a nice JU88 plate

[gilles collaveri]

dear all,

what are your comments on this plate from a JU88 crashed in the French Pyrenees mountains ?

Date of the crash unfortunately unknown.

Thanks in advance,

GC

[Matti Salonen]

It belongs to the left landing gear pod, which contains the LG doors etc. below the wing. Manufacturer Adam Opel A.G. at Rüsselsheim. Unfortunately there is no known connection between the aircraft WNr. and this sub-assembly WNr.

Matti

[gilles collaveri]

Thanks Matti
Gilles

[edNorth]

Originally Posted by Matti Salonen

It belongs to the left landing gear pod, which contains the LG doors etc. below the wing. Manufacturer Adam Opel A.G. at Rüsselsheim. Unfortunately there is no known connection between the aircraft WNr. and this sub-assembly WNr.
Matti

Yes, basically correct.
However.

There is no guarantee my calulation is correct. Most likely not.

Knowing that Adam Opel supplied Junkers own production, this number (1549) "may fit" for passing inspection at Halberstadt in 01.42.

Looking for ones ready in first week of February 1942 did not seem work (0140xxx, 0360xxx and 0430xxx numbers ranges all checked), closest one was missing off Algier - but remarkably "just one plane back" - then late in assembly, not unusual (rather a rule), and my interpolation just one plane off (?!) this came up:

360165 Ju 88 C-6 [F8+LX] 13./KG 40 (Luftflotte 3)
OPS (F) missing (100%) unk location [possibly downed by RAF Beaufighters of 235 SQ in Bay of Biscay] 01.11.1942 (F Lt. Walter Berger, BF Uffz. Werner Nohe and BS Uffz. Fritz Eppemdahl all missing)

Location given 9825/14 West (Salonen NVM)

(as C6 360165 F8+LX of V/KG 40 in LW GQM losses 35v03.11.40)
[unit 13./KG 40 and likely fate fm Goss “Bloody Biscay”]

But question remains, who found a part of a (possibly) lost plane.

-Ed

[gilles collaveri]

Hi Ed,

this plate was found at the crash site by somebody living close to it;

What is sure is that a JU88 crashed there. When ? I asked the question, and I am waiting for the answer. I hope to have it in the next days.

If it is 01.11 42, then it is this plane.

I shall keep you posted.

GC

[Chris Goss]

Highly unlikely as this came down in the Bay of Biscay

[Brian Bines]

GC - any location from where the plate was found or where the finder lived,

Regards
Brian Bines

[edNorth]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Highly unlikely as this came down in the Bay of Biscay

Lost planes have tendency be not where you expect them to be.
Biscay book says "probable" or new assessment?

[Chris Goss]

235 Sqn claimed 2 over the Bay, V./KG 40 lost 2 over the Bay. I never in any of my books say definitely unless there is positive matching evidence from both sides, always probably or possibly if that is not there. As to V./KG 40 losing an ac in the Pyrenees with the crew still missing & with wreckage being in evidence, I would say very very highly unlikely!

[gilles collaveri]

Brian, the place of the crash is in the mountains some 20 km in the South of Saint Gaudens,

Chris & Ed, I find in my files a date (not 100% sure it is accurate): date of the crash would be 9 July 1943.

Would this lead to the answer ?

Thanks for your inputs.

GC