Mystery Plane

[Chris Goss]

Can anyone identify this? Not French or British as far as I can see

[Revi16]

The tail configuration resembles an Ilyushin. DB-3, DB-4 possibly?

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../1/1200104.jpg

[Kurlan2]

I agree with Revi16 ,looks like DB-3 or Il-4
based on the smooth engine cowlings I would say DB-3 is more likely.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks gentlemen

[researcher111]

Chris and all

I have a slight problem with previous ID's mainly due to the engine's nacelle shape,there is reasonable possibility it's a Soviet
twin engined bomber though hard to match it to a DB-3 or 4 series or an IL-4, do you have the crash date ?

[Chris Goss]

Afraid not

[Kutscha]

Originally Posted by researcher111

do you have the crash date ?

If it was a crash, one would think the prop would have had more damage done to it, like the blades bent back.

Maybe hit by a bomb.

[bearoutwest]

Where's the tail-wheel?

With most twin-engined tail-wheel aircraft, the tail-wheel is near or after the leading edge of the horizontal tailplane. From the angle of the tail, it looks (to me) that the tail has been blown off the main fuselage and is resting on its vertical fin. The elevators are sagging groundwards exposing the fillet fairing on the fuselage, From this angle, you should be able to see the tail-wheel (or tail-skid), unless it's hidden in the smoke or blown off.

If the tail-wheel hasn't been destroyed or obscured, this would mean:
a) it's an aircraft with an unusual forward tail-wheel;
b) it has a nose wheel.

Does that narrow the options.....or just make it more confusing?
Douglas Boston/Havoc/DB-7 perhaps?

...geoff

[HGabor]

An old Lisunov Li-2 (soviet version of C-47/DC-3) is closest.

[researcher111]

Gabor and All

I disagree is not an LI-2 neither an IL-4 or any of the DB series, look at the relatively small
oval shapped engine nacelle at the crash shot. I may risk and say it may not even be a
Russian aircraft .