Airplane Porn (and the occasional helicopter)

[MikeRL411]

 

Well, remember that the Germans shot down enough B17s to get enought parts to patch together some flyable examples.  I have heard anecdotal tales of these German B17s flying up into returning fleets and proceeding to shoot down their non observant "companions", I believe that initially the Luftwaffe observed international conventions and did apply insignia as shown in these pix, but as the war progressed I don't know how fanatical the air crews were about niceties of internation rules of warfare!

[VFR800]

[Jesse C.]

Well, remember that the Germans shot down enough B17s to get enought parts to patch together some flyable examples.  I have heard anecdotal tales of these German B17s flying up into returning fleets and proceeding to shoot down their non observant "companions", I believe that initially the Luftwaffe observed international conventions and did apply insignia as shown in these pix, but as the war progressed I don't know how fanatical the air crews were about niceties of internation rules of warfare!

 

Info on the bird...

 

... "That was the (captured German) name of this B-17F (41-24585) bomber which belonged to the 303rd Bomber Group. It had the dubious honor of becoming the first US bomber captured intact by the Luftwaffe. It provided a wealth of invaluable information on the capabilities and vulnerability of the "Terror bomber", as Nazi propaganda labeled the B-17.

 

In the early morning of December 12, 1942 the Eight Air Force dispatched 78 B-17s against the Luftwaffe servicing base at Romilly sur Seine, some 60 miles east of París. Due to awful weather conditions, just 17 planes reached their goal. Above Beauvais they were attacked by 30 German fighters, who punished them along all the way. Upon reaching the target the B-17's dropped 40 tons of bombs and returned home. 

 

Lt Paul Flickinger's "Wolf Hound" sustained major damage and dropped out of the formation. Alone and disoriented it was intercepted by a Bf 110 of NJG 1 over the Lower Rhine, the Netherlands. As surrender was the only way to avoid destruction, the crew lowered the landing gear and the fighter guided them to the Leeuwaarden airfield (Netherland).

 

As soon as they captured it, its American stars were replaced by the German national insignias and the Stammkennzeichenn (side code) DL+XC. Temporary repairs were over by December 12th and, escorted by two Bf 110, the B-17 flew to the Experimental Center at Rechlin. Luftwaffe fighter bases and flak units along the path of the flight route were informed of the flight. Nevertheless, the Fortress was fired upon and received some minor damage.

 

For the next three months German engineers studied carefully every system on the plane and a number of Luftwaffe pilots began studying the aircraft in preparation for a test program to seek for its weaknesses. The first test trial takes place on March 13th, 1943, under the control of Fluzeugführer Bottcher. The testing goes on and on all along April, while the German fighter units learnt how to attack the B-17s and develop new tactics. 

 

From June to August it's used to tow a DFS 230 glider and sent, for a brief spell in July, to Department E 3 at Rechlin. By the month of September the German air force has gathered thousands of pages of technical information upon the Wolf Hound. Those reports are used to improve their air-to-air tactics and their own designs of bombers. 

 

On September 11th it was transferred to KG 200, were it is given a new camouflage and a code which began with A3+. From this point onwards it's track is lost. It is possible that it was used by KG 200, along with another 3 B-17's, for training and clandestine missions between May and June 1943.

 

From May 1942 onwards the crews of the Allied bombers reported several encounters with unknown B-17's over France. It is was due that any flyable B-17 captured by the Germans was send to the Versuchsverband Ob. der L, the future KG200, and used. The Allied HQ's were afraid that the airplanes were used to attack the B-17 formations."

 

Quoted from Geoff Thomas: KG 200 - The Luftwaffe's Most Secret Unit, Hikoki, 2003". 

 

Joe Baughers Site states:

 

24585 assigned to 360th BS, 303rd BG at Bandor Oct 14, 1942. To Molesworth Oct 16, 1943. 

(360th BS, 303rd BG, *Wolf Hound*) force-landed in France on Dec 12, 1942, after 

attacking Rouen Sotteville marshalling yards, while in service with 303rd Bomb Group, 

Molesworth. Recovered by Luftwaffe. After flight testing at Rechlin,

it was used for demonstration visits to Luftwaffe Jagdgruppen as DL+XC (also quoted as DL+XS), 

before being assigned to I./KG200 in Sep 1943 as A3+AE. Destroyed in bombing raid on Oranienburg Apr 10, 1945.

Parts of wreckage found at Oranienburg.

 

And the sad remains of her that they found while re-doing the airport/airfield a few years ago.

 

[MikeRL411]

 

Based on the Spanish language of your source, these just might be a promotional shot for the "Battle of Britan" movie which used retired Spanish Air Force [CSAF] late BF109 with Rolls Royce engines.  The front engine cover seems to have the RR rather than the Biamler Benz German engine profile.

[goes2fast]

Thanks for the history lesson. :thumbup:

[VFR800]

[Jesse C.]

Based on the Spanish language of your source, these just might be a promotional shot for the "Battle of Britan" movie which used retired Spanish Air Force [CSAF] late BF109 with Rolls Royce engines.  The front engine cover seems to have the RR rather than the Biamler Benz German engine profile.

 

These are real Bf109 birds from the actual Battle of Brittain

 

This is a Hispano painted to look like a Bf

 

[Z-train]

http://www.businessinsider.com/watch-one-of-the-baddest-a-10-pilots-ever-land-after-being-hit-by-a-missile-2016-4?ref=yfp

[Jesse C.]

[q-tip]

Bbbrrrrrrppp....

[VFR800]

 

[Jesse C.]

[Jesse C.]

[Jesse C.]

[MikeRL411]

F8 [?] can't trust USNavy designations Bearcat!  The Navy posting 2 above.

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