Identity of Ju 88 Sought?

[Melvin Brownless]

Hi Guys,

We have had this photo in our collection for quite some time but unfortunately we know nothing about the Ju 88 depicted in the photo, can anyone help us further?

Kind regards

Melvin

www.aircrewremembrancesociety.com

[obdl3945]

Hi, Melvin...

Given the light colour of the Ju88, its white rear fuselage band and the Kittyhawk (?) in the foreground, this would appear to be a North African location.

The parent code '2F' was used by several units during the course of the war - KG28, later becoming II./KG54 in September 1939 and retaining the code into early 1940 when the Gruppe adopted the more standard 'B3' code.

However, '2F' was also used by the Stabs-Staffel/St.G.3 when used in combination with the last letter 'A', as seen here. There is also another very well known image of a dismantled Bf110 from the same unit carrying the code 2F+GA in North Africa, so I would hedge a bet that this unit operated the Ju88 in your photo.

Hope this helps you.

Regards,

Paul

[edNorth]

Hi Mevin,

Thanks for posting this picture and query. Quick search, and yet only possble damage % match I find for this might be

W.Nr. (0880)611 Ju 88 A-10 II/StG 2 (Fliegerkorps X)
OPS (F) forced landed (30%) at Bengasi-Mechili 08.04.1941
(from BA-MA GQM loss records)

Although attributed in GQM to II/StG 2 it could be same. Aircraft on photo seems to me be an A-5/trop or A-10 and the Curtiss fighter seems to me be an Tomahawk rather than Kittyhawk, so the time frame also seems fitting for year 1941.

Best regards
ed

[Stig Jarlevik]

Interesting Ed

Shores et all does not mention this damaged A-10 on April 8th, despite Rommel forcelanding at the same airfield that day in his Storch.

The problem with your theory is that we are basically stuck with the 2F code which as far as I know never was in use by St G 2. If we then just have the Stab/St G 3 to deal with it means that "your" 88 is listed wrongly in GQM loss records.

Is this accident mentioned in NVM or anywhere else?

I agree the British aircraft is a Tomahawk. In April 1941 there were still no Curtiss aircraft at the front in NA, so whoever took the photo did so at a later date.

Cheers
Stig