Additional High Res Aerial Photos Germany

[Franek Grabowski]

Originally Posted by Luc Vervoort

On January 1ST, 1945 the airfield was attacked by II./JG1 (Operation Bodenplatte).

Let's add, that the airfield was littered by Focke-Wulfs courtesy to Polish Spifires. Oh, to find an aerial photo taken after the battle!

[blythsco]

Hello JV

The camouflaged AC at Halberstadt are just above the ink spot as you have noted. Hopefully you are viewing the photo at the original resolution of 2219-2566. I can clearly see two AC. I was told that there was a major air battle going on that day (July 7, 1944) and that a number of LW aircraft landed at Halberstadt to refuel and rearm. My father was unaware of this air battle.

Thanks again

Scott

[blythsco]

Hello JV

Concerning the Ghent/St Denis photo my father says this mission was flown at about 30,000 feet. The cameras were pretty good apparently as the photo has not been cropped. This altitude was typical for Spitfire MX XI high altitude work although the V-weapons sites were shot from about 15,000 feet. The F-5s from the 7th PRG did oblique photos from an altitude as low as 50 feet.

Regards
Scott

[uksubs]

Originally Posted by blythsco

Hi

I have scanned several more photos to add to this set of aerial photos taken by my father John S. Blyth in 1943 and 1944 flying a Spitfire MK XI. He was with the 14th Squadron of the 7th PRG stationed at Mt Farm, UK and apparently really enjoyed violating Luftwaffe airspace during this period. I have no idea what some of these new scans are of and would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks
Scott

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2455401...7609636214338/

Great stuff Scott
Mt Farm is not far from me

[blythsco]

Hello JV

What you have identified at Dessau may very well be the basic ingredients of a JU-287. The nosewheels of a B-24, the fuselage of an HE 177, the tail of a JU 388 and the undercarriage of a JU 352. I hope I am making some sense since I had not heard of the JU 287 until about 2 weeks ago.

Thanks
Scott

[jvmasset]

Hello Scott! I thought that too, but the proportion and size would be wrong the Ju-287 had only a 21 m wingspan, where the one on the photo is 32 m. Besides the Ju-287 wings are made in one panel where the photo shows a dihedral on external panels!

JV

[Kutscha]

Originally Posted by Franek Grabowski

Let's add, that the airfield was littered by Focke-Wulfs courtesy to Polish Spifires. Oh, to find an aerial photo taken after the battle!

That is Polish flown English Spitfires, right?

The Polish Squadrons took a pounding as well with 25 a/c lost against claims of 25 a/c in the surrounding area.

[Franek Grabowski]

Polish Spitfires because they were leased by the Polish government. Indeed a number of them was lost on the ground, just as on other airfields. In the air there was a massacre of Focke Wulfs.

[blythsco]

Hello Franek, Kutscha et al

I am almost certain that photos of the airfield in question from that time are out there somewhere and could have been taken by pilots from the 7th PRG. Unfortunately they stopped keeping records of their sorties after November 9, 1944 although many missions were flown before and even after the end of the war. My father was sent back to the states in November to instruct new F-5 photo recon pilots.

Regards
Scott

[blythsco]

Hello JV et al

I did not mean to imply that there was a JU 287 on the ground just the basic ingredients. Maybe that new JU 287 book published by Peter Evans will answer some questions. Everytime I look at the photo I find new aircraft. I cannot recall if you IDed the aircraft visible in the Oschersleben AF photo. Can it be assumed that they are FW 190s?. Additionally I think there are at least two flak batteries visible to the left of the left runway. There are also two distinct blobs which appear to be casting shadows on the left runway one is gray and the other is black. There is also a mysterious object casting a barrel like shadow in the upper left corner to the left of the building. Any ideas?

Regards

Scott