[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Robert, who posts regularly on this board, has just sent me a series of film frames from a Luftwaffe propaganda movie, "Feuertaufe," showing the landing of T6+AM of Lt. Hamester of 4./StG2 at Stolp-Reitz AF Germany on 1.9.39 after he lost his undercarraige after colliding with the surface of the water on a dive bombing mission during the opening day of the attack against Poland. This a/c is the source of the famous propaganda photo of the Stuka flying without its undercarriage on the way back from a mission during the P.C.

Presently out Luft Loss DB carries this as: "September 1, 1939: 4./StG2 Junkers Ju87B. Pulled out too late and hit the sea ripping off both undercarriage legs during attack on coastal battery at Cape Hel (Poland). Belly-landed on return to Stolp-Reitz 2.45 p.m. (FF) Lt Bernhard Hamester and gunner unhurt. Aircraft damaged but repairable."

We'll obviously need to update this with the a/c code T6+AM and the subtype as a B-1. The photos clearly show probably a 3-digit W.Nr. in white on the upper fin, but this isn't readable on the film frames. Given the nature of this incident, I'm hoping that more photos exist of this one that are clear enough for decent reproduction purposes. I especially need photos of the front part of this a/c from the port side. Besides seeing the forward fuselage/nose more clearly, I'd certainly like to obtain the W.Nr., if at all possible. Would also like to know name of the Bordfunker if anyone knows this.

This a/c is an excellent solution to our need in the EoE Project for a 4./StG2 profile for the PC.

THANKS ROBERT!!!

Regards,