Junkers wing leading edge

[BFreer]

Another sticky one - arrived from Stalingrad area - a large section of wing/stabiliser leading edge.

I was intrigued by the part number shown in the advert that looked vaguely Douglas.

Now it has arrived I am 100% sure it is German ( from the dark green(RLM70) and blue (RLM 65) paint) and from the gold anodizing I am confident that it is Junkers. Also from the two tone paint it is from the port side of an aircraft. There are part numbers but no inspectors stamps - typical German. The interior paint is also the same color I have seen on Ju52 and Ju88 parts.

Next question is which aircraft and which leading edge. Max height is 15 cm so either wing tip or horizontal stabilizer. Same height as an Auster wing strut I have.
I also have a Ju88 elevator section and this is a far stronger construction that the elevator.

There are few clues:

1. Access hatch on lower surface of leading edge of correct size for a German aircraft.

2. It is tapered so from an aircraft part that has a backward sloping leading edge.

3. There are cable holders inside.

3. Part numbers found so far are 90414959; 5033609; 50330605

4. No signs of corrugation on metal attached to rear of panel.

5. Must have been used in Stalingrad.

6. One end has flanged section with captive nuts where another section was attached.

I have checked the access hatches fro Ju 52, 86, 87, 88 and 188 and none have access hatches in the leading edge of the wing or horizontal stabilizer.

It does resemble the last panel on the leading edge of the 88 before the wing tip - but the UK based Ju88 does not show a hatch on lower surface. I checked Ju88 drawings for A4 and G6 and neither have a hatch here. Last image from internet of the port wing of the Ju88 in UK.

Given the 90 part number I have acquired a couple of books on the Ju90. The horizontal tail of the Ju 90 does not have any hatches on the leading edge. So possibly wing tip of a Ju90 - one was lost at Stalingrad.

Any ideas welcome - still waiting for another book on Ju90.

 

[BFreer]

P.S. Lower section had remains of yellow paint hinting at wing tip. FYI a second internet image of Ju88 wing in museum - not Luftwaffe markings.

 

[BFreer]

The second Ju90 book arrived, the black series and disappointingly it is the English translated version of the German book I already have ( Vom original zum modell).

It states that the leading edges on the tail surfaces all had rubber on them as deicing - so not tail.

I did find a good picture of the Ju90 wing tip here:

http://www.warbirdphotographs.com/LCBW13/Ju90-35f-s.jpg

The structure is correct but despite photoshop manipulation I cannot say that there is a hatch on the lower surface.
Also this is one of the early Ju90's and they changed the wing design for the last few and it was No 13 that was lost at Stalingrad.

It could also be Ju290 as I believe that they evolved from the Ju90 later model.Or something completely different!

It did say that the leading edge was de-iced by warm air circulation from the engine so not a closed structure.

I acquired the correct size hatch yesterday ( being sold as FW) and it is on its way.
I also heave another German language book in transit.

 

[Snautzer01]

Junkers Ju90 perhaps of intrest.

 

[BFreer]

Snautzer that is definitely the most likely option but there is so little information available on the Junkers Ju90 it is proving difficult to be definitive that this is what it is from.

 

[BFreer]

I have spent some time looking through the videos of the Ju90 that crashed in the mediterranean at Bastia.
Strangely enough the shooting down of this Ju90 was captured on film by the tail gunner of the RAF Marauder who was a local man and I had discussed his pictures with his daughter.

This was an early Ju90 with the larger swept wing.

These videos show that the main wing leading edge was a skinned open lattice with a corrugated back plate.

The videos are constantly jumping around and the flared hole section that is interwoven in the videos looks like the rudder which is at the rear of the site.




I cannot say that the structure at the wing tip changed from the open lattice on the majority of the wing - to the flared sections simialr to those that were used on the tail. Or that this structure changed when they moved to the second wing design.

 

[BFreer]

I have been spending some time searching Junkers aircraft wings...

The drawing of the Ju88 A1 below that shows the wing structure is not the same as the later variants - Junkers extended the wing - this can be seen in the last image of the first post ( above image p748.png) by the long panel on the leading edge and the smaller access panel in the main wing.

Overlaying the image of the piece that I have using photoshop shows a good match to this wing extension panel with matched end fittings bolt holes.
However there is NO lower hatch. I have checked many other later Ju88 wing pics and they have this extension and no hatch.

On Ju90 - there were the original Lufthansa aircraft - all with the Ju89 swept wing.

Then the Luftwaffe variants:

V1-V4 had the same wing as the Lufthansa aircraft.
V5 and V6 had a newer straight wing.
V7 and V8 - had an extended version of the straight wing ( wing overall length increased by 2.5m by side over the V3/Ju89 wing but no data on length vs the V5/V6 wing)
V9 and 10 incomplete
V11 converted into Ju290 V1
V12 - test aircraft
V13 converted into Ju290 V2

I cannot get a close up of the wing tip of the later variants with extended wing but possibly using same approach as the Ju88 with leading edge insert?

Of the two aircraft lost at Stalingrad of this class:

Thuringen was an ex Luftwaffe aircraft and had original wing design.

Ju290 V1 was ex Ju290 V11 and had extended wing.

Accident Junkers Ju 290 V1 BD+TX, Wednesday 13 January 1943

Crashed during take-off. Five of the six crew members and 40 of the 75 wounded soldiers aboard killed.

aviation-safety.net

As expected Junkers transport aircraft all had lower wing tips painted yellow at Stalingrad to avoid being shot by the Wehrmacht.

Hence is this wing tip either from another Junkers special aircraft lost at Stalingrad or as it has a 90 part number, lower hatch and correct paint scheme - is it from Ju90V11/Ju290 V1 ?

Any better images of V7 onwards wing tip or Ju290 wing tip ?

Thanks for reading
Brian

 

[Snautzer01]

Perhaps Junkers Ju290

 

[BFreer]

Snautzer that is what I am asking is it the Ju290 V1 that was built on a Ju90 extended wing V11 aircraft?

 

[Snautzer01]

I do not know if v1 is there. You have to look for yourself

 

[BFreer]

Snautzer if you follow the air crash link above it shows clearly that Ju290 V1 was lost at Stalingrad.

 

[Snautzer01]

Snautzer that is what I am asking is it the Ju290 V1 that was built on a Ju90 extended wing V11 aircraft?

Vom Original zum Modell Junkers Ju-290-390

 

[Snautzer01]

Snautzer if you follow the air crash link above it shows clearly that Ju290 V1 was lost at Stalingrad.

i know. 13 jan 1943 Pitomnik All killed.

 

[Snautzer01]

Monogram Close-Up Junkers 290.

 

[BFreer]

Thank you