Romanian deserter
 

Does anyone know the VKz and crew list of the Ju 88D-1 (WNr 430650) that was reported as having deserted on 22 July 1943?

The unit was 2.Rum.Fernaufkl.St

TIA

Re: Romanian deserter
 

Hi Adam,

Pilot was Nicolae Teoduru of Esc.2 recun, he was the only crew member and flew to Limassol in Cyprus

Tactical code was White 1

Source: Rumanian Air Force The Prime Decade, by Denes Bernad

Re: Romanian deserter
 

Andy,

Many thanks.

'Weiße 1' on a Ju 88 seems odd - was that the only tactical marking?

Anything further on Nicolae re: motive or fate? How did he just abscond with a perfectly good recon '88?

rgds

Adam

Re: Romanian deserter
 

hi;
Belive no VBKz was carried; crew was only one, see below....


430650 [JFM 1943 Jumo 211 J1 / J2 VS II]
- Ju 88 D-1/trop [NP+MK] Luftwaffe
- Romanian Air Force (06.1943)
- "1" 2./Rum.Fernaufkl.St. (Luftflotte 4 East)
[Based Mariopol on the Ukraine Front]: OPS (F) Romanian pilot deserted w. aircraft (100%) <no location given> [was flown to Cyprus/Limassol Airfield] 22.07.1943 (rep as D1 430650 in LWFLV losses 76v29.07.43) - [F Sgt. Nicolai Theodoru surrendered to RAF Cyprus] HK959 RAF - British Airways Repair Unit, Heliopolis Airfield Egypt 27.07.1943 - Transferred to USAAF - USAAF 26th Air Depot Group 01.10.1943 [Flown via Khartoum (the Sudan), Maiduguri (Nigeria), Accra (Gold Coast/Gana), Ascension Island, Natal and Belem (Brazil), Georgstown (Br.Guyana), Borinquieen AAF Field (Puerto Rico) and West Palm Beach (Florida) commencing on 08.10.1943 and arriving at Wright Field AAF, USA 14.10.1943] - 30650 USAAF ´like serial on tail´ 43-0650 - FE-1598 USAAF - Test flown in Arizona by pilots from Technical Data Laboratory of Materiel Command - T2-1598 USAAF - Stored Davis Monthan AAB 1946 - USAF Museum 1950 - ´FE-1598´ USAF in 1961 - YY48 / 1F14 USAF Storage numbers (noted 1968) - In the 1970's it was painted up as "F6+AL" of 3.(F)/122 Luftwaffe - Repainted as "105" (as an Romanian AF Ju 88 A-4 of Grupal 5 Bombardament) after restoration at USAF Museum 1990's - (rep as W.Nr. 0880430650; photo shows part plate was below the nose window but had been removed - but plate is still in Gondola!)

Re: Romanian deserter
 

White arabic numerals on the vertical stabiliser seem to be the most common tactical markings for ARR machines.

2.Rum.Fernaufkl.St would have been the Lw designation for the unit but the ARR designation was Escadrila 2 recunoastere.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

Re: Romanian deserter
 

IIRC, the RAF capture report had a very detailed description of the Ju 88 markings and camouflage, complete with sketches. I have not checked the current appearance in detail, but I believe the last time the aircraft was painted, the RAF capture data was used as a guideline.

Best Regards,

Artie Bob

Re: Romanian deserter
 

As always, many thanks for your help, guys

rgds

Adam

Re: Romanian deserter
 

That cannot be, as the current serial number the Dayton exhibit sports is No. 105A (a bomber code), instead of No. 1 (a recce code).