Ju87B with camera

[ianatheling]

Hi


On eBay here there is a photograph of a Junkers Ju87B with a camera fitted in an open rear cockpit gun position. The photograph is dated to the 8th August 1940. The aircraft has an unusual white 6 tactical code. I imagine that this was used for in-flight propaganda film making. Does anyone know anything else about this and if the aircraft belonged to a specific (film making) unit?



regards


Ian

[Andy Saunders]

This photo has appeared previously in published sources - but I forget where.

Its the first time I have seen the date 8 August 1940 attached to this photo, although it may well be that this photo was taken on 8 August 1940 but not on the Channel coast. If it was the latter (which I kind of doubt) then seeing the film shot by this cameraman might be rather more interesting than the photo itself.

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

IIRC this photo is from the ECPA-D Luftwaffe Collection. The a/c code is "6G" so it's either III./StG51, or, if the 08.08.40 date is correct, this is a II./StG1 aircraft.

Regards,

[G.R.Morrison]

I believe this may be one of the aircraft involved in the making of "Stukas", a Karl Ritter film set in May / June 1940 depicting the adventures of some pilots in a dive-bomber Gruppe. It concludes with the aircrews headed for England, singing the Stuka song... It debuted in theatres in late June 1941.

GRM

[ianatheling]

Thanks for all of the comments. Regarding Larry’s post, I assume that the ECPA-D original shows a 6G+ code. I had considered this as a unit code for the aircraft but had dismissed it due to the ‘white’ colour of the ‘6’ visible on this photo. Ian