Ju 88 tail fin on ebay

[Ben...]

I found this on ebay,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Ben

[ArtieBob]

The W.Nr. appears to be 1740 (on a patch, oversprayed?), or am I the victim of a vivid immagination?

Best Regards,

Artie Bob

[edNorth]

Hi Artie;

Possibly, ...... you see the plate inside!

Serie 38832 40/5_
Zeichn. 88.172
F.M. 5.41

(1040, 1140, 1240?)

... likely not higher than 1346 (?)
This has likely been stored inside for considerable time
colour quite good... possibly 1240 ?

1240 Ju 88 A-4 I/KGr 806 (Luftflotte 1 East) OPS (F) downed by AA fire (100%) near Arensberg 24.09.1941 (crew uninjured)

cheers
ed

[Ben...]

I asked about the tail fin and got this short reply.

"Hello.I dont know the werknr and the aircraft was shot down in in the island of saaremaa,estonia."

Hope this answers any questions.

Ben

[Kari Lumppio]

Hello!

There was aerial fights over Saaremaa island during the Summer and Autumn 1941 and then again during late 1944. Both time the force occupying island changed.

In 1941 the possible units include KGr 506, KGr 806, KG 76 and KG 77. KGr 506 was transerred to Riga, Latvia and later to Pärnu (Pernau), Estonia for Beowulf II operation (invasion of Saaremaa). KG 77 was based at Kuusiku airfield near Rapla town, Estonia for operations over the Estonian islands. These two units were AFAIK the most frequent over the islands.

As far as I know in 1944 the only Ju 88 units left in the area were 3.(F)/22, 5.(F)/122 and Westa 1 (Luftflotte 1, not the ObdL staffel).

To me the fin looks like to be early type. So I would say it is from 1941, most likely period August-September. For the year 1944 September-October is the most likely period of loss.


Kari

PS One thing to consider about the sale is that it is illegal to take abroad over 50 year old artifacts from Estonia. Without specific permission, that is. It is widely known that Estonian (ethnic Russian) excavation groups smuggle WW2 artifacts to Sweden (this item is also on sale from Sweden) and elsewhere. All such items (exluding personal items of fallen soldiers) are property of Estonian state. I really wish this sale is legal.

[edNorth]

Hi Kari:

Thanks for this additional info. Can you comment on ´Arensberg´ as correct or unprecise location for that area?
From the serie part plate, supplied with this bid, I am fairly certain W.Nr. 1240 is indeed possible the correct one. The Fertigungs Monat 5.41 tells me this is likely an original part for that plane. Better picture of the plate is needed, but if someone has photo of similar plate that dates plus or minus 3 months, it might be possible to narrow this down considerably.

cheers
ed

PS abowe is really interesting (hope this part not simply dissapears into some unaccessable location .... but ends up in a proper museum)

[Mikael Olrog]

The fin has been removed from the auction now... May be the seller got cold feets?

[Kari Lumppio]

Hello!

Of the exporting historical artifacts from Estonia. The Estonian authority to contact for permissions is Muinsuskaitseamet ( The National Heritage Board). They have homepage in English too:
http://www.muinas.ee/index_eng.html

I am pretty sure the Ju 88 fin affair should be negotiable also after the fact. I fully understand people bying such artifacts to fulfill own interests and passion (even without any permissions) but not if the intent is to make money.


Arensberg is German for Kuressaare. Kuressaare is the biggest town in Saaremaa island. Saaremaa is in other (=indo-European) languages Ösel, Osel etc. Soviet era maps show Kuressaare with name Kingissepp.


Regards,
Kari

[edNorth]

Thank you Ben... for posting in beginning,
Kari for geographical info and other explanation,
and you ArtieBob for I had not noticed there was any number painted on the top of fin, I am convinced W.Nr was 1240 but if somone hears about the eventual fate or possible byuer, please post us here ...
cheers
ed

[Kari Lumppio]

Hello again!

Of the Ju 88 fin found from Saaremaa island.


I managed to look more deeply to the issue and found one likely candidate. The KGr 506 KTB is available also as NARA microfilm. The relevant part for the Saaremaa episode is in film T1022/roll 3331. In 4.10.1941 (October 4th) one of the unit’s Ju 88 did not come back from mission. That day the mission was support ground battle fought on the cape Sõrve sääre (“Halbinsel Sörve”). Below should be part of a KTB page from the day with data for the plane, crew etc.

Interesting is the fact that the plane at the time was identified as “F 2/906” or belonging to 2./KGr 906. This Staffel was named to 2./KGr 506 later in the October (IIRC).

It seems that in the faithful day the Ju 88 “F 2/906” (8L+FK?) flew in pair with “C 2/906” which bombed place named Koltsi. Koltsi can be located for example looking this page:
http://www.fallingrain.com/world/EN/14/Koltsi.html

Koltsi in situated in the cape Sõrve and Kuressaare at the “base” of this cape on Eastern side (the homepage above gives bearing and distance to Kuressaare airfield EEKE from Koltsi).

The last sighting of Ju 88 “C 2/906” was in grid 2978 / 25 Ost. This location is over sea somewhat east from Koltsi.

Kari