Ju 88 S-1 Werknummer range

[Pawel Burchard]

According to research by Christoph Vernaleken (author of Junkers Ju 388 book) there were only some 50+ Ju 88 S-1 converted by Junkers Merseburg from Ju 88 A-4 airframes. Most came to III./K.G. 6 and I./K.G. 66 and judging from loss reports W.Nr. range was 140xxx. However there are two reports for S-1 losses from March 1944 giving W.Nr. as 301xxx - both from Erg.Staffel/K.G. 66 (coded Z6+IN and Z6+FN). Were there really two W.Nr. blocks within S-1 series?

p.

[Matti Salonen]

I have the following Ju 88 S-1: 300 494, 300 611, 300 623, 300 635, 300 647, 301 152, 301 193, 301 228, 301 471, 301 509.
All were from KG 66 in Feb - Jun, 1944.

Matti

[Pawel Burchard]

That's interesting because all of III./K.G. 6 a/c were from 140xxx range according to table in Jan Horn's book...

p.

[edNorth]

From my research, basically this is also my findings.

Only talking of specific blocks is maybe incorrect as they did not run sequently according to W.Nrs. and many standard A-4s were left inbetween, but most were from FZB (Bernburg) W.Nr. 0880140xxx nummerical range (46 confirmed) - adapted from standard Ju 88 A-4 Bombers, plus Ju 88 S-1 / V55 140377 and some from Henschel W.Nr. 088/300xxx and 088/301xxx ranges (11 in my lists), but about 70 total, if I recall correctly, including an S-2 from S-1. But as not all W.Nrs. are correct in the various loss reports, and I have only partial info on the specific W.Nrs. converted (i.e. from factory sources), its hard to list all.
hope this helps
ed

PS: Like here thanking all TOCH members that have supported the research on the type in the past, and this is very long and tedious process, so far about 17 years spent on it, largely as THE primary subject. The members come from Germany, Denmark, Faroes, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia/Ukraine, France, Holland, Belgium, England, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Poland, Yugoslavia, Australia, South-Africa, USA, Canada, etc. I apologise if any is left out.

[Pawel Burchard]

Thank you, so one may assume that W.Nrn. were scattered within at least three blocks for S-1.

[edNorth]

Pawel, Think rather of only two factories; the 088/300 xxx and 301 xxx were but parts of same (many small and fragmentary) from Henschel 1943 / 1944, and they were not in same basic system as the Junkers ones. The latter were in "secret code" system starting from about April 1943, but FZB was in system (running range) started already in 1940/1941.

For example see this,

___ 4941 Junkers 1936 (prototypes) - original Junkers series

088 0001 Junkers 1939 (A-1 etc.) - RLM system
088 1001 Junkers 1941 (A-4, D-1 etc.)

088 000 0023 Junkers 1940 (B V series)
088 014 0xxx Junkers 1941 (A-4, S-1 series)
088 036 0xxx Junkers 1941 (C-6, R-1 series)
088 043 0xxx Junkers 1941 (D-1, H series)

088/70x xxx Junkers 1943 (G-1 prototypes)
088/71x xxx Junkers 1943 (G-1 series)
088/75x xxx Junkers 1943 (C-6, R-2 series)
088/30x xxx Henschel 1943 (A-4, S-1 series)
088/33x xxx Henschel 1944 (A-4* S-3, T-3 series)
088/55x xxx ATG (A-4)
088/8xx xxx Siebel (A-4)
088/62x xxx Junkers 1944 (G-6 series)
088/46x xxx Junkers 1945 (G-10 series)

Think of this as four systems (only a few each shown), usually "088/" ones shortened to just six figures. Full list runs into several pages.

regards
ed

[Pawel Burchard]

Thank you Ed for your expert answer. By the way are you aware if GM1 installation in S-1 was used operationally or remained the option only?

regards,
Pawel

[edNorth]

Short answer is Yes, Ju 88 S-1 140606 RF+MV / Z6+HH 1./KG 66 downed 13.02.44 had such (source: RAF A.I.2 (g) Report 219 dated 19.02.44 <sub-report 8/23>)

regards
ed

[Pawel Burchard]

Thank you, very interesting. According to S-1 Handbuch there were indeed variations of GM1 equipment now I see at least two versions were used on operational machines. And one last and final question - the S-3, did it use GM1 or MW50 rather?

regards,
Pawel

[edNorth]

Looked this up, but do not have this "off-hand" (or memorized), an S-3 manual may answer this. I have stuff stashed away for further study and have not processed all. Sorry, there are many, many "minour" Ju 88 series (technical & operational) aspects undone.