Very large armoured plate section with impact hit from German Junkers ju88-number 140556 shot down on 19th October in Finland

£45.00
Only 1 available

This is a rare and impressive large section of armoured plate, most likely from a fuel tank, showing a clear impact dent appearing to be the result of a small-calibre projectile strike when the aircraft was shot down. The piece is in relic condition, heavily rusted but solid, with no remaining paintwork. It has been carefully cleaned and measures 25 inches long by 4 inches wide.
The part comes from German Junkers Ju 88, Werknummer 140556, an A-4/Trop variant of Aufklrungsstaffel 1.(F)/AGr 124, which was brought down on 19th October 1944 at Lentokonelampi, Ivalo, Finland likely the victim of German flak or friendly fire from a Messerschmitt Bf 109.
The lot includes two laminated A5 information cards with images of the crash site as it appears today. These items originate from a long-held private collection, gathered many years ago directly from crash sites through both surface finds and full recoveries. They are now being made available for the first time.

The fate of the crew highlights the tragedy of this incident. The Ju 88 was mistakenly engaged by German ground fire, caught fire, and crashed. Of the four crew members:
Oberleutnant Werner Horst managed to parachute but was wounded.
Feldwebel Oswald Heider survived.
Feldwebel Ernst Beck bailed out but died.
Stabsfeldwebel Willi Welz was never found, likely going down with the aircraft into the lake.
Aufklrungsstaffel 1.(F)/124 was a German reconnaissance squadron during World War II, part of Aufklrungsgruppe 124. Formed on 1st November 1938 at Wiener Neustadt, Austria, the unit was initially equipped with Dornier Do 17Fs, later upgraded to Do 17Ps. It took part in the Polish campaign under Fliegerfhrer z.b.V./Luftflotte 4, later served in the West, and from 1941 onwards conducted operations in Finland and Norway.

This is a rare and impressive large section of armoured plate, most likely from a fuel tank, showing a clear impact dent appearing to be the result of a small-calibre projectile strike when the aircraft was shot down. The piece is in relic condition, heavily rusted but solid, with no remaining paintwork. It has been carefully cleaned and measures 25 inches long by 4 inches wide.
The part comes from German Junkers Ju 88, Werknummer 140556, an A-4/Trop variant of Aufklrungsstaffel 1.(F)/AGr 124, which was brought down on 19th October 1944 at Lentokonelampi, Ivalo, Finland likely the victim of German flak or friendly fire from a Messerschmitt Bf 109.
The lot includes two laminated A5 information cards with images of the crash site as it appears today. These items originate from a long-held private collection, gathered many years ago directly from crash sites through both surface finds and full recoveries. They are now being made available for the first time.

The fate of the crew highlights the tragedy of this incident. The Ju 88 was mistakenly engaged by German ground fire, caught fire, and crashed. Of the four crew members:
Oberleutnant Werner Horst managed to parachute but was wounded.
Feldwebel Oswald Heider survived.
Feldwebel Ernst Beck bailed out but died.
Stabsfeldwebel Willi Welz was never found, likely going down with the aircraft into the lake.
Aufklrungsstaffel 1.(F)/124 was a German reconnaissance squadron during World War II, part of Aufklrungsgruppe 124. Formed on 1st November 1938 at Wiener Neustadt, Austria, the unit was initially equipped with Dornier Do 17Fs, later upgraded to Do 17Ps. It took part in the Polish campaign under Fliegerfhrer z.b.V./Luftflotte 4, later served in the West, and from 1941 onwards conducted operations in Finland and Norway.