Ju 52 with special center engine

[Gerhard]

Hi,

recently, the following photo appeared on Ebay (may be that it was already posted earlier in this forum, but I can't find it):

Attachment 20439

It shows a Ju 52 with an unusual center engine installation. On the underside of the l/h wing a (presumably British) cockade is faintly visible.

On another forum, the idea was raised that this was an ex-Rechlin engine-test aircraft (for DB 601s und DB 605s), which was captured by the British at Schleswig.

Are there any British documents about this aircraft?


Gerhard

[Revi16]

The DB 604 was flight tested in a Junkers Ju 52 trimotor transport, but it is not clear which version of the engine was tested.

https://oldmachinepress.com/2018/07/...rcraft-engine/

[Peter Achs]

I think the "another forum" is our Flugzeugforum. And yes, this is most likely the Ju 52 GS+AR (5067) with RAF-Markings in Schleswig in May 1945.

Test pilot Sinram flew this Ju 52, a testbed for the DB 605, from Rechlin to Schleswig on 30 April 1945.

[Tony Jones]

Thanks Peter
I also have for this a/c:-


3-5/36-E Stelle Rechlin as test bed for DB600 V-18 engines
16/7/36 fitted with DB 600 V-4 engines and 3/39 tested with DB601 V-11 engines

Tony
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[Peter Achs]

First engine was the DB 600 V4 in 1935, then the DB 600 V18, then DB 600 C-0/117, then DB 601, in 1942/43 DB 605 A and tests of VDM-Props, from October 1944 on DB 605 D with MW 50.

Between these tests several conversions at Junkers and Weserflug.

[Gerhard]

Hi,

thanks to all who responded.

I had hoped to hear about British documents covering the fate of this aircraft after capture


Gerhard

[Seaplanes]

I can contribute With the following Ju 52 engine test-beds:
Awailable for the Weser Flugzeugbau on 30. September 1940
W.Nr. 6388 DB601E centre engine
W.Nr. 5838 BMW 800 cenntre engine
W.Nr. 5708 Jumo 206A centre engine
W.Nr. 5581 DB 603 centre engine
W.Nr. 5035 DB 603 centre engine
All five Aircraft had normal BMW 132 wing-engines.

The Junkers Flugzeug und Motorenwerke had a total of six Ju 52/3m's allocated for the test of the Jumo 222 engine. Status on 30. September 1940 were: W.Nr. 1347 (V-205), W.Nr. 5353 (V-206), W.Nr. 5579 (V-207), W.Nr. 2975, W.Nr. 5299 (V-212) and W.Nr. 303.

Ju 52-aircraft used as engine test beds by Junkers Flugzeug und Motorenwerke by 30. September 1942:
W.Nr. 2975 (V-205) Delivered to Jumo for testing of Jumo 213.
W.Nr. 5353 (V-206) In Rechlin for testing of Jumo 213.
W.Nr. 3036 In Tarnewitz for testing of MG 131Z gun installation.
W.Nr. 7526 at JFM for testing of sandfilters.

Ju 52-aircraft allocated to Deutsche Lufthansa for engine testing by 30. September 1942:
W.Nr. 5828 DB623 as centre engine.
W.Nr. not known Jumo 207D as centre engine.
W.Nr. 6001 BMW 803 as centre engine.

Ju 52-aircraft allocated to Weser Flugzeugbau for engine testing by 30.September 1942:
W.Nr. 6388 DB603 as centre engine.

Hope this is of interest for someone.

My Source is Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv Freiburg Akten RL3/906 and RL 3/1022

[RT]

Impressive, Björn,

Wonder if there is somewhere a picture showing a Ju52 with the BMW 803 ?


Rémi

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by Seaplanes

Hope this is of interest for someone.

Björn
I can't recall a single question or answer that's been uninteresting from your end....

Cheers
Stig

[Peter Achs]

There were around 30 Ju 52 test beds for different engines from Jumo, DB and BMW. I wrote a two-part article in the German magazine "Flugzeug Classic" about the testbeds of Jumo. An article on the Ju 52 at DB and BMW is planned.

The BMW 803 was never installed into the Ju 52. And there are some mistakes in seaplane's post.