Identification of a transparent nose with radar dipoles

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hello,

I have been allowed to show a very interesting photo of a captured Fw 190 F-8 at the album section of my website:

Fw 190 with an aircraft with radar dipoles in the background

The interesting detail is in the background: a transparent nose from which radar dipoles protrude. It looks a bit like a He 111 nose, but I think it is not a He 111. Can anybody identify it?

Regards,
Roger

[S Sheflin]

Hi Roger,

I'm uncertain if it was discussed here or over on the LEMB, but this photo was discussed before and the consensus was that it was an Fw58 with radar installed.

Steve Sheflin

[ianatheling]

Hi

Im sure that it is a Focke Wulf Fw 58, several of which were converted for night-fighting duties towards the end of the war on the eastern front.

Ian

[Nordpol54]

Roger,

this may be somewhat of something. I don't think that the pic shows any kind of radar array...
...just looks like a Fw 190 or an BMW 801 equipped Junkers 88 that is only photographed and to be seen in the background.

Apologies, if i've looked over with 8 eyes, even seeing nothing surprising...

All the Best
Norbert

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hi,

Wow, that was fast! Thanks. Yes, that can well be that the photo was already discussed. The son of Gerald Trevor Roberts has uploaded the photo at Flickr.

Interesting. Too bad that there is no photo of the complete Fw 58.

Roger

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hi Norbert,

I am quite certain that it actually is a radar antenna. Compare with the photos here.

Cheers,
Roger

[ianatheling]

Norbert, are you looking at the correct aircraft? This is the one to the rear of the Fw 190. The close up definitely shows a radar. Fw 58C and G appear to have been converted as a nightfighter, although this one seems to be the Fw58B with fully glazed nose.
…the earlier discussion was on LEMB (which I was part of).

Ian

[Sergio Luis dos Santos]

Very interesting find. Sure it´s a Fw 58 with clear nose plus radar but maybe for training duties?
Klaus Scheer told me the Weihe as night fighter was useles, fabric covered, not armour, etc. He remember loosing some comrades flying it so very soon it was abandoned. Another point he wrote was the radar have no use since they had to fight the biplane bombers the russians flew at night. The equipment was a waste of weight.
So my idea it may be a training machine but first time I see one with radar array!

[ianatheling]

Hi Sergio and all


The Fw 58 nightfighters (not sure of the exact code given) flew with I./NJG 100 (probably just Stab.I/NJG 100). The unit was engaged in duties against Soviet night attack aircraft in a similar manner with the Fw 189 nightfighters which had also been with this unit. The Soviet aircraft were usually obsolete aircraft, so the Fw58 had a chance of dealing with them. I am not ruling out the possibility that this particular Fw58B conversion was used for training. However the photo was taken at Lübeck-Blankansee, which was the final base of I./NJG 100 after it had been pushed westwards along the Baltic coast….so the aircraft almost certainly served with this unit.


regards


Ian

[Nordpol54]

Gents,

i have to apologize my temporary blindness. Got it now - thanks!

Best Regards
Norbert