Unknown Piston Recovered From Freeman Field

[harrison987]

Alright guys...

Another unknown.

Not German or American as far as I can tell. No Japanese markings...

Possibly Italian?

Thoughts?

TIA

Mike

[Tony Kambic]

Any chance for the Outside diameter, although lots of crud makes it difficult.

Tony

[harrison987]

Hi Tony!

15cm (6" or so)

Mike

[Tony Kambic]

So far I have DB and Jumo with 15 cm pistons and BMW at 15.5 cm.

Nothing on Japanese pistons. P&W R-2800s are 6 inches or 15.25 cm.

I continue with research.

[harrison987]

For sure not German DB603 or DB605, due to the construction, and lack of correct part numbers.

Jumo 211 for sure not either...

The part numbers stamped are odd...

I would venture a "guess" at maybe a License-built Italian or Japanese DB601/605???

...but there are no markings from either country that would point that direction...


Mike

[Tony Kambic]

Agreed Mike, they are odd numbers. I will see what I can learn tomorrow at NASM.

Tony

[Tony Kambic]

One of my contacts believes the piston may be from a DB601. He states the 'L' indicates 'left'. Are there 5 rings, ( 3 compression and 2 scraper ), and is the head slightly concave?

Also, I learned that NASM has two HeS 011 engines in long term storage. No timeline for when they will surface for display. I did see some images of them but cannot correlate where the piece you posted about is on that engine.

Tony

[Vince Malfara]

Hi Mike

Here is a photo of a DB 601 piston for comparison.

Vince...

[harrison987]

Hey Tony and Vince!!!



All 601 pistons featured a prominent "601" part number moulded into the same area where these odd part numbers are situated.

If German, it would indicate:

9-601.232

Sooooooo...100% the numbers on this piston are not German.

That said...

It is 99.9% IDENTICAL to the DB601..which leads me towards a foreign license-build...as I suspected earlier...

With no Japanese stamps (no Navy Anchor or Army Star)...I am convinced it is in-fact a piston from an Italian DB601 (Alfa Romeo RA 1000 RC 41). This was used on the Macchi C.202 and Reggiane Re.2001.

Lots of Macchi parts were found at the dig...so it would make sense...



Mike

[micky.38]

Hi Harrison, did you find also Reggiane parts?

I live in Reggio Emilia, and we would make the same in our airfield, where just after the war craters has been filled with wrecked aircraft parts