Werner Baumbach ship destroyer

[Simon Schatz]

Michael and Bronc,
The photographs show the plane flown by Hptm Helmuth Orlowski.
See here: http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=44084
Cheers, Simon

[Broncazonk]

Well, laugh out loud...

Thank you, Simon.

All of the attached images, including the model box art says this aircraft was flown by Werner Baumbach, I/Kampfgeschwader 30 'Alder Geschwader'!!!

So where are the photos of Baumbach's aircraft?? (Something is amiss.)

Bronc

[Stig Jarlevik]

Somewhere I agree with Bronc

This is said with my pants a bit around my knees...
I know frightfully little about the Lw recce units!

If Helmuth Orlowski was such a good 'vessel destroyer' why was he not transferred to a bomber unit? I cannot find him listed as a KG pilot receiving the RK. I suppose in Luftwaffe anything was possible, but were there anyone else in the Aufkl units who laid claim to some 15 vessels?

According to Ed this is a mod Ju 88 A to D. Did the Aufkl units seek out surface vessels in their D-models loaded with bombs and actively tried to sink these vessels? Maybe they did, but then I have missed something and (as a second thought) why should that have been their primary job? Somehow I cannot visualise a recce pilot overstep his 'job' boundary over and over again to claim 15 vessels and get away with it.

I have no idea what it took to rebuild an A model to a D and the detailed circumstances, but is it possible the paintings on the tail is a remnant from a previous life and in fact has nothing to do with Orlowski?

Am I and Bronc the only ones who feel a bit uncomfortable with this situation?

Those who know more, could they use small calibre flak please and not 88 mm...

Cheers
Stig