MP 38/40 from Ju-87 'Stukas'

[Sergey65]

Hi guys,

I want to show you the MP-38 that belonged to the RO/AG member of the Ju-87 plane.
He was found in a downed Ju-87 with this 'Great White' flying jacket.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=438077

On the Eastern Front, Luftwaffe crew members often made an emergency landing on the territory of the opposing side. In such situations, they might need a more formidable weapon than a pistol. Thus, the MP-38/40 can be considered a means and survival items, too. Of course in a sense.

Best regards,
Sergey

[Willi Z.]

That's very interesting Sergey. What a find!

I can understand why a crew member of a Ju-87 would carry a MP. My father carried a P-38 while flying on the Eastern Front.

[Lutfen]

Wow - what an amazing find! An MP40 with incredible provenance.

Thanks for sharing.

Michael

[BenVK]

The condition is amazing and that's one hell of an impact to bend it almost double like that.

Stuka crews must have been some of the bravest guys during WWII.

[Renaud]

What an interesting item ; a museum piece of history.

[WalterB]

Wow, great historical item!!

[jacquesf]

What a fantastic piece of history. J

[jacquesf]

That's very interesting Sergey. What a find!

I can understand why a crew member of a Ju-87 would carry a MP. My father carried a P-38 while flying on the Eastern Front.

Willi, was your father a pilot or flight crew? I am interested in the personal side arms of fighter pilots. J

[Sergey65]

...

This MP pouch was also found there.

The condition of items found in the earth depends on the composition of the soil.
The less oxygen there is, the better the condition of the items. In this case, there was thick oily clay. Plus an even greater depth of 5 meters. And plus oil, gasoline, antifreeze, which are also good at preserving items.

Best regards,
Sergey

[Sergey65]

That's very interesting Sergey. What a find!

I can understand why a crew member of a Ju-87 would carry a MP. My father carried a P-38 while flying on the Eastern Front.

Hi Willi,

also very interesting. I can only guess. Probably your father continued to fly after the war, but in US Air Force.
The Luftwaffe pilots and members crew captured in Russia did not have such a prospect.

Best regards,
Sergey

[Persian Gulf]

IMHO, this MP40 and pouch are perhaps the best pieces of WW2 combat militaria I have ever seen. These two items say so much about the war and both sides of the human conflict at so many levels. We always say "if the item could tell its story" well there could not be a better story than these two items could tell.

On a side note it is interesting that the barrel resting bar is missing on this MP. I wonder if this specific weapon was chosen particularly as when this is not present a MP40 can be "broken down" and stored in a smaller space by removing the barrel.

[werner]

Hello Sergey,

It's really impressive to still find such items nowadays on a crash site!
Is the MP40 deactivated?

[Sergey65]

Hello Sergey,

It's really impressive to still find such items nowadays on a crash site!
Is the MP40 deactivated?

Hello Werner,

it was deactivated in August 1942

Best regards,
Sergey

[Jos L C]

Great items, I've seen a similar MP from another crash..


Jos