Mystery Plane
 

Can anyone identify this? Not French or British as far as I can see

Re: Mystery Plane
 

The tail configuration resembles an Ilyushin. DB-3, DB-4 possibly?

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../1/1200104.jpg

Re: Mystery Plane
 

I agree with Revi16 ,looks like DB-3 or Il-4
based on the smooth engine cowlings I would say DB-3 is more likely.

Re: Mystery Plane
 

Thanks gentlemen

Re: Mystery Plane
 

Chris and all

I have a slight problem with previous ID's mainly due to the engine's nacelle shape,there is reasonable possibility it's a Soviet
twin engined bomber though hard to match it to a DB-3 or 4 series or an IL-4, do you have the crash date ?

Re: Mystery Plane
 

Afraid not

Re: Mystery Plane
 

If it was a crash, one would think the prop would have had more damage done to it, like the blades bent back.

Maybe hit by a bomb.

Re: Mystery Plane
 

Where's the tail-wheel?

With most twin-engined tail-wheel aircraft, the tail-wheel is near or after the leading edge of the horizontal tailplane. From the angle of the tail, it looks (to me) that the tail has been blown off the main fuselage and is resting on its vertical fin. The elevators are sagging groundwards exposing the fillet fairing on the fuselage, From this angle, you should be able to see the tail-wheel (or tail-skid), unless it's hidden in the smoke or blown off.

If the tail-wheel hasn't been destroyed or obscured, this would mean:
a) it's an aircraft with an unusual forward tail-wheel;
b) it has a nose wheel.

Does that narrow the options.....or just make it more confusing?
Douglas Boston/Havoc/DB-7 perhaps?

...geoff

Re: Mystery Plane
 

An old Lisunov Li-2 (soviet version of C-47/DC-3) is closest.

Re: Mystery Plane
 

Gabor and All

I disagree is not an LI-2 neither an IL-4 or any of the DB series, look at the relatively small
oval shapped engine nacelle at the crash shot. I may risk and say it may not even be a
Russian aircraft .

Re: Mystery Plane
 

After a plane crash many-many engines had oval shape :-))))) I think this crash-shot is not an evidence to exclude the Li-2. I am not saying it is a Li-2, but this deformed engine does not exclude the option at all.

Re: Mystery Plane
 

I believe HGabor is correct, Li-2.

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Malev...65c79b3edddf90

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Sunfl...65c79b3edddf90

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Untit...65c79b3edddf90

Re: Mystery Plane
 

Hi,
It definitely not a family tree Il-4 (Db-3a; Db-3b; Db-3Т; Db-3М; Db-3Ф (Il-4); Il-4Т)
They have a tail plumage more and at three points of fastening, and the tail wheel would be visible.
Also on the right in a picture it is visible a rack of the chassis is it is definitely not resistant the DB-3 chassis.
The M-87 or M-88 motor is more (14 cylinders in two ranks).

At this plane lower wing; the tail wheel is closer to the beginning of plumage; characteristic rack of the chassis; the motor is similar to ASh-62 (9 cylinders) with small air-receivers (it's torn off from a motor-gondola). I think this early version PS-84 (DC-3, Li-2)
Best regards, Kirill

Re: Mystery Plane
 

Gabor

No not really, the post crash forces did not oval shape the nacell, the engine's nacell size seems smaller than this of LI-2 , A-20, DB or IL series, sorry it doesn't fit

Re: Mystery Plane
 

Trim tab and hinges align as does the rear fuselage shape.

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/e...psc2b57814.png

Re: Mystery Plane
 

Cowl lines and carb intake scoop also align.

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/e...psb120d61c.png

Re: Mystery Plane
 

Is that a trim tab on the elevator?

Re: Mystery Plane
 

I still think the Li-2 is a good candidate here, since engine cover damages cannot be verified 100% from visually limited crash photos. But surely, it is up to you what you think. (However, the details of the tail and the engine look like a perfect match with the Li-2 and radial engines can be deformed easily to this oval shape during crash. I have seen similarly "oval" B-17 engine photos after crash...)
Gabor

Re: Mystery Plane
 

Gabor / Revi

I agree about the similarities on the aft section of the fuselage and trim tabs
as into the cowl flap this could be a feature on other aircraft type , as into the
oval shape caused by the impact, I am talking about the upper section . But
all clues start getting closer to LI-2

Re: Mystery Plane
 

Thank you all-you now see why I asked the question and before it is asked, this photo was taken by a German soldier