BAUMBACH'S JU188 ?

[SEAN RYAN]

Hi, looking at the latest list of e-bay photo's which Peter Evans kindly posts on LEMB daily there is a Photo Album which contains some photos of a Ju188E with a KG30 unit badge.
Not only that, it looks to me as if Werner Baumbach is the pilot.
Is this his personal aircraft ?
Does anyone have any further thoughts or info on these remarkable images ?

Regards, Sean.

[Peter D Evans]

Here is the link for those interested:

http://cgi.ebay.de/Ritterkreuzverlei...-/150621880827

Cheers
Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

[jim norton]

hi,

no item there anymore. has someone saved the pictures?

all the best
jim

[SEAN RYAN]

Hi, Peter Evans has very kindly re-posted these images on his LEMB board in the EBAY section of the PHOTOGRAPH/PROFILE REQUESTS & PHOTO DISCUSSION forum.

Regards, Sean.

[Jim P.]

Those are very nice. I don't think I've ever seen a 188 with a KG30 badge. It's unfortunate that the photographer didn't think to get a photo of the whole plane, or at least enough of it to show the codes (unless I missed something of course) - though one might assume the machine was coded '4D+AA' or '4D+A ' something. I don't think I've ever seen any reference/photo to a Baumbach machine where the Verbandkennzeichen can be seen or is mentioned in text.

[Del Davis]

Jim
Baumbach left KG30 in December 1942 for a staff position and the Ju188E did not enter service in any numbers until Mid 1943. Also I am not sure that KG30 was ever equipped with the Ju-188. Like you I have never seen a Baumbach aircraft where the codes are visible. I think it more likely that he flew this aircraft while with KG200 in 1944 so the code is more likely A3+-- or or A3+AA
Del

[edNorth]

Jim & Del,

I suggest looking at real (reported) codes Ju 188 E-1s of KG 200.

260186 (no code given) destroyed 01.03.45 (Ketley "KG 200" book)
260232 A3+LD surrendered Mulhldorf-Metthenhaim 08.05.1945 (ebay/LEMB 01.2011)
260381 (no codes given) 35% in belly landing 23.01.45 (Luftwaffe losses)
260399 A3+LD I/KG 200 missing (100%) unk location (Erfurt-Echterdingen) 02.02.1945 (Luftwaffe losses)
250522* (no codes given) 25% no location given 14.02.45 (Luftwaffe losses)
(*probably typo for 260522)
260542 A3+QD shot down near Diest, Belgium 23.01.1945 (Ketley "KG 200" book)
260543 (no code given) strafed Alten-Grabow 01.03.1945 (Ketley "KG 200" book)

Further codes for Ju 188s (likely all A-2/D-2s Jumo 213 engines) are A3+RD, A3+OD, A3+TD, A3+BD. Probably others are known from logbooks, but these are them I do have - and do not give much for 4D+AA or A3+AA theories - sorry. I also find improbable unit KG 200 carried (any) unit emblems in general, given the status of their secretive operations (save one ´nose-art´ known from captured B-17), at least I do not remember seeing any such before.

regards
ed

[Del Davis]

Ed
You are undoubtedly correct about the code carried by Baumbachs Ju188 not being + AA and I have also never seen an operational KG200 aircraft with a unit emblem but here we apparently have one or do we? I don't think Baumbach flew any combat operations after he left KG30. Either he had a personal aircraft with his former unit insignia for his use while on staff or as Komodore of KG200. I think the latter is more likely. As to code it could just as easily have still been the Stammkennzeichen. Unless some source comes forward with either a photo or a logbook we may never know.