Art Medcalf's Ju 88 book - discussion

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Ed

Just got back from a dinner, and I have your e-mails, thank you very much.
I have some regards from a bunch of Guillemots, which I saw yesterday. Didn't specifically say were from Iceland, but they knew you...

Cheers from a rainy Swedish Westcoast
Stig

[edNorth]

Yea, Nick, I suppose so. I do not have proof reader watching my back, so stand corrected, but yes, I meant Anzio January 1944.

Perhaps this chap Nick Beale writing Vol.4 of "Kampfflieger" be related to you? ;-)

1. P.312 photo says Ju 88 A-4 version, when photo shows A-1 and very early version at that, with FuG 10 antenna mast on Right Hand Side, but possibly it had been upgraded to A-5 (longer wings), but it does not show: but no A-4 on any count: No bulge (intercooler) under the engine cowlings.

2. P.315 photo (top of page) is A-1 3134 9K+EP (but really 9K+EL) of Battle of Britain period. 3134 Ju 88 A-1 Ju 88 A-1 [9K+EL] I/KG 51 (Luftwaffe)
OPS (F) [Portsmouth Harbour] missing (100%) unk location [was downed by fighters at 12:15 hrs over Portsmoth, crashing at Horse Pasture Farm, between Rowlands Castle and Westbourne, Sussex, Britain] 12.08.1940 (Lt. Hans Graf killed, Obfw. Horst Cznyek killed, one more killed)
[W.Nr. 3134 Top of Tail : One of three machines rep missing on that date (see unknown examples for crew: Oblt. Graf rep in “BoB T&N” P.561); rep A-1 3104 TT 9K+EL 3./KG 51 in ´Battle of Britain period´ in drawing in Scale Models Magazine 04.1980 P.199 ~ Drawing likely slightly in error as 3134 9K+EL is known from photo in Karl Rais “Dora Kürfurst ú. Rote 13” {Camouflage and Markings books Vol.I to IV}; photo of tail of 3134 after shootdown; as 3134 9K+EL (“Yellow E”) in TNA AIR 40 A.I.1(k) Report No. 237]
- Photo below (same page), is either A-1 or A-5, likely A-1 per rear canopy armament configuration.

3. P.316 photo text top of page: Again bunch of Ju 88 A-1´s with short-wings (BTW, 3055 was W.Nr. carried by no A-4 nor any another Ju 88)
- Photo below this, is also of an A-1 9K+DD (short-wings).
- Two photos under these: Left is A-5 (longer wings, but A-1 armament /rear canopy); Right two A-1´s: "6147 9K+BR" (sic) but 6147 was Ju 88 A-1 CF+VQ used at Rechlin in 1940 and later by Luftfahrtgerätewerk Hakenfelde, October 1941, so was it really also with KG 51, or is this W.Nr. an misread?): No A-4 carried such W.Nr. ; "A-4 7082 9K+CP" : but this one was Ju 88 A-1 of III/KG 51 (Luftflotte 3) Non-OPS (H) mid-air explotion and crashed (100%) near Orly [France] 18.11.1940 (F Uffz. Helmut Meissner, B Gefr. Hans Wolf, BS Gefr. Fritz Essler, BF Gefr. Fridr. Rothäuser killed)
- This was (7xxx series) was made by Dornier, Fridrichshafen, that made only 215 examples of the Ju 88 A-1 and A-5 (plus two A-5 fuselages "paid back" to JFM, after building description error <!> in late 1939/early 1940 period)).

I belive no Ju 88 A-5 flew over Britain after year 1942; but I can be wrong on that. Certainly no A-1 or A-5 was in front line service in early 1944.

This ends here ; as its not subject to revue (Medcalf s book is), and can be corrected by simple pencil stroke, of owner whishes so. Maybe it was the publisher, or layout person, or some other that supplied these shots. Anyways they do not belong to the period of this chapter. I apologise if this (writing abowe) looks arrogant, or as I am showing off, thats not my intentions, I merely took this example at random.

But its not only this book (Medcalfs); such "wrong" texts, inaccurate text regularily pop up, like the "A-6/U" myth (really an misunderstanding) and perhaps as manuscripts are not properly double checked (by someone that knows) but proof readers often fail too (as they do not have the basic subject knowledge), but some authors can be perhaps fragile souls (no offence meant) and not tolerate they works be publicly critcised.

I most or near totally agree with Herr Peter Achs revue (in his German text), and what Mr. Lennart Anderson said - in other thread about this Medcalf book - I can not apologise on Peters behalf for his reactions, or actual choise for words, but I ofen feel similar when reading crappy text, especially about something I do know about, or have researched for a very long time, like the Ju 88 series.

Best regards
-Ed

[Nick Beale]

"Perhaps this chap Nick Beale writing Vol.4 of "Kampfflieger" be related to you? ;-)"

Well it wasn't really my book and I didn't see a proof, so quite a of it came as a surprise. I am closely related to the awesomely gifted writer of the principal text and breakout boxes (and another 750 words unaccountably omitted) but had nothing to do with most of the photographs/captions, nor anything to do with the colour profiles or their captions apart from (IIRC) the one depicting Fw 190 F-8 A3+18 of 11./KG 200.

Extras, updates and errata (for mistakes I made, at least) feature on my website.

P.S. I must add Marty Bollinger's correction that Hs 293 not Fritz-X was not used in the attack on Ajaccio on 30 September 1943, once I find the source document I used.

[edNorth]

Ok, Nick, no problem. Found it unbelivable anyway, but this explains, I think.
Its really sad "editors" cut out things, without good reasons or explaining their actions and then other do the "production" and screw things up. Similar here, beeing cheated of paiment from an publishing company. probably is worse.
Regards
-Ed