Junkers Ju.88 lost and sunk in the Ionian See

[Scipio]

Seeking information and literature sources for a german Ju.88 A4, recently discovered at the bottom of the Ionian Sea-Marina di Nardò-Italy, unknown Wn ° and codes, plate rudder recovered. It may be of III/KG54 loss return to Grottaglie-Taranto on 11/07/1943, or II/KG1, loss return at San Pancrazio Salentino-Lecce on 13/07/1943, but even LG1 and KG76 operates there. Thanks

[DB601E]

Hi Scipio,

maybe also a possible loss of KG26? They operated from sardinia, and as far as i know, they did also some missions in south-eastern direction.

Greetings

Lino

P.S.: We are doing currently some research about Ju88 wrecks in southern france:
http://www.abtauchen.com/pdf/Ju88MarseilleDreieck.pdf

[Scipio]

Missions from Sardinia were generally against the Algerian ports, while it is much more likely to be a unit returning from a raid against the allied fleet at the landing in Sicily. Regards
P.S. I dived for a total of several hours on the wreck, which is in quite good condition.The local fishermen also speak of finding a crew man on the beach nearby.See
http://www.costadelsud.it/pagina.asp?pg=88

[edNorth]

Originally Posted by Scipio

Seeking information and literature sources for a german Ju.88 A4, recently discovered at the bottom of the Ionian Sea-Marina di Nardò-Italy, unknown Wn ° and codes, plate rudder recovered.

Hello,

Posting picture of the plate on this forum might help. Possibly there might be manufacturer, date or some form of serial or part number visible. Using this it is sometimes possible to narrow down possibilities.

Best regards
ed

[Scipio]

Rudder serial tag

[edNorth]

Hi Scipio,

Based on quick research already done some days ago (waiting for picture), this might have been this one:

W.Nr. 0881674 Ju 88 A-4 "B3+FR" III/KG 54 (Luftflotte 2)
OPS (F) missing (100%) unk location (Gela) 11.07.1943 (F Lt. Helmut Kissel, B Fw. Hans Nagler, BF Uffz. Karl Faßbänder and BS Uffz. Erich Koth mis/rep killed in g/21.07.43)

This is my "closest match" based on the "missing" date of either 11.07.43 or 13.07.43. Others on these dates were either from other factories W.Nr´s or having W.Nr.s that likely had further away (different) manufacturing dates than November 1941. This however does not proof it is this aircraft. Part could have been moved to other plane (or having been spare part).

Best regards
ed

[ssg keay]

Surely looks like the canopy was released, which could indicate the crew were prepared for a waterlanding, or the crew bailed out.

[Scipio]

After the consultation of:
The German participation in the naval war in the Mediterranean (1940-1943) [Santoni-Matesini]
Junkers Ju 88 Kampfgeschwader in North Africa and the Mediterranean [Osprey Combat Aircraft No. 75], page 79: ... ... July 10 ... Each Gruppe suffered the loss of two aircraft, with a third from III. / KG 54 crash damaged landing back at Grottaglie ."...
Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-45 vol. 1 [De-Zeng Stankey]
could be useful and definitive
Kampfgeschwader54 von der zur Ju 52 Me 262 [Radtke]?
Let me know if there are other books, possibly on specific internal of Ju.88 too.
Regards

[Scipio]

Wreck location.

[DB601E]

Hi Scipio,

if the tail section exists and there is a possible access to the wheel housing, you may have the best change to identify the AC: There you will find a triangle inox plate with the engraved Werknummer of the AC.
It is on the tail side of the housing, see picture. In this case, the tail segment of a Ju 88 was placed in 60m depth upside down on the ground, so access was easy.


See attached picture of a serial plate of a Ju 88

Greetings

Lino