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)