Lufttransportstaffel 290

[obdl3945]

Hello...

Can anyone provide information on this aircraft, please? I would like to know its sub-type and confirmation of its unit. Apparently this photo was taken at Sidi Ahmed in May, 1943.

Thanks in advance...

Paul

[Andy Mitchell]

Paul,

According to the table in "Die Grossen Dessauer" this was an A-1 - Wk Nr 290110154 of LTS290

[edNorth]

Here Paul,

And Andy, almost correct, Mr. Ott and Mr. Kössler did not know that an additonal 0 (null) was missing from their list of Ju 290 numbers. This came to light when an main dataplate from sister aircraft (W.Nr. 2900110157 owed by Stephen F. Polyak) came to light last year. Otherwise book is excellent reading; aircraft thus Ju 290 A-1 W.Nr. 2900110154 SB+QD J4+AH of 1./LTS 290 : Non-OPS (H) struck ground (50% Er) {landing at night at the edge of Sidi Achmed Airfield} at Bizerta [Tunisia] 01.05.1943 (Hptm. Vogel and crew uninjured)

cheers
ed

[obdl3945]

Andy/Ed...

Thanks for that information. Ed, could you just clarify 'non-OPS (H)' for me please?

Paul

[Jim P.]

Non-combat - non-operational.

[obdl3945]

Jim...

Thanks... sorry to keep at this , but what does the (H) stand for in relation to this ?

Regards...

Paul

[edNorth]

In Ge.Qu. 6.Abt. loss records this stands for ´Heimat´ (i.e. Home front) vs F ´Feindflug´ or Front-Flug (War-Flight).

For translation purposes in my research I have ´classified´ these similar to what the RAF did in their records when describing how many Operational Flights vs Non-Operational flights. Similar I have sometimes used (S) for Schulen Training flights.

The German meaning (I understand) is either ´in-combat-loss´ or ´not-in-combat´. Your questions are quite valid to ask.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Originally Posted by edNorth

Here Paul,

And Andy, almost correct, Mr. Ott and Mr. Kössler did not know that an additonal 0 (null) was missing from their list of Ju 290 numbers. This came to light when an main dataplate from sister aircraft (W.Nr. 2900110157 owed by Stephen F. Polyak) came to light last year. Otherwise book is excellent reading; aircraft thus Ju 290 A-1 W.Nr. 2900110154 SB+QD J4+AH of 1./LTS 290 : Non-OPS (H) struck ground (50% Er) {landing at night at the edge of Sidi Achmed Airfield} at Bizerta [Tunisia] 01.05.1943 (Hptm. Vogel and crew uninjured)

cheers
ed

Of course, even with 50% damage, this aircraft was a total loss for the Luftwaffe, as it was not possible to repair it before the end of the Tunisia campain, or to ferry it on the other side of the Mediterranean.

And the "non-ops" coding make me wonder how the Lufwaffe was classifying its transport flights in dangerous area (like runs to Tunisia in 1943). I doubt that a Ju 290 was doing a training sortie in this area at this date, but it could have been a test flight after repairs on the field.

[edNorth]

Laurent. The Luftwaffe used both H and F in that area. Just dependent on what happened. (I am trying uploading an example from 29.05.43)

Here:

[obdl3945]

Hi, Ed...

Thanks again for the explanation. Never too late to find out something I never knew before... .

Regards...

Paul