Soviet aircraft ID

[researcher111]

Can anyone identify the type of wreck , shot taken 1941 ?

[oquaig]

Not Soviet. Possibly Italian ?

[dogsbodymk1]

That looks like a Lockheed starboard landing gear leg to me. A Hudson perhaps? Did not the Romanians have some Lockheed 14's impressed from their national airline?


Chris

[oquaig]

I was thinking Romanian Air Force as well, but maybe a Savoia-Marchetti ?

[Kutscha]

A/c needs to have

- under slung engine
- single oleo strut
- 1930's style nacelle

[bearoutwest]

Aircraft in the background seems to have French-style roundels, so why Russian aircraft?

Nacelle is quite large - possibly 5+ ft in diameter, compared with the officer (Luftwaffe?) sitting in front.

Oleo leg has side panel cover, and swings backwards into the nacelle. Oleo is also quite tall, again as tall as the officer (if he stands straight).

Aircraft appears to be with a wing mounted high compared with the nacelle.

I'm guessing perhaps a Bloch 170-series (perhaps the prototype 170 or a 174/175). The only thing I cannot see is the underscoop air intake, though that may have come off in the crash/blast. Perhaps an early version, as the engine cowl doesn't seem as long and curved/refined as the 174/175.

Regards,
...geoff

[Graham Boak]

I agree about the Lockheed source. The cowl is that of a single-row Cyclone, not the two-row engine of the Bloch. I don't know of any other type with such a large structure in front of a single undercarriage leg. The Bloch has a twin-fork, presumably Messier, undercarriage reminiscent of the Halifax.

Perhaps the access panel behind the cowl will provide confirmation?

The camouflage on the aircraft in the background does look more French than Romanian, ditto the roundel. Perhaps identifying that type will help?

[researcher111]

Thanks for all feedback ,the item was listed under category Russian aircrafts , however the background aircraft is French and the scene must have taken place somewhere in Belgium or France ,however I can't ID the aircraft .

[dogsbodymk1]

Anyone else have any idea on the small aircraft in the rear? My knowledge of French and/or Belgian light aircraft in quite thin on the ground.


Chris

[Kutscha]

Didn't the Cyclone powered Hudsons have the carb inlet on top of the cowl?