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Re: Ju 290A-4, W.Nr. 165
Richard,
Yes and No. Hard for me to explain, and research on this is not over.
Some apparently did but I think Ju 290 A series did "not change".
I at least use longer version in my research.
Other views on this are welcome.
Many Junkers aircraft ranges produced from April 1943 onwards got the "new" six digit numbers, only this (it appears) the Ju 290 (0110xxx) and Ju 88 D-1 (0430xxx) retained the older style, likely there were more, but it appears - according the evedence I already have - that 0430xxx changed to just "430xxx", as D-1 production was over in just two-three months time, so why bother change it?
Other Junkers ranges, like Ju 88 C-6 changed from "0360xxx" to new "750xxx" (and "720xxx") series. In case of Ju 188 E-1/F-1 this changed from "188/100xx" (five digit) to "188/260xxx" & "280xxx" (six digit). Previous Ju 88īs had usually used four digit numbers (like 088/0001).
Only Ju 88 B V series had used longer version (long before October 1941).
I have not found evidence of there was any 0188/xxxxxx serials. RAF source state serial as 188/xxxxx (five digit) on one wreck. Known Ju 188 dataplates all say only six digits.
Serials, as W.Nr. did not always equal c/n. (or s/n.) as used then or today. Many British and US manufacturers had (have) independant c/n or s/n apart from RAF or USAAC/USAAF/BuAer etc. serials.
But as in case of Ju 88 series, components from many factories came togeather in one airplane, so better have unified serial systems for such.
Maybe also its better talk only of the number of serial digits coming after the type designator. My conclution (as of this moment) be that aircraft already built retained their old serial, whatever long, only these built / delivered after April 1943 got "new secret code serials" (six digits). The secret code serials dataplates contained the three digit lower case (ammunition code), not old factory address that was eazily found and bombed.
Regards
Ed
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