Crashed Ju88 B3+ details wanted.

[ianatheling]

Hi

At eBay here there is a photo of a crashed Ju88. The seller claims B3-AF Bruchlandung Winterschlacht 1941
This must be wrong, since KG54 did not have a V. gruppe. I suspect the code is then B3+AP of 6./KG 54. Any further info on the crash will be much appreciated.


cheers
Ian

[Nordpol54]

Ian,

i think Your guestimate is wrong somehow.
As far as i know, the first letter-code behind the cross names the a/c's belonging to Staffel and the second names the Gruppe.
For instance: + FK means 2. Staffel/III. Gruppe.
Or am i now a heavy weight dancing on thin ice?

Best Regards
Norbert

[ianatheling]

Hi Norbert
I’m afraid that your ice has broken! For the post 1939 period the normal code system is that the third character is the a/c identification letter and the fourth character is the staffel identifier. Not all letters were used, and the letters A to F were for stab(staff flights). Staffel identifiers began then with the letter H.

For your example +FK this would be aircraft ‘F’ of the 2nd staffel.

There is no gruppe identification explicit in the code, although there had been in the pre-1939 system. There are a couple of units which used different coding systems, but as far as I know none of these used Ju88s. A few other unit types ie fighters and (some) ground attack, did of course use other systems.


Ian

[Nordpol54]

Ian,

the seller of this pic refers the year 1941 and You are talking about earlier used markings.
So where might be the meeting point to agree at the point of conclusion?
Excluding all posted before it seems that the kite shows the appearance of a Ju 88 A-1.

No harm meant and all the best
Borbert

[ianatheling]

Sorry if you have misunderstood me, but the system I am describing was that used between 1939 and 1945...(post 1939 as stated)

Ian

If you need more information on this I am sure that I can point you to numerous sources which describe it (possibly better than me).

[Norbert Schuchbauer]

Looking at it closer it is indeed B3+AP as you suspected from 6./KG 54.

Norbert

[RudiS]

Hi Ian,

I only can come up with 4 candidates for this belly landed B3+AP of 6./KG54:
February 2nd, 1942 - WNr.6630 - Orscha - 40 %
February 18th, 1942 - WNr.1454 - Orscha - 30 %
March 4th, 1942 - WNr.3649 - near Rshew - 100 %
March 23rd, 1942 - WNr.5702 - Orscha - 45 %

Regards,
Rudi.

[ianatheling]

Many thanks Rudi

Ian

[RossGmann]

Hi Ian is the following any help/interest
Link http://www.redkitebooks.co.uk/pdfs/s...plechapter.pdf
Ju88 A-14 6/KG 54 B3+AP WNr 550296
Horton Priory, Sellindge, Kent. 21.50 hrs. Date 21/22 January 1944
Shot down by F/Lt J A S Hall in a 488 Sqn Mosquito.
Started from Marx at about midday and after an intermediate landing at Laon/Athies took off from that aerodrome at about 20.30 hrs to attack London. Twenty-seven aircraft of II/KG 54 took part in this operation. This aircraft crossed the French coast at 15,000 ft. and made landfall at Rye. Shortly afterwards it was caught in a searchlight cone and despite violent evasive action, during which the bomb load was jettisoned, it was held continuously for about 10 minutes. During this time heavy AA was encountered and it was also attacked by a Mosquito night fighter and after two bursts one engine burst into flames; the aircraft lost height to 6,000 ft. and the pilot gave the order to bale out. The aircraft crashed and was completely burnt out, the pilot being found dead in the wreckage. The other members of the crew baled out successfully.

Kind regards
Ross

[ianatheling]

Hi Ross.

Many thanks for your answer and the informative pdf file. I am however fairly sure that these eBay photos relate to one of Rudi’s offerings rather than this 1944 example. The photos show the Ju88 belly landed in very heavy snow. The aircraft appears fairly intact, rather than burnt out, and a number of German army personnel are using the crash as a photo opportunity.


Thanks
Ian