Re: Ju87 photo unit and aircraft ID??

[Danny152]

Hiya all,

I have just purchased this photo from eBay. Can anyone tell me about the markings or the pilots details?

Thanks for looking

Cheers

Danny

[Chris Goss]

Stuka? Looks more like a 190? Badge is associated with Hptm Hubert Pölz (an Austrian) the arms being those of the Archduchy of Austria I believe. His unit was 7./SG 3. I could be wrong though!

[Snautzer]

I agree, it is a Fw190.

[Revi16]

Yep, it's a Fw 190 and the sleeve insignia on the guy climbing out of it indicates he is an Obergefreiter (Sr. Corporal).

[edwest2]

Regarding the emblem, the aircraft silhouette appears to be a Stuka. And the emblem does appear to be a modified version of that of the Archduchy of Austria (Upper). The notch in the upper right corner is new. The eagle is usually black but a gold and a white example are known. The gold version is traditional in its basic shape, while the white eagle is depicted differently.


The eagle shown is simplified. The head is turned to the right instead of the more common left. It also appears to have an additional small shield on its chest which was not uncommon.

[Kari Lumppio]

Hello!

Thank you for very interesting photo find!

The only other place I have seen this emblem is in the book Stuka Dive bombers - pursuit bombers - combat pilots by Gebhard Aders and Werner Heĺd (Schiffer 1989, ISBN 0-86740-216-X, German edition 1980 ISBN 3-87943-707-6)

Pöltz, Staffel leader of 7./SG 3 and the emblem are shown in photo at page 197. The caption ends with: "The plane is an Fw 190 F-8", so it has to be 1944 or later. In the lower corner of photo is shown a white looking digit, which could be round letter C or the letter O. Letters were the III/SG 3 custom.

On page 192 is photo of two Fw 190 F-8. In the fore is D+I and on the background is L+I. I think they are 8./SG 3 machines. In my opinion at least the D+I carries the emblem on the same position than Pölz's mount. The planes are on field and no woods or other things can be seen. It could be Latvia in 1944 as it looks to be a very warm Summer day in the photo.

Andrew Arthy is writing book about Baltic and Courland operations 1944-45. Perhaps he can tell us more about the emblem and especially in what period it was carried ? III/SG 3 was shortly based at Põltsamaa, Estonia (Oberpahlen in German) and I am very interested of that phase in 1944 and whether the emblem was in use then.


Cheers,
Kari

[gogh]

K&R 740 the picture is one of tree sold

[edwest2]

K&R 740?

[Snautzer]

Kettle at all emblem book, emblem 740 i think

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi,

There was a series of shots taken in the summer of 1944 by Propagandakompanie photographers of FW 190 F-8s and pilots from III./S.G. 3. I believe that this is one of those.

Kari, I have heaps about II./J.G. 54 and III./S.G. 3 operations from Oberpahlen, and this information will eventually appear in print.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com/earticles