Explosive charge for Ju-87 landing gear

[Andy Mitchell]

Hi,

Peter C. Smith in the Crowood book (p.61) on the Stuka references the following action at Hela (Poland) in early Sep 1939. "During these attacks on Hela one Ju 87C-0 returned to it's base minus its wheels and main undercarriage members. It had been slightly damaged by Flak during its attack dive and the pilot, anticipating a splash-down in Hela Bay, had fired the explosive bolts built in for just that purpose in order to jettison the undercarriage members in readiness for an emergency water landing. But after this had been done the Stuka was brought back under control and got back to base, where she made a belly landing."

He then quotes an eyewitness report of the landing on Oronsko airfield south of Radom. he then states that a "redubbed -photograph" purporting to show this was released.

On p.48 of the same book Smith says "The undercarriage was fitted with explosive bolts so that in the event of a water landing in an emergency, a likely contingency, the whole lower section could be jettisoned". This statement is slightly at variance with the earlier quote....