Nick, Peter, Artie and Simon,
Thanks so much for your help and information! What a godsend for a novice like myself.
Peter, here's the information I have on the photo. First off, yes you're welcome to repost this (I'm attaching a slightly higher res version) and if any of you that helped out would like an even higher resolution scan (let me know the maximum size file your service will accept by email (usually 1-5MB) or contact me with a mailing address and I'll send one up to 2400dpi on a CD for $2) by emailing me at
morethanimages@verizon.net.
The photo was part of a photo album I'm disassembling due to poor condition (acid-based paper is crumbling, etc.) and will be posting these photos on e-Bay probably on Sunday 4/8. I hate breaking up albums but the condition and content (the planes don't have a direct link with the Army unit or its members) warrant it. I can't hang on to everything as much as I'd like to but I try to find out as much as I can because I love the research and it helps in finding these items a good home.
Anyway, back to the information. The original is a standard 2.5 x 3.5 B/W. The soldier who took the picture (I haven't been able to track down his name so far) was a Private in the Headquarters Battery (one of five) in the 243rd Field Artillery Battallion (8" M1 Howitzers) and was attached to XX Corps in the 195th FA BN for a while in the 3rd Army during 1944-45. Luckily, he wrote a detailed date and location "diary", written on 2 pages of stationary of his service which matched with the unit history I located after finding a picture with his unit number on it and the letter gives a very close though not exact date of when the picture was taken and where. I'll also be glad to send a scan of the letter to those of you who helped out to go with the picture.
In April of 1945 his Battallion was pulled from the front lines and they were all reassigned as MPs in the 3rd Army and sent to various locations in Germany. On June 9th he states "Moved to Bad Aibling, Germany 9 Jun 45 below Munich close to Austrian border. Stayed at former German Air Base [Bad Aibling -fighter pilot school and Luftwaffe base] used as PW cage [German PWE or POW camp]." It appears he was there for most of the rest of June, was gone during July and "Moved back to PW cage at Bad Aibling 24 Aug 45" [reassigned 9/17/45]. So the Junker picture(s) were taken in June (most likely) or perhaps August or September.
I'll also post a couple of other pictures he took at the same time at Bad Aibling that show some other aircraft that are pretty much trashed. In another thread, there is a picture of a Junkers 87 that some of the other great people on this site identified. I'll repost a better scan of that picture there.
Thanks again,
John