Stuka from about 1940 with Shark's Mouth

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

I have a feeling that this has already been discussed, but in working with the color profile packages for the EOE book project I've noticed that the photos of the Ju87B with a shark's mouth on the nose has been identified in the past as being the Gr Kdr of II./StG77 during the summer of 1940. A profiles has also been done of this a/c with the identification code S2+AC, with the white number 10 on the wheel spats, and identified as the a/c of Maj. Alfons Orthofer during 1940. I seem to remember that this contention has been discredited. Can anyone plug me into a thread about this on the TOCH or LEMB Forums?

I've seen nothing in looking through hundreds of Stuka photos for the 1939-40 period that would suggest that this a/c was flown with these markings in StG77. With the numbers painted on the cowlings of a/c in the background and on the wheel spats of this one, this suggests to me a training unit, and not a marking used during combat operations.

Who knows the story about this?

Regards,

[Clint Mitchell]

Hi Larry, Please see the following topic on LEMB: Link

[Larry Hickey]

Clint,

Thanks! I must have read this thread sometime in the past and this is what I was thinking about. It doesn't appear that the LEMB thread ever clearly resolved the issue. Was this merely a propaganda photo, or was it actually a personal markings on a Stuka used in a combat unit? And if so, what unit? Has this ever been definitely resolved? The markings still look like ones used in a training unit.

Regards,

[Clint Mitchell]

Your welcome Larry, lets hope some members on TOCH can help with this one also.

[Jim P.]

Larry, I'll ask George Morrison (aka GRM) about this. Stuka guys are a particular interest of his.

[F19Gladiator]

Hi;
I've added more on the subject added to my reply on the old thread at LEMB here.
Br
Goran