Counterweights

In the 90's I took part in the recovery of a JU88.
details…
The aircraft had taken off from a base in Holland on the 6th May 1941 as part of a large attack against Glasgow and Greenock. At 02:00 on the 7th while approaching its target at between 10,000 and 12,000ft it was engaged by a Defiant nightfighter from No.141 Squadron operating from RAF Ayr. The pilot of the Defiant, Squadron Leader Edward Chatham Wolfe, was able to formate with the aircraft allowing his gunner, Sergeant Alfred Ashcroft, to direct fire at the Ju88 following which control was lost and it began to dive towards the ground. The crew began to abandon the aircraft with two successfully using their parachutes, however the parachutes of both the observer and pilot never opened and both were killed.

Without its crew onboard the Ju88 dived into moorland near Newlands above the town of Lennoxtown in East Dunbartonshire where it exploded on impact, at least one of its bomb detonated during the impact scattering wreckage over a wide area and leaving a 15ft deep crater in the soft ground.

The Küstenfliegergruppes were coastal reconnaissance and naval support groups, but they were also engaged in normal bombing sorties.

The two officers who were killed are buried in differnet cemeteries, Oberleutnant Coenen is buried at Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery while Hauptmann Hansmann is buried locally to the crash site in Lennoxtown.

`Of the many parts recovered was a substantial iron counterweight. Research has drawn a blank on the use of this/these object. I assume they must have been a vital component of aircraft ballance especially with heavy ordinance. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
kindest regards
Tom

Hi Tom,

Counterweights are used in many aircraft. The usual requirement is to balance the forces in a mechanical system or, to change the vibration characteristics.
Aircraft also sometimes have mass balances to adjust the distribution of weight in the aircraft for trim purposes.
That counterweight is quite large and it seems to show one large and two smaller rivets for attachment. Unfortunately, I cannot see this part in the Ju 88
control system diagrams. Neither can I see that style of weight in the engine crankshaft mass balances.
Overall, I suspect that this mass balance is either a control mass balance or, an aircraft trim balance.
Sorry I can't be more precise.

Cheers

Eng

Engineman said:

Hi Tom,

Counterweights are used in many aircraft. The usual requirement is to balance the forces in a mechanical system or, to change the vibration characteristics.
Aircraft also sometimes have mass balances to adjust the distribution of weight in the aircraft for trim purposes.
That counterweight is quite large and it seems to show one large and two smaller rivets for attachment. Unfortunately, I cannot see this part in the Ju 88
control system diagrams. Neither can I see that style of weight in the engine crankshaft mass balances.
Overall, I suspect that this mass balance is either a control mass balance or, an aircraft trim balance.
Sorry I can't be more precise.

Cheers

Eng

Click to expand...

Brilliant..Eng ..and you are spot on in all you say. Seems that others counterbalances similar in nature exist…from ju88 crash sites in private collections.
Some in excellent condition painted dark green. Where the object was sited? bit of a mystery but it looks like it could be fitted in many locations.
Will keep you posted…kindest regards and with appreciation.
Tom

Could it be possible that the a/c was one with balloon cable cutting capability? I saw somewhere, that the cutting system required counterweights in the aft part of the aircraft.

The unit that this aircraft was assigned to was maritime. Occasionally brought into service for blitz purposes. Whether there is a connection I'm not sure. I did read 'somewhere' that 3 were discovered in storage at an airfield in France once in Luftwaffe use. Will keep trying to get a positive ID and info..
Best Tom

HANSMANN, Gerd. 01.11.39 Oblt., trf from Fl.Waffenschule (See) Bug auf Rügen to Fl.H.Kdtr. (See) Kamp. 06/07.05.41 Hptm., Staka 2./Ku.Fl.Gr. 106, KIA in Ju 88 A-5 (M2+CK) shot down by a Defiant of 141 Sqdn. and crashed near Lennoxtown, (Newlands ,"Blairskaith Muir") Stirlingshire, 15 km NE of Glasgow, during a raid on the Glasgow docks.

Career Summaries - Luftwaffe Officers 1935 - 1945 Section G - K


Crew: Hptm Gerd Hansmann, Obs Coenen, Werner Oblt(KilledInAction (KIA)); Ofw Ernst Langanki, R/O (POW) and Fw Willi Müller, Gnr (POW, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada; later hung, convicted of killing another prisoner; buried Ger War Cem, Kitchener, Ont, Gr 32B). Oblt Coenen buried CC Gr 3/399; Hptm Hansmann buried in the churchyard at Lennoxtown, Scotland (Ju 88 Loss List & D.Drury)

Ju88A-5 Werk # 0662 "M2 + CK" (lost 5/7/41) Observer Operational Clasp KilledInAction (KIA) at Glasgow 7 May, 1941, acting as Observer; the ac flown by Oblt Werner Coenen. See Werner Coenen for cause or crew disposition (Ju 88 Loss List & D.Drury). Hansmann buried in the churchyard at Lennoxtown, in Scotland (D.Drury)

Added by Stefan Pietrzak Youngs: Sqd Ldr Edward Wolfe's Combat Report: 'I dived at full throttle slightly in front and below the enemy aircraft and came up on his starboard forward quarter where my gunner, Sgt Ashcroft, opened fire at less than 20yds range. Strikes were observed and the E/A turned sharply towards us. I climbed over him, dived underneath and took up the same position as before. A second burst was fired after which the enemy's starboard engine and cockpit were seen to be on fire, and he turned on all his navigation lights. At the same time he turned towards me again and I repeated my former manoeuvre, the gunner gave him a third burst. Twice again he took the same evasive action and I repeated my manoeuvre with the gunner giving him a forth and fifth burst. After the fourth burst there were two blinding flashes in his cockpit. After the fifth burst I left the attack as we were nearing cloud tops, and through a rift in the cloud layer watched the E/A crash to the ground where it blew up.' (Battle of Britain Database on this site)