Use of 4-bladed propellors on the Ju88?

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

To help me pinpoint an approximate date for a photo, I'm trying to determine when I./KG30 might have started using Ju88s with 4-bladed props.

Thanx,

[hedgehog6]

No production variant of the Ju-88 had 4-bladed props until the Ju-388 in 44-45, and I know of no record of these being issued to KG30, or indeed any operational bomber unit.

[ArtieBob]

IIRC, KG 30 was formed in September 1939. At that time many of the Ju 88s were from the Dessau built Nullserie and Stammwerkeserie. The documentation is pretty sketchy, but I have a number of photos showing bombers, Aufklarers and even some early "C" types with 4 bladed props. It is almost certain that the Nullserie had 4 bladed props and probably the Stammwerkeserie and possibly even the early Bernburg Grossserien. So, for dates from the inception of KG 30 to the first half of 1940, I would guess is the window 4 bladed Ju 88s might have been in service with KG 30. BTW, as V-E day approached, the first of the 4 bladed Ju 88 G-7s were reaching final assembly. AFAIK, none reached operational service, but in one photo it appears the visible prop blades are at 90 degree angles (or is it just a vivid imagination)?

Best Regards,

Artie Bob

[Modeldad]

[Revi16]

Pics

[Larry Hickey]

Okay,

Modeldad and Revi16, you are obviously looking at some of the same photos that I am. Artie Bob, does this photo evidence provide any information that helps furthe refine the dates and places for any of the photos posted by the two aforementioned people? Does anyone else know anything about these photos? My guess is that these are early war as indicated by Artie Bob. Further comments or info? Chris Goss, since you've researched the early days of KG30, do you have any info to add on any of these posted photos?

Thanx,

[Parabellum]

It seems that around ten pre-production Junkers Ju 88A-0 (with four bladed propellers) have been passed from Erpr.Kdo 88 to I/KG 30 in september 1939.
Apparently, I/KG 30 was flying with a mixed batch of Ju 88A-0 and Ju88A-1 during the "phoney war" period (late september 1939 / early 1940).
Seems to me that the pics are depicting aircrafts belonging to 1/KG30? ..."umbrella and gun-sight" shield was its insignia.

[Larry Hickey]

Parabellum,

That would make sense. The insignia of the umbrella in the gunsight is for I./KG30, not just 1 Staffel. That has been an error in the insignia handbooks that goes clear back to the 1960s and Karl Ries, Jr.

Thanks for your comments.

[edNorth]

Hi Larry;

One photo of Ju 88 A of I/KG 30 with shattered cockpit may fit date 24.10.39 (W.Nr. 880019 was hit by Bf 109, killing Bf 109 pilot and two Ju88 crew, injuring one ju88 crew - that groundcrew wearing big gloves in cleaning up thee crew´s remains?)

One other of the fotos posted by Revi16 may show ´24´ on one u/c leg. I belive about 30 early machines (0001 to 0030) may have been fitted with four blader props, besides some early prototypes <V1 to V8>. Exactly how many I do not know, but by 0031, 0042 and 0050 (onwards) these were likely only three blader´s...

French Ju88 were used to test four-blader props postwar also.

Other I/KG 30 fotos posted abowe, looks like they are taken at Westerland, on Island of Sylt, in autumn 1939 (all visible Balkenkrauz markings are basically as those used in 1938/1939), these changed to oversize wing crosses in Winter (November), and again changed to smaller ones (but with wider White areas) in spring 1940, remaining basically as such for the next few years. Was the ´umbrella in gunsight´ emblem perhaps inherited from I/KG 25 or even E.Kdo 88?

cheers
ed

[Nick Beale]

The short-span wings of the aircraft in the photos give a general indication of the date, don't they?

Really interesting pictures, though. Thanks for posting them.