Looking for info on Ju 188 D-3 Beleuchter

[Marcel van Heijkop]

Dear all,

According to ULTRA (see attachment) I./KG66 received 3 Ju 188 D-3 Beleuchter ("illuminator") in February 1945, for Unternehmen Eisenhammer I presume. Does anybody have more information on these rare aircraft (data, photos, etc.)?

I have the following specific questions:

1. How many aircraft in total were converted (I believe) from the D-2 to the D-3 variant?
2. Does anybody have a fuel tank layout (location of the tanks plus contents in liters) or a "Typenblatt" for this D-3 variant?
3. Did the D-3 also have the mid wing external drop tanks or their provisions for as found on I./KG66's Ju 88 S-3s modified for Eisenhammer?
4. Did the D-3 also have additional flare dropping equipment (IIRC) and if so, what did it consist of?
5. Could the Ju 188 D-2s of I./KG66 mentioned in the famous inventory lists of Luftwaffe aircraft in Norway in May 1945 actually be D-3s rather than D-2s?

Thanks in advance,

Marcel