Ju 88 A-4 (4D+AM)

[rafale-c]

I've got a couple of questions about the Ju 88 which was registered as 4D+AM (wreckage on display here).

1. It appears that this same aircraft was previously registered as BH+QQ before being 4D+AM. Why did this aircraft's Stammkennzeichen change? I was under the impression that once this code was assigned, it stayed with the aircraft for its entire life.

2. The werk nummer for this aircraft is 0881478 (correct me if I'm wrong). Can an aircraft's werk nummer change throughout its lifetime? The reason I'm asking is because if the aircraft's registration changed, then perhaps they also changed this.

3. Is there any way to find out which variant the aircraft was built as? i.e. was it built as an A-4 or was it modified into an A-4 at some point after delivery?

[Tony Kambic]

Stammkennzeichen (unique four-letter factory code, assigned to the aircraft for life) . All alpha characters, no numbers.

Verbandskennzeichen (four characters unit code, assigned by unit). I believe this always had at least one number.

WNrs. generally did not change, since it was stamped on a plate attached to the airframe. There has been some discussion that airframes were modified/rebuilt, as in the case of changing a radial engine Fw190 to a long nose one, and when the airframe was modified the WNr was changed.

You can find plenty of discussion on the topic of Stammkennzeichen on forums. I also find Truppenkennzeichen used for Verbandskennzeichen.

Tony

[chuckschmitz]

I have it built as an A-4.

Chuck

[rafale-c]

Originally Posted by Tony Kambic

Stammkennzeichen (unique four-letter factory code, assigned to the aircraft for life) . All alpha characters, no numbers.

Verbandskennzeichen (four characters unit code, assigned by unit). I believe this always had at least one number.

But then why does this page on Wikipedia say that the aircraft was 4D+AM but had an "ex-Stammkennzeichen of BH+QQ"?

[rafale-c]

Originally Posted by chuckschmitz

I have it built as an A-4.

Chuck

Can you please point me to a source for that?

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by rafale-c

But then why does this page on Wikipedia say that the aircraft was 4D+AM but had an "ex-Stammkennzeichen of BH+QQ"?

The information there is as variable as the people who contribute it. Some is accurate, some just repeats mistakes in books from 50 years ago and you need to know what source the contributor used.

[edNorth]

rafale-c :

All above by the three other TOCH! members is correct.

It was Ju 88 A-4 W.Nr. is 0881478, and it was BH+QQ at the factory, this was its permanent code whilst in Luftwaffe ownership. Exceptions were to this, but none of your concern. Unit code was 4D+AM for it was assigned to 4./KG 30 "Adler" in Norway.

Now, (four) respected knowledable persons have answered your questions. Why are you questioning these infos?

regards
Ed

[rafale-c]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

The information there is as variable as the people who contribute it. Some is accurate, some just repeats mistakes in books from 50 years ago and you need to know what source the contributor used.

Yeah, I guess. Thank you all for clearing that up though.

Whoever wrote that seemed to forget that stammkennzeichen is alpha only. Wikipedia and their list of references have been my primary source so far, so I've had to read through a lot of conflicting information.

Also, is there some kind of a database I can use to research other Luftwaffe aircraft? This is what I'm currently using, but it's incomplete: http://www.luftwaffe-experten.org/stammkennzeichen.html

[obdl3945]

Hi, Rafale...

Welcome to TOCH... :-).

In answer to your latest query on this thread, I would respectfully suggest that the Stammkennzeichen database is a very helpful 'work in progress'. It may run the risk of never being complete as I suspect we might never know every code of every machine that was ever built, or what unit(s) it may have served with. At present, I know of no similar works covering codes to the extent that Stkz database does, but I stand to be corrected.

I have also sent you a PM.

Kindest regards,

Paul

[ChrisS]

Originally Posted by edNorth

rafale-c :

All above by the three other TOCH! members is correct.

It was Ju 88 A-4 W.Nr. is 0881478, and it was BH+QQ at the factory, this was its permanent code whilst in Luftwaffe ownership. Exceptions were to this, but none of your concern. Unit code was 4D+AM for it was assigned to 4./KG 30 "Adler" in Norway.

Now, (four) respected knowledable persons have answered your questions. Why are you questioning these infos?

regards
Ed

Probably because he is new, and doesn't know who the 'respected knowledgeable' ones are.