Plane ID please

[dsfraser]

The aircraft in question is most likely a Ju-188A-3 torpedo bomber or possibly a Ju-188D-2 maritime reconnaissance aircraft. The radar array indicates the installation of FuG 200 Hohentweil air-sea radar. That and the squiggly "Wellenmuster" camouflage are typical of late-war Luftwaffe maritime reconnaissance and attack aircraft. It is NOT a night-fighter!

If the aircraft did in fact come from Trondhdeim, it is probably a Ju-188A-3 from III/KG 26, based at Gardenmoen and Vaernes, which had the better part of three Staffeln (31 aircraft) on strength on 10 May 1945. The other possibility is that it is one of two Ju-188D-2 on charge with 1.(F)/120 at Sola.

It is impossible to say for sure from this photo. The Ju-188A-3 had a bulge along the lower starboard side of the nose to accomodate a torpedo and a forward-firing 20mm cannon under the cockpit. The D-2 dispensed with these, and had cameras fitted in the bomb bay, with "portholes" under the wing center section. Other than that they are identical. Without a second photo or information on the squadron code on the fuselage, III/KG 26 is my best guess.

Regards
Scott Fraser
Calgary