JU 188 Bomber Side Code ID?

[robinh]

Found a couple more photos of a German bomber at a local antique shop. It appears to be an Ju 188 with flak damage. The code on the side of plane is F2(very small letters) + SM. Might be a paint patch behind the small letters. There is an S on the tail with 3 very small figures above which I cannot read even with magnification. A US GI is standing in one photo. The background of the airfield is very generic. The back of the photo paper is marked "Velox".

Any observations from the experts here? I had a lot of informative fun on the last bomber photo that I found. Thank you.

[Tomas Prusa]

Fuselage code is F2+SM. According to seller it is WNr.230133 photgraphed at Gardermoen, May 1945. I have another 2 photos from expired ebay.de auctions.


links to expired auction where are captions to photos 1. http://www.ebay.de/itm/Orig-Foto-JUN...p2047675.l2557 2. http://www.ebay.de/itm/Orig-Foto-JUN...p2047675.l2557

[S Sheflin]

Hello Thomas,

For what it’s worth, in my Ju188 file WNr. 230133 is listed as being photographed at Braunschweig (or less likely Schweinfurt), Germany. The American uniforms on the men clustered around the aircraft would seem to support this.

This aircraft purportedly flew to Norway on 5 May 1945 and then returned to Germany with a load of passengers on 8 May 1945.

Steve Sheflin

[robinh]

What a lucky time to have seen the ebay photos of same plane. Those photos show the side markings much better. Thanks for the corrections. I also note that what I thought was flak damage is just missing paint.
The small letters of F2 before the German cross, was that normal. Seems odd to me. Any idea what squad the plane was assigned too?

Note prices from German ebay are way high. Glad I found these photos in the US antique shops.

Would it be safe to assume the small 133 numbers above the larger S on the tail is part of the WNr.?

I forgot to report that the JU 188 two photos were with a small grouping of other ww2 paperwork. The name PFC. Richard Mailand of Co. D 359th
Engrs Regt. was on some of the papers. Maybe the records of this Regt. could pinpoint the photo location better?

[edwest]

The small number-letter codes for the first two places was getting more common toward the end of the war. The F2+ refers to a long-range reconnaissance replacement group or Erg. (F) Gr.

I have seen the letter S as a tail marking before, possibly on an Me-262. I cannot guess about the numbers above the S.





Ed

[robinh]

I did some research on the 359 Eng. Regt who were with the 9th Army. They ended at the Weser river in April/May 45. The airfield Braunsweig-Brottzem lists being captured by the 9th Army. So assuming the papers and photos of my little group were always together then it is possible the photos of this plane were taken there I guess. Wish I could read the sign in the ebay photo of the same plane but they are not clear to me.

[Tomas Prusa]

Thank you Steve Sheflin for additonal info and corection.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Looking at the photo I would say, yes the 133 is part of the Wnr and the S on the tail must be the individual aircraft identifier repeated as per F2+SM.

Cheers
Stig

[ArtieBob]

A Jim Crow photo identifies this aircraft as being photographed at Schweinfurt. Since he gathered most photos from veterans, it was where they remembered where they were taken, perhaps not completely accurate after 40 0r 50 years.

Best regards,

ArtieBob

[robinh]

Great information and observations from everyone. Thanks to all. Another fun aircraft photo project for me and a great learning experience. Incentive to find more aircraft photos now.