Losses of Ju 88 15th January 1943

[RudiS]

Originally Posted by edNorth

Besides two White stripes (colours of 4. Staffeln / II Gruppen),

Hi Ed,

Are you sure about this? I would think the first white band would indicate the Gruppe (1st Gruppe in this case) & the second white band the Staffel within that Gruppe.

So in this case it would mean 1st Staffel which had the Staffel letter H.

Kind regards,
Rudi.

[edNorth]

RudiS

First thought to me was that two rings on spinner indicated II Gruppen, then White the Staffeln (in this case 4. Staffeln) - But as you point out, I might have it wrong here ... I have not done in-dept study of all spinner markings in each and every Ju 88 unit in MTO but quick search (all night) has left me with more questions than answers! But what do you make of script of nose. It seems like J.M to me....


Steve

You have 3Z+HL correct, my typo, sorry.

[Faenor]

Hi all,
looks, that we have good conversation with many from you :-)

My question - have some body this photo in better qualitty ? If this maschine is from KG 54 (edNorth´s idea about JM on the nose), raided KG 54 same airfield like KG 77 or its from another mission, but in same day ? Have somebody info about mission of KG 54 from this day ..

Thanks to all and enyoy all replies or another question about this masacre day of Ju 88 over Thelepte or about another mission about Ju 88 in MTO, specially Tunis campaing

Faenor

[steve sheridan]

Hi Ed, no problem.
Im sure we've all made the odd typo at some time or another!

Best regs,
Steve.

[edNorth]

There are more losses related to Thelepte:

II/KG 30 lost at least two Ju 88 before in raid on "Telepte" 13.01.1943

140438 (no code given) crew uninjured
140172 4D+FP crew escaped.

II/KG 54 lost one Ju 88 before in raid on Thepte 03.01.1943

142283 B3+KP crew missing

There might be clues to these losses in "Fighters over the Desert" but I do not have it.

[RudiS]

Originally Posted by edNorth

But what do you make of script of nose. It seems like J.M to me.....

Ed,

I've seen pictures of Ju 88's in Northern Africa which had names on them. On of them was "Traudl" which belonged to KG54. Another one was "Dohle". Not sure which unit it belonged to. See also this thread here:
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showth...ighlight=dohle
But I've never seen a Ju 88 with part of the tactical code on the nose. Besides, the "dot" seems to be shaped strange,...for a dot.

I also would like to add that there is nothing else that can link the Ju 88 in the coloured picture to KG54. No skull & bones insigna on the nose, no diagonal coloured band on the fuselage.

Does anyone has a better picture of this FL aircraft? Even a black & white one would do. I also am interested to find out what's written on the nose.

Regards,
Rudi.

[RudiS]

Originally Posted by Faenor

Have somebody info about mission of KG 54 from this day

Faenor:
I have the following for that day (january 15th 1943):
I./KG 54: located at Piacenza, Italy from december 22nd 1942 till february 15th 1943 for recuperating
II./KG 54 : Attacked Tamet-west airfield in Lybia
III./KG 54: no info for this day

Reagrds,
Rudi.

[edNorth]

Rudi

Originally Posted by edNorth

... as you point out, I might have it wrong here ... I have not done in-dept study of all spinner markings in each and every Ju 88 unit in MTO but quick search (all night) has left me with more questions than answers!

So I decided to back to square one! Second night searching has me not entierly convinced either way. Ploughing thrugh publications and stuff, I have found indications leading to both units... of sorts ... but KG 30 can not be ruled out. KG 54 had some aircraft painted similar (but again photo texts are not that reliable) and absense of unit emblem is bad. If I/KG 77 it might have been on rudder tip (this angle has it out of sight). I have found just one (old eBay images) of I/KG 77 aircraft with similar spinner stripes, but most I/KG 77 aircraft found seem using slightly other form of spinner colouring. Again we do not see both spinners so we do not know if it maybe had replacement spinner on right side. Both units did mottle theirs undersides for night / dusk operations, but then side insignias (usually) were toned down too. This seems fresh, so possibly not yet in full markings?

(Blowing this image in photoshop has not turned up more clues)

But I have also some American stuff (microfilms) to go thrugh. Maybe some info turns up there.

Lots of if´s and but´s. Lets hope more images pop up! I too find this very interesting as to its colours!

Best regards
ed

[RudiS]

I'm not very good with Photoshop, but here is what I came up with.
It looks like it says "Josu" or "Fosu" or something. Or maybe "J.su" which would be pronounced Jesu in german, Jesus in english. Which would very much surprise me.

I hope some of the german members of this board can do better....

Regards,
Rudi.

[Faenor]

Hi all,

in this photo from e-bay is Ju 88 with 2 rings on the spinner, but dont know, which unit is it and time, but looks like MTO

http://cgi.ebay.de/DAK-Afrikakorps-P...item1c110ad8b0

Faenor