Finns selling Jumo 211s to the French?

[Martti Kujansuu]

Finnish National Archive, Tulo 23943/1. Ilmavoimien Esikunta. Moottoritoimisto 1943 - 1955.

Documents say the Finnish Air Force HQ sold the last operational (four or so) Jumo 211 J 1s to a French company "Agimex" on 23th September 1952.

Anymore on this?

[Graham Boak]

The French were continuing to operate sevreal Ju 88 at this time. I suggest that the buy from the Finns was for spares to keep surviving Ju 88s flying on useful work.

L'Arsenal de l'Aeronautique was flying at least two Ju88A in 1952, no 8 (once an A-17 of unknown serial) as a launcher for missiles, and No 10 (once an A-4) as a photo-ship. No 8 lasted on trials until at least 1955, and these aircraft look to have had 211J engines.

There was also G6 no 3 (ex-622350). This was used for experiments with Jumo 213/ARS 12H until grounded in November 1951 because of engine fault. It reappeared in 1953 being used for experiments with statoreacteurs ST600, one ramjet under each wing. The text says nothing about being re-engined, but the dates seem to fit. This may however be a false lead, as engines in the photos lack the ventral bulge of the 211J.

(This posting was also made on LEMB, but in slightly poorer arrangement.)