Werknummer for Ar 196 A-2 SKZ CU+AX (or CU+AY)

[JoMe]

The skz of Go 145 must be right CO + AY !

[Hans Mcilveen]

Junker, Seaplanes, JoMe: thank you very much.

I wonder, would it be correct to assign the SKZ series CU+AA through CU+AX to WNr 0039 through 0062?

In doing so there would be at least one contradiction: linking CU+AF to WNr 0044.

An Arado with SKZ CU+AF was still flying with FFS B 17 in May 1944 and, according to another source, an Ar 196 A-2 WNr 0044 from Admiral Hipper was captured by Norwegian forces in April 1940 and destroyed a couple of weeks later.

[Seaplanes]

Dear Hans,

Please do NOT do that. Remember that the system of Stammkennzeichen (four letter permanent codes) was not introduced by RLM until late October 1939. At that time most of the production of 20 Ar 196A-1 and some of the Ar 196A-2 production had allready left the factory and consequently none of these aircraft would have the Stammkennzeichen until later, and then not necessarirly in secuence. When the system was introduced, four letter codes were issued to units as well as factories, as most Luftwaffe aircraft should carry these permanent codes. There were only a few exceptions. The Stammkennzeichen followed each aircraft throughout its service in Luftwaffe, even when physically replaced by unit markings or fighter markings on the aircraft.

[RT]

But full sequences were attributed to units at moment of conversion, some continuity could be occasionnaly found for a same model,

remi

[Hans Mcilveen]

Dear Seaplanes, RT,

thank you for pointing this out. I am aware of the uncertainties and discrepancies of the SKZ system.

I estimated, perhaps wrongly, that the aircraft 0039 through 0062 were built in early 1940 so theoretically this could have been the first sequential SKZ/WNr block for the type.

But you are absolutely correct, I have no way of knowing if and how Arado assigned their allocated SKZ to these Ar 196's or if the block was assigned at unit level.

Seaplanes, I have sent you a PM.

Hans