Luftwaffe Instruments

[Critfer]

Hello everyone!

I've a Junghans instrument panel clock (picture attached) that was 'liberated' by my grandfather from (legend has it!) a 109 that he, as local village policeman, was sent to guard after it had crash-landed near Dymchurch on Romney Marsh, Kent, sometime during 1940... Apart from the manufacturer's markings on the stopwatch button plinth, the only other marking is the number 18414 which has been stamped into the flange. Is this likely to be a Werke Number that would allow the aeroplane to be identified?

Following a similar plea for information in a recent issue of Aeroplane (which drew a complete blank!), I've been contacted by a chap in Belgium who has a similar clock. However, this has a number of markings stamped on the back of the clock including a Gerat Number (127-553A) and a Werke Number (887923). He believes it's from a Ju88, an idea that seems to be driven by the '88' in the Werke Number - I don't think it's that simple! Can any one enlighten us please!

Many thanks

Chris

Attachment 778

Attachment 779

[John P Cooper]

Well the answer is maybe... I say this because it was used on many A\C. The picure you attached shows the Bo-UK on the front which should have an FL # 23885 and was used is several A\C such as the Ju 87, He 111, Bf 110, Bf 109 C\D\E\F...

I hope this helps.

John

[Critfer]

John, many thanks for your reply.

Yes, you're quite right. Bo-Uk-l=Fi.23885 is engraved (or cast) into the cover of the raised plinth. I'd assumed these to be the manufacturer's code specifying what the instrument is and its model /type. Is this correct or can something else be gained from them? I'd also assumed that the stamped number (18414) on the flange was likely to be unique and may identify the aeroplane it was installed in...

Regarding the other clock (in Belgium). This has the Werke Number (887923) stamped on it - is there a published list of Werke Numbers from which the aircraft can be identified?

Many thanks for your help

Chris

PS: My apologies if this appears twice - the first one disappeared and doesn't seem to have been posted...

[John P Cooper]

If there other part has the same FL number my answer would be the same - as far as I know the werk number of a specific A\C is not applied to parts because they are all interchangable so there is no need.

John

PS I do not think the FL 23885 part was used on the JU 88 but maybe one of the forum experten knows...

[David Ransome]

Hi,

The Fl number is the RLM part number I believe, the number on it's own is probably the manufacturer's own serial number. WNrs, I have found, are generally handpainted or stencilled where they are shown on a piece of equipment - generally on larger items or parts which were for specific individual aircraft. I was told several years ago by a former 'blackboy' that the practice of painting WNrs on pieces of equipment was not so common after 1940 when more and more aircraft were lost and more salvaged parts came into use.

Regards

David