Ju 88 A Wk Nr 0527

[Chris Goss]

Does anyone have any information on this aircraft? I have a photo of it taken in Italy either with KGr 606 or I/KG 77 in 1942. It appears to have been repaired or modified in the field as the Wk Nr (on the nose) is preceded by the letter R

[John Beaman]

Hi Chris:

The following seems incompatable with your information doesn't it? 85% is a lot of damage. Perhaps an error.

Ju 88A-5, 0527, Stahlschmidt, Ogefr., IV.KG 51, 24-May-42, Injured in Bruchlandung after hitting an obstruction. B KIC., OstfrontGen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #6)-Vol.9, Duorowo, 85%, H

[ArtieBob]

During 1942, the Ju 88 was one of the first LW aircraft to be assigned six digit W.Nr., in many cases these were truncated and written as four digits, so 0527 might in some cases actually be W.Nr 140027. In this particular case it does not appear that has happened as I have another loss record for W.Nr. 0527 in 1943 and it is still listed as an A-5 and there were no six digit A-5 Ju 88s. If the photo shows the front of the engine cowling, the A-5 subtype can be confirmed with a good level of confidence. Although 85% sounds like a lot of damage, if the fuselage was repairable, the original W.Nr. would be continued. Also I believe the Rxxx on the nose would have included the full six digit W.Nr. Assuming the 0527 is correct, the aircraft was originally built at Bernburg as as an A-5 about October 1941, Stammkennzeichen possibly PB+GY. It was reported 75% damaged at Perleberg on 10.8.43 while with FAG 100.

Best regards,

Artie Bob

[Rabe Anton]

Try prefixing "0527" with "14" and thusly turn it into one of the six-digit Werknummer series. Same process, other options from Ju 88 six-digit series also might resolve the conundrum. Artie Bob could, no doubt, shed some light on these questions.

RA

[Chris Goss]

Gentlemen. I am looking at the photo as I write. I can see the starboard engine but no markings, the KGr 606/I/KG 77 Hahn emblem is on the nose and beneath that, up against the front pespex, is R 0527. The 0 seems to be a different stenciling as it is not as bright as the rest. Photo was taken in Italy so as KGr 606 arrived in December 1941, being renamed I/KG 77 in September 42, I feel that 1942 is a good bet

[Jim P.]

Given that there is an A-5 reported as a los with IV./KG 51 in May 42 in the East, its seems unlikely that the machine in question is the same. Could it possibly be this one reported much later?

Ju 88A-4, 140527, Schweiger, Ltn. Rudolf, , 6., LG 1, , , , , 03-Jun-44, Missing from navigation training flight, probably due to Luftkampf with Allied fighters., , Italien, Taghon, LG 1, II, p.521; Air War Italy, p.41, , (Villafranca), 100%, H

[ArtieBob]

If you can see the starboard engine clearly, there are two main recognition points, first is the chord of the propellors, it they are narrow chord, i.e., metal propellor blades, then you are probably looking at an A-5. Also, if you can see the bottom of the cowling and there is no assymetrical fairing for the intercooler, again this would indicate an A-5. Broad chord props and intercooler would possibly indicate an A-4, possibly in the 140xxx series. The shape of the radiator segments is also a recognition point, they are a little trickier to describe, but if you need, I will Email a sketch.

Best regards,

Artie Bob

[Chris Goss]

..or I can emal you a scan of the photo?

Thanks

Chris

[edNorth]

Hi all;
You Gentlemen have probably solved this one day old mystery, but I will post this anyway. Ju 88 A-5 0880527 was likely produced in August/Sept 40, delivered to Luftwaffe about Oct/Nov 1940! Yes by Bernburg but the RO527 may indeed indicate rebuild of an ´85%´ crash. (using 0527 front fuselage as basis). This is just my opinion as I have not seen the photo or other proof. Note: only one killed and one crew injured. What about the other crew, if they survived unharmed, then cockpit/fuselage may have been repairable!

Otherwise I have this:

527 Ju 88 A-5 [PB+GY] Luftwaffe
- Ju 88 A-5 IV/KG 51 (Luftflotte 4 East)
Non-OPS (H) hit obstruction and crashed (85%) at Duorowo 24.05.1942 (F Obgefr. Stahlschmidt inj, B Gefr. Flötter killed) (rep as A5 527 in LWFLV losses 48v31.05.42)

527 Ju 88 A-5 II/FAG 101 (Lw.Befh.Mitte) Non-OPS (S) engine failure and force landed (75%) at Perleberg 08.10.1943 (rep in LWFLS losses)

cheers
ed

[edNorth]

Scratch the abowe. Outdated. This is not Ju 88 A-5 series, but A-4.
This is not W.Nr., "R0527" is likely fuselage number, one of many left exposed on Siebel assembled planes. Some tie ups are known. Loose calculation (and some optimism, on fuselages used in correct sequence) suggests this be 0880142182 - an Ju 88 A-4 I/KG 77 (Ob.Befh.Sud) OPS (F) damaged (folgt) at Berka 20.09.1942. -ed