Art Medcalf's Ju 88 book - discussion

[edNorth]

Originally Posted by Stig Jarlevik

c) The WNr listed basically correpond to the number built for all the various Contractors, EXCEPT for Junkers themselves. The Bernburg production listed starts with 0022 (not 0021 as given which is a printing error) and goes all the way to 0655, which makes 634 built A-models. However the total summary in the right hand column only list 282 + 334 which is 616. Can someone explain this please?

Here is fallacy of attempting "make a simple list of JFM produced versions": the Ju 88 A-1, A-1 F, Ju 88 Z (C-1), C-2, C-3 (same one as the C-5), C-4, C-7, A-5, A-5 F, A-6 and D-2 (and more conversions) are all included if first 088 0xxx range - intermixed in such a way as no clear batches can be spoken of - generally the A-5 take over at 0361 - all surviours upgraded later! - only clearly seen (factory new) at 0401 onwards, and most were A-5 F (recce). And there were also C-2´s produced after the C-4´s - Becuse its C-4 only if an Recce airframe was used for the conversion, else it was C-2 (longer wings) made from A-1/5 Bomber airframe, but that C-2 or C-4 were even not "conversions" - rather they were assembled as such from the start (some later ones were attrition replacements).
So its even not possibly to say, that were A-1´s to about 0364, as there were also A-1 F, Ju 88 Z (C-1), C-2 and C-4 with lower numbers than 0364. Also there were (few) A-6 built out of later A-5 Bombers´s, and A-7 Trainers out of A-3 or A-5 (Bombers) complicate the matter also. They basically follow their original produced variants (by default), when reaching A-12 Dual-Control trainers´s they had wider cockpits and generally A-4´s like wings (but Jumo 211 G engines and VDM props).
However in 088 1001 to 1780 were no Zerstörers, but many D-1, D-1 trop and D-5 (Recce). Rest was A-4´s (many fitted out as torpedo-bombers, as were A-4´s from other ranges). Then to complicate matters, no clear cut can also be made of A-4, D-1 or D-5/trop (Tropical). I maybe making some errors too, as this is mostly from memory...

Regards
-ed

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Ed

I think I got a little more than I bargained for....

a) OK, the V-8 was D-ASCY and I then take it you confirm the V-6 was D-AQKD.

b) Should I take it that any individual break down of A/C/D models into sub-types from 1939 to ca 1942 is very complicated? I suppose I was afraid of that.....

c) If I understand you right, we have 10 Ju 88B prototypes as 0023 to 0032 plus one I cannot place 0022, which makes 11 in all, but adding these 11 to 616 only give us 627. We are still short seven aircraft. Were any black out numbers used by Junkers or is the table simply wrong? Were all aircraft built from WNr 0033 to 0655? If yes, then the table must be wrong somewhere.

d) Thanks for confirming the table is wrong with regard to Arado and Henschel but I am a bit puzzled that you say ATG used two c/n ranges, both 50xx and 80xx. The table states Siebel was responsible for the 80xx range.

My aim was not to make a production list aircraft by aircraft but to try and ring in the WNr batches. Looks like I have to drop the exact sub-types since it is obvious that large numbers were either modified and/or rebuilt to other sub-types and even new models. I am not finished with William Medcalf's book yet since I had to stop at page 99 with my four questions.

Most probably I will be back with more questions later

Cheers
Stig

[edNorth]

I have sent you private email on this. Maybe oneday mr. Medcalf will break his silence.
-Ed