Ju88 from Ireland

[Paul Woodbyrne]

Here is the latest piece i got for my collection. Its the tail section from a Ju 88 A-5 of Wewekusta2 coded (DE+DS). It crash landed in Caolboig, a vast bog near Waterville county Kerry. The plane made a soft landing. The crew made an attempt to destroy their air craft as was usual. They Reported the engine electric pumps were not working, and fuel was low, when the Irish Air corps had a look they could find nothing wrong. The aircraft could not be moved because of its remote location, the nearest road 4 miles so it was set on fire. As you can see from the pictures the tail section is removed or the panel with the swastika. The otherside is damaged this may have been done removing the swastikia, as there was no damage to the plane. Paul

[Paul Woodbyrne]

1941 kerry

more pics of the crash

[petopoint]

Cool pic's

Thanks for the pics. Was the crew taken to a cushy Irish POW camp
for the duration? I remember seeing a factual film some yrs ago where
They kept allied and axis soldiers captured on Irish soil in the same
camp (seperated of course). Both sides could jointly go into town
and enjoy themselves.

Peto at point

PS sweet tail sec you got there too.....

[snuffbox]

Nice piece indeed.

Thanks for the pics. Was the crew taken to a cushy Irish POW camp
for the duration? I remember seeing a factual film some yrs ago where
They kept allied and axis soldiers captured on Irish soil in the same
camp (seperated of course). Both sides could jointly go into town
and enjoy themselves.

Peto at point

PS sweet tail sec you got there too.....

Surely if allied soldiers were free to go into town and the surrounding area what was to stop them just tabbing it to the NI border.

[Paul Woodbyrne]

Yes thats true but they all had to return to the camp at the end of the day or when pass expired. Most allied airmen went north and back to service. regards paul.

[Darrell]

Just an observation. This swastika looks pretty much intact, yet the one side in the picture is damaged, the other picture it looks to be gone, but if the damage to the reverse side is the same, I am finding it hard to believe it's from the same plane.

[wayne gosley]

Very nice piece Paul, It will look great amongst your other nice items Iwould think you would know its origin, being a local pickup. Interesting comments by Darrell though, looking at the photos of the aircraft.
Cheers
Wayne

[Paul Woodbyrne]

Tail piece

The tail piece is definitely from this plane, as it came from the people who took it from the plane, as said before their was no damage to the plane when it landed, the damage you see was done by the Irish Air corps, the picture were the panel is missing is the one i have. I have a few bits uniforms radio and 2 caps belonging to german airman who crashed landed in Ireland. Regards Paul.

[Der_Stahlhelm]

Just an observation. This swastika looks pretty much intact, yet the one side in the picture is damaged, the other picture it looks to be gone, but if the damage to the reverse side is the same, I am finding it hard to believe it's from the same plane.

Nice and original tailpiece but I agree 100% with Darrell.....

[Willi Z.]

Interesting piece and story Paul!

I am not sure why some think the swaz section could not be from the piece of the tail which is clearly missing. It might have even been trimmed after that. Perhaps that is why the damaged one was not removed, etc.

[Harry]

Interesting piece and story Paul!

I am not sure why some think the swaz section could not be from the piece of the tail which is clearly missing. It might have even been trimmed after that. Perhaps that is why the damaged one was not removed, etc.

My thoughts exactly it is easily off this plane - no way it was taken off the tail as neatly as shown here though, clearly it would have ripped off, but then trimmed and even crimped-in around the edges. The colouring suggests a marine -grey paint-job, probably a recon/meterology aircraft operating off the west coast of Ireland. Very nice piece. Incidentally, the crew members were:

"Oblt. Arthur KLANKE
Uffz. Bruno HALLMAN
Uffz. Werner KIPP
Uffz. Rudolf BECKMANN"

Inspector Arthur Klanke was the met man on board this Ju88 and is reported as very confidently stating to the Irish Military that as he had been interned in Sweden and escaped after five weeks he could do the same in Ireland! It did not work out that way for him and so he "stayed" for the duration.

Waterville is a lovely spot. One of Bob Hopes favourite golf courses was at Waterville, he was a frequent visitor to the Waterville Lake Hotel.

[Darrell]

So if it's missing in the picture, its because it was taken off? While the plane was still burning? Really?

[damien C.]

I believe that Paul is stating that the tailpiece was taken from the plane before the Irish Air Corps set the plane alight.

[Willi Z.]

I believe that Paul is stating that the tailpiece was taken from the plane before the Irish Air Corps set the plane alight.

Exactly. He stated that in his first post. In the second photo the plane was not burning yet.

[Dr. Strangelove]

sehen

Well I can see where it was cut from, not a mystery