Ju 88 B3+BH down at the eastern front

[RudiS]

Hi all,

attached is a picture of Ju 88 B3+BH which made a forced landing on the eastern front. In Radtke's loss list there are several possible dates for this one.

Does anyone have more information about this F/L?

Thanks in advance,
Rudi.

[edNorth]

I can narrow this to all A-4´s and likely only abt. max. of 15% damaged.

[RudiS]

Thanks for your input, Ed. Here's another shot of the same aircraft. I hope that someone has a picture of this F/L with a date or a place written on the back so I can determine which loss this is.

A friend of mine has a similar picture with the caption "bei Kiev" (near Kiev) on the back.

Regards,
Rudi.

[edNorth]

Hi, Rudi, this is very early Ju 88 A-4 (w. A-1/5 straight line fin/rudder tip). Appears as it lay there for some length of time - maybe (45-60% Er). I can not guess the period exactly but maybe it force landed late 1941 and latter photo taken in spring 1942? (uncut field in first photo, all grass around gone in second photo). Due to not able to read the painted W.Nr. (it´s on fin tip) this makes indentification very difficult.

[anderbe]

Rudi,
I have an entry for a Ju88A-4, w.nr 1210 B3+BH 30% damaged due to Flak - Nowograd, date 19.07.1941. Pilot Oblt. Bengt Gante.

Regards Anders

[edNorth]

Anderbe. But that pilot flew W.Nr. 1218 (!?) - Have to check the Microfiche tomorrow. W.Nr. could however be (near) spot on!

[RudiS]

Thanks both Ed & Anders for your input. It's very much appreciated.
From Radtke's book the following losses could match the one in the picture:

01 Jul 41 - Ju 88 ?? WNr unk B3+?H - Gretschany - Bombensplitter - 20% - FF OBLT Hermann
19 Jul 41 - Ju 88 A4 WNr 1210 B3+BH - bei Nowograd - Flak - 30% - FF OBLT Gante
13 Oct 41 - Ju 88 A4 WNr 1770 B3+?? - Kirowograd - Bedienungsfehler - 25% - FF??
15 Nov 41 - Ju 88 A4 WNr 4541 B3+?? - Dnejepropetrowsk - Notlandung - 90% - FF??

I hope somebody comes up with a picture of the tail section where the WNr is readable.

Regards,
Rudi.

[edNorth]

Rudi: 1770 can be ruled out: It was supposebly (most likely) built with the later A-4 fin/rudder tip.

[edNorth]

Rathke´s list seems not in agrrement with my info: 1770 was D-5, 1770 I have as 1170 from GQM - this had early fin/rudder tip!

[RudiS]

Thanks for the info, Ed. Very much appreciated.

Did you have time to check your microfiches to see which WNr Oblt Gante flew? WNr 1210 or 1218?

Regards,
Rudi.