Ju 290 without national markings...

[sveahk]

On the 24.4.1944 a black painted Luftwaffe Ju 290 is announced to fly from Riga over the Åland Islands and the Bothnia, and then up to Kirkenes (supposedly not infringing the swedish border...?) - says this german document...

Remarkable, in my view, is that it will have no national markings. Why was that? I can't remember I ever heard - or saw - a plane in so-called active duty during the IIWW flying without any markings at all.

So - any thoughts?

Regards Hans K

[Lennart Andersson]

Hans, no idea, but quite interesting things you are digging up!

Lennart

[edwest2]

The State Secret stamp at the top gives a clue. This was a totally secret flight for some unknown purpose. I do recall a few He 111 photos where the four part fuselage code was painted over with black paint. Otherwise, the balkenkreuz and tail Swastika remained.

[edNorth]

smells like KG 200 on position flight for agent drop.
Just saying, no facts behind.

[Buckeye30]

The 1. Staffel of KG200 used the Ju.290s ex-FAGr.5 on the Atlantic coast , mainly based at Finow for I.Gruppe. The Staffel had Ju290, Ju252, Fw200, Ju352, Ju52 and Ar232. Flown on long-range transport missions as the Ferneinsatz-Staffel.

There was one Ju290A-O ( J4+CH) at Riga-Spilve airfield in March 1944 but it was camouflaged ( J4 was code for Lufttransportstaffel 5 ). The KG200 Ju290s were usually camouflaged with black undersides. They carried KG200 code A3 eg. A3+OB. Those ex-FAGr5 were coded 9V eg. 9V+FH.

For special missions the national insignia could be painted out but normally codes remained ( sometimes toned down).
Nick

[Richard Aigner]

Anyone able to read the handwritten note?
Regards,
Richard

[Matti Salonen]

That handwritten note is simply the document text translated into Finnish.

Matti

[Mikael Olrog]

What does Ott's book Die Grosse Dessauer have to say on the subject? :-)

[edNorth]

I dont have his book handy. Ott said last night, he has seen this document.

But contrary to what Buckey30/Nick writes, there was no A-0 version of the Ju 290.
Possibly garbage from 1960s William Green type authors, I guess.

[sveahk]

Thanks all for your contributions - still, the question remains, why does a Ju 290 fly without any markings to the north at this time? And I will not try to connect this with any "Kommando Japan" speculations...!

Originally Posted by edNorth

I dont have his book handy. Ott said last night, he has seen this document.

Interesting - did he have any commentaries at all? Perhaps a suggestion what kind of assignment this Ju 290 had in the north?

Regards Hans K