Shot down 1945 (44?) US Fighter Plane near Elsdorf Germany, Wheel found

[PeterCologne]

Hi!
I live west of Cologne in Germany. My dad found a tire in the woods a long time ago that is said to be from a US shootdown.
I'm also a private pilot, but this is too specific.
Here P38s have been shot down, but it could also be another plane.
It was 1944 or 1945. Düren is very close by, our town is called Elsdorf.
Regards, Peter Immerath

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Looks like a P-38 nose wheel from an earlier model P-38, missing the hub on the axle side of the wheel.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Pacific Wrecks

Photographs related to World War II Pacific and the Korean War.

pacificwrecks.com

 

[SaparotRob]

Hi Pete and welcome to the Forum.

 

[DrumBob]

Hard to say if that came from a P-38. Weren't those wheels commonly used on different fighters?

 

[gee bee]

Looks like T6 with the brake drum.

 

[DrumBob]

You wouldn't find a T-6 flying over Germany though.

 

[SaparotRob]

Check out Snautzer's pics.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Hard to say if that came from a P-38. Weren't those wheels commonly used on different fighters?

They were but you have to explore the size of it, also look at the date of manufacture

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Looks like T6 with the brake drum.

Actually I looked into this more and I'm 100% sure it's a P-38 MAIN wheel.

(SOLD) P-38 lightning main wheel

Lockheed P-38 lightning fighter main wheel

www.warbird.parts

World War II Crash Sites in Iceland - P-38 Lightning, Kerlingarhnúkur, Bláfjöll. October 14, 1943

World War II Crash Sites in Iceland

stridsminjar.is

 

[mjfur]

For what it's worth, I've looked at various P-38 nose wheels, which I believe are 27" as is the OP photos (Main wheels are 36".). What doesn't seem to match are the cast fastener fittings for the wheel covers.

The Hub Cap side of the nose wheel used three fasteners on both early and late models.
The Nose Gear side of the nose wheel used what I presume is six fasteners.

Perhaps there were other combinations?

Also for what it's worth, I believe Stearmans and AT-6's used 27" wheels as well, which have flown in Germany post 1945. Just because the wheel is dated 1942 doesn't mean it didn't fall off or crash in 1959, etc..

To my eyes, the OP photos look more like Stearman than P-38.

Stearman Warbird Boeing Texan Etc- 27 " Type 11 G-3-1 Hayes Wheel —O-4 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Stearman Warbird Boeing Texan Etc- 27 " Type 11 G-3-1 Hayes Wheel —O-4 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[FLYBOYJ]

For what it's worth, I've looked at various P-38 nose wheels, which I believe are 27" as is the OP photos (Main wheels are 36".). What doesn't seem to match are the cast fastener fittings for the wheel covers.

The Hub Cap side of the nose wheel used three fasteners on both early and late models.
The Nose Gear side of the nose wheel used what I presume is six fasteners.

Perhaps there were other combinations?

Also for what it's worth, I believe Stearmans and AT-6's used 27" wheels as well, which have flown in Germany post 1945. Just because the wheel is dated 1942 doesn't mean it didn't fall off or crash in 1959, etc..

To my eyes, the OP photos look more like Stearman than P-38.

Stearman Warbird Boeing Texan Etc- 27 " Type 11 G-3-1 Hayes Wheel —O-4 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Stearman Warbird Boeing Texan Etc- 27 " Type 11 G-3-1 Hayes Wheel —O-4 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Good info but going by what the OP stated "It was 1944 or 1945," that's why I tend to believe it was from a P-38. I'm wondering if there were variations with regards to the amount of cast fastener fittings for the wheel covers

 

[Crimea_River]

P-38 H/J/L nosewheel was a Bendix unit Type I, T.O. 03-25C-9, part number 57609M2. I don't see any matching numbers in the pics.

 

[MiTasol]

Looks like a P-38 nose wheel from an earlier model P-38, missing the hub on the axle side of the wheel.

It has a brake drum so not a nose wheel. Hayes 27" wheels were used on T-6, P-40N, Stearman's and some other aircraft. P-51 had 27" but with disc brakes and that wheel has drum brakes.

I will check my references later. The OP has provided all the necessary information in his photos.

Excellent photos thanks Peter

 

[MiTasol]

This wheel only has a 2" brake so nothing heavy. Will check other references in a minute

 

[MiTasol]

Hayes G-3-1 was used on AT-6A to D, AT-16, BT-13, 14, 15 only

 

[ww2restorer]

Its amazing the number of found aircraft parts found that were in use during the war, were shot down in the most dramatic dogfights. The wheel shown is a standard wheel used by many US trainers, however everal NA64 were captured and used by the Luftwaffe. For being found in the woods(forest) it is in remarkable condition.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

This wheel only has a 2" brake so nothing heavy. Will check other references in a minute
View attachment 677284

Excellent Info! But what I do find interesting is the outboard side of the hub seems identical to those shown in the P-38 wrecks. I'm wondering if this hub can be used on a P-38 main?

 

[MiTasol]

P-38 used two different part numbers of Bendix main wheel - both interchangeable and also used on A-35A & B. The P-38 has Bendix disc brakes. Peters hub is for a wheel with a 2" drum so would not fit on disc brakes.

The P-38 uses a 36 inch wheel with a far larger axle so Peters 27" wheel will not fit on a P-38 main gear axle.

The P-38 has a choice of four different interchangeable Bendix nose wheels and those are all 27". I did not check the axle dimensions and wheel width but would be very surprised if they would fit.

 

[ww2restorer]

Also note that the p-38 nose wheel hub usually had 6 spokes, 27 tire, the main wheels had 8 spokes and were for 36 tire