Allternator and other parts identification

malnava1941 · Sep 7, 2025

Hello,
I recently recovered a corroded alternator that appears to be a WWII-era aircraft.
I also found fuel pump an other aluminium parts.

Please, help to identify the aircraft.

Any help identifying these parts or tracing the marking would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you very much.

Shessi · Sep 15, 2025

Hi M,
Can I take it that with your avatar name Malnava, that you're Latvian or you're in Latvia or near? And that you have dug up them locally?

To me they don't look German, espectially the valve with the operating handle, also the writing on the alternator/generator looks Cyrillic to me. The cable pulley arms are painted black, which is also unlikely to be Luftwaffe.

So if your location is Latvia etc etc, I would think this is a Russian aircraft(?), no doubt someone will tell you!

Nice find, and still lots more left in the ground where you are. Good luck.

Cheers

Shessi

malnava1941 · Sep 15, 2025

Shessi said:
Hi M,
Can I take it that with your avatar name Malnava, that you're Latvian or you're in Latvia or near? And that you have dug up them locally?

To me they don't look German, espectially the valve with the operating handle, also the writing on the alternator/generator looks Cyrillic to me. The cable pulley arms are painted black, which is also unlikely to be Luftwaffe.

So if your location is Latvia etc etc, I would think this is a Russian aircraft(?), no doubt someone will tell you!

Nice find, and still lots more left in the ground where you are. Good luck.

Cheers

Shessi

Hi!

Thank you. Yes, I am from Latvia.
At the moment there are no parts with clear signs of Luftwaffe or Soviets.
These are only few parts I had time to dig out. I'm planning to continue exploring that place.

M.

Shessi · Sep 15, 2025

Hi M,
I know some of the parts look light weight aluminium, but are you sure they are from an aircraft?

It is strange there are no serial or part numbers. The screws are definitely Eastern European.

Did you dig them up from near an airfield? It would be great if it was a crashed V.E.F (Valsts elektrotehniskā fabrika) aircraft?! ha ha.

Can you clean up a this area and see what it says?

S

MiTasol · Sep 15, 2025

Given your location I agree with S Shessi that you probably have wreckage of a Russian aircraft however the only engine I know of with Carden shaft and Hardy coupling generator drive is the RR Merlin. Most engines of that period had generators rather than alternators but not all so you might be right on that.

If the Russians used a similar drive on any of their engines other members could probably identify the engine type(s) and that would narrow your search considerably.

bf109xxl and S Shortround6 may be able to assist.

malnava1941 · Sep 16, 2025

Shessi said:
Hi M,
I know some of the parts look light weight aluminium, but are you sure they are from an aircraft?

It is strange there are no serial or part numbers. The screws are definitely Eastern European.

Did you dig them up from near an airfield? It would be great if it was a crashed V.E.F (Valsts elektrotehniskā fabrika) aircraft?! ha ha.

View attachment 847258

Can you clean up a this area and see what it says?

S

I was trying o clean, but it was too bad, so nothing is left from that text.

MiTasol · Sep 16, 2025

now that it is clean, assuming you used non destructive cleaning such as scotchbrite or similar, rub the area hard with a black crayon and the lightly with a rag and the details will show clearly.

Shessi · Sep 17, 2025

I really think the writing on the alternator/generator is the key (unless someone recognises the parts), if it's Cyrillic then it's a Russian aircraft or vehicle. MiT's suggestion of tracing/rubbing the area to get any imprint is a good idea.

Looking again at the quality of finish like brazing etc and the type of screws they are almost certainly not British or German.

S

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