New here. Was directed by a friend to this forum for some expertise on historic aircraft.
We were going through some old family photos during the holidays. These are of my wife’s grandfather during the war. He was in 103rd infantry division. Went across france, bavaria into austria. Family has really no information about the context of the photos. Initially I thought the first photo was a do17 tail, now thinking its a Ju86 tail. Second photo I think is a me262. There are some other photos of crash sites during the war which I am trying to get copies of.
I was wondering if these are the correct identifications of the remains of these aircraft? I was also wondering if based on the markings on the me262 could anyone tell me more about the aircraft – unit, where it would have been stationed, and if it was known where it crashed or anything else? Any input is appreciated.
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By: ericmunk - 3rd January 2018 at 17:25
Innsbrueck Reichenau would seem to fit the photos. More photos from the 103rd archive on that airfield here: http://www.zauberfuchs.com/als-innsbruck-noch-zwei-flughaefen-hatte/
By: pogno - 3rd January 2018 at 11:47
The upper image is certainly a Junkers JU86.
Some JU86’s had short rudder trim tabs and some the longer ones as shown here, this I thought might define a particular mark/variant but that appears to be not possible as the long and short tabs seem to have been fitted at random.
Richard
By: l.garey - 3rd January 2018 at 09:20
In http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?p=219575 “Karoband” reports:
from O’Connell, Production Log, (2005), p. 177:
500492 Me 262 A Between 17:30 and 17:47 on 29 April 1945 Ofw. Albert Bruck of
2./Fl.U.G. 1 made the 95 km. ferry flight from Munchen-Brunnthal to Innsbruck-Reichenau where it was 30 percent damaged on landing.
By: DC Page - 2nd January 2018 at 22:36
Thanks for sharing the great pics Hudson. The Me 262 in your second picture is Wk.N. 500492, built at Messerschmitt Regensburg. The “S” on the tail may indicate it was a training aircraft, and was not combat-capable due to airframe fatigue or other issues.
The National Air & Space Museum has Wk.N. 500491, which is an A-1a/R1 model built by Messerschmitt Regensburg. It was captured at Lechfeld just before VE Day. It was operational and had seen combat against the Russians with IV/JG 7. I don’t know if 492 was also captured at Lechfeld along with 491, or if it was with another unit. I’ll look through some of the Watson’s Wizzers files and see if there is any mention of whether 492 was there, and whether it was kept for spares or scrapped.
By: hudson - 2nd January 2018 at 21:48
I need to get the rest of the photos from my wifes family. There are a few more aircraft related pics. One other photo of the me262 but its from almost exactly the same angle so doesn’t offer much additional information. Then a couple photos of a ju87 with its nose buried in the dirt.
By: Aviart - 2nd January 2018 at 21:08
Hi Hudson,
For the Me262 the location, circumstances and pilot are known. Could you contact me via personal message for details. 🙂
By: Ant.H - 2nd January 2018 at 21:06
Interesting pictures Hudson, do you have any more? I’m not so sure these are “crash sites” as such, these look more like wrecks abandoned at airfields.
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January 2, 2018 at 5:59 pm