6/KG4 Heinkel He 111P-4 (3085) - Crash 1941

[neil 996]

Cheers for that Norbert

Stammkennzeichen TM+WT is the four letter factory code?
was this on the aircraft anywhere?

will there be documents showing which units the aircraft was used by?

sorry for the questions.

neil

[obdl3945]

Hi, Neil...

Yes, TM+WT was the factory code. It was usually displayed on both sides of the the fuselage, and under the wings. So, on the undersurface of the right wing, most likely T+M, and under the left wing, W+T, so that it would read from left to right looking at the aircraft from the underside.

Regards...

[neil 996]

Bill Normans book states

Heinkel 111P-4 5J+GP w/nr.3085 6./KG4 ??????

im not sure what it all means but it seems to be coded differently.

maybe the TM+WT is for another incident on the same night perhaps?

[Chris Goss]

When it rolled out of the factory it was coded TM+WT and when it arrived on 6/KG 4 was repainted 5J+GP

[neil 996]

was that usual practice?

does that make it harder totrack down aircraft identies?

[Chris Goss]

Yes. How would Heinkel know to which unit their aircraft would be assigned thus how could they know to paint 5J+GP? Admittedly, unit codes mean you can identify Geschwader, Staffel & Gruppe whilst factory codes are harder hence attempts to create a Stammkennzeichen database

[neil 996]

so abit like the painted numbers on the corsair aircraft in the factory before leaving and getting renumbered.

so the Stammkennzeichen database is a way of sorting the factory database rather then an operational database and linking the two to find its place of origin details.

i think im getting the hang of these new german titles.

thanks for the help.

[obdl3945]

Hi, Neil...

There is a Stammkennzeichen database available to all at the undernoted link:

http://www.luftwaffe-experten.org/stammkennzeichen.html

Unfortunately, I have checked under the 'T's and your machine isn't listed, but now that you have a Werk Nr, Stammkennzeichen and unit codes and details, you could always drop them an e-mail and ask them to enter an update to the records. It's not a complete record of every Stammkennzeichen, and there are still many to match up, but your contribution would be very much appreciated, and the kind that helps to keep things up to date.

Kindest regards...

[neil 996]

ive just been looking at that site it came up after i googled Stammkennzeichen.

i will send them an email, every bit helps!

[obdl3945]

Good man...