when they invaded Poland, and then, once they were proven wrong on 3 September 1939, were mainly convinced they will search peace once Poland had fallen. So there were probably plans to return this aircraft to his civilian owner as soon as the war was over.

Re: W34 with strange equipment down during the Polish campaing
 

Laurent

This aircraft was already in LW use at one of the Fliegerschule. Early in 1939 all such a/c had the D- removed and WL added. From late 1939 it would have been given an stkz but this was not quoted in the Letov doc. As it was returned to service in 3/40 it may have rec'd its stkz then

In the UK all private a/c were inspected and if warranted to be useful they were "impressed" and given military serials. Anything not required was banned from flying and stored. Air-Britain Historians produced a document "Impressment Log" and full details of inspection dates and a/c fates are listed.

Both Tom and I are A-B members
Tony

Re: W34 with strange equipment down during the Polish campaing
 

I rather doubt that there were many, if any, civilian users of the W34. Such animals were fairly rare under the Third Reich.

Re: W34 with strange equipment down during the Polish campaing
 

Hello,

Thanks to all for the education that I'm getting about this (these) aircraft. Tony, what is the "Letov doc?" Is this something that could give us further information on a/c lost or damaged during the PC?

I'm still at a loss to explain what to me is the strange radio mast and antenna on this a/c. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Was this standard for this type of a/c, or was this aircraft being used for some specialized type of radio intelligence activity, radio direction finding for example?

Regards,

Re: W34 with strange equipment down during the Polish campaing
 

This setup can also be found on Ju52. Used for training radio operators

Setup is receiver/transmitter and direction finder and i think a FuG 03 "Stuttgart" receiver/transmitter

see http://reference.canadaspace.com/sea...0of%20WW%20II/


see Ju52 set up here http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtop...?f=69&t=154043

Re: W34 with strange equipment down during the Polish campaing
 

This particular Ju W34 is probably one of the most photographed German aircraft seen during the Polish Campaign. It must have landed nearby a major road, as many photos of it exist, depicting it nearby a large haystack.

Re: W34 with strange equipment down during the Polish campaing
 

Dénes,

I've since located an excellent photo of the port side of this aircraft that sold on eBay on 27.6.10. Were you, by chance, the purchaser of this photo lot, which included a good view of Do17E/F 3Z+FA?

Do you have other views of this a/c that might help us do an accurate color profile of this one?

Regards,

Re: W34 with strange equipment down during the Polish campaing
 

I did not buy a photo of this particular aircraft recently, as I already have a couple of them in my collection.

I will try to locate those during this upcoming week end and send you scans of (hopefully, I won't forget my promise, as I am currently very busy making the last touches on a voluminous book manuscript).

Re: W34 with strange equipment down during the Polish campaing
 

Dénes,

Thanks for your help. Is this the Bf109 photo book that you're working on?

Regards,

Re: W34 with strange equipment down during the Polish campaing
 

Hello,

If anyone has an opinion about the camouflage and markings on this W34, I'd appreciate hearing your comments. It seems to have a wide white or yellow band around the wings.

Regards,

Re: W34 with strange equipment down during the Polish campaing
 

[Off topic]. No, that one is practically done (however, not submitted yet).
This one is about the Royal Hungarian Armed Forces (1920-1945), vol. 1.

Re: W34 with strange equipment down during the Polish campaing
 

Denes

Please tell us the Hungarian book is in English!

Cheers
Stig

Re: W34 with strange equipment down during the Polish campaing
 

The WL stands for Wehrmacht Luftwaffe. A true civilian registration would begin with the letter D for Dueutschland, such as D-2010.



Ed

Re: W34 with strange equipment down during the Polish campaing
 

NO! It is in Cantonese... :D

Yes, Stig, it will be published in English (a bit of shameless self-promotion - although there will be an extensive air force chapter in it):
http://www.helion.co.uk/product.asp?...hStartRecord=1