Ju 88 'ace' Horst Henning KG 77, NJG 3 - ebay photo find #306

According to which source you care to consult Horst Henning may have been a Ju 88 'ace'. Here he is seen being feted for his 300th combat sortie some time during early 1942 on the Eastern Front. Note the KG 77 'cockerel' emblem on the sign. He was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 22 May 1942 after 314 sorties flown as an Ofw. in 1./KG 77. In addition to 314 missions completed he had destroyed 20 aircraft on the ground and accounted for 23 trains, 3 anti-aircraft batteries and 1 enemy machine in the air. During the summer of 1944 he moved to NJG 3 and during July/August made six claims with 8./NJG 3 following his single victory with KG 77 in Russia. During the night of 7-8 October 1944 he crashed in the vicinity of Hadersleben in Ju 88 G-1 WNr. 713496 coded "D5+JS". His crew Ofw. Brändle, Uffz. Dietrich and Ogfr. Einloth died with him. Henning was posthumously promoted to Hauptmann..

Images courtesy Michael Meyer who has these and others on offer on his ebay sales page here

Ju 88 Wellenmuster Italien KG 76, KG 77 - ebay photo find #241

Junkers Ju 88, Italy 1943-4 Mäandertarnung (squiggle camo)  

More on Wellenmuster Ju 88s on this blog
http://falkeeins.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/ju-88-squiggle-maandertarnung-italy.html

Ju 88 squiggle camo/Mäandertarnung, Italy 1943-4 KG 54, KG 76, KG 77

Junkers Ju 88, Italy 1943-4 Mäandertarnung (squiggle camo) 

Aviano, Italy according to the seller. Colours 'expert' David E. Brown has suggested that this machine might be Ju 88 A-4 “B3+BR” of 7./KG 54 given the style of the aircraft’s code, camouflage, and very small size fuselage Balkenkreuz. The latter is apparently rare on Ju 88s. 

Elements of at least five Ju 88 bomber units were stationed in Italy around the summer of 1943 as KG 76 pilot Joachim Siebers recalled in Smith and Gallaspy's " Luftwaffe Camouflage and Markings 1935-45" Vol.3 (Kookaburra, 1977). Some of these machines were also supplied from Munich direct to the front line, pre-painted in a new over-water test scheme of 'maritime blue' - a royal blue now thought to have been '83'  (although could have been RLM 24?) uppersurfaces with RLM 76 Wellenmuster pattern superimposed. Possible Geschwader codes could be "3Z", "F1" or "L1" or even "B3". However the white theatre band seems to have been a feature of KG 77 machines..

"F1+DP" of 6./KG 76, captioned " March 1944 - Italy"

Junkers Ju 88, Italy 1944 Mäandertarnung (squiggle camo) - click to view large

  

Ju 88s of KG 77 on this blog
http://falkeeins.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/ju-88-torpedobomber-im-mittelmeerraum.html

http://falkeeins.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/diving-luftwaffe-wrecks-in-med-junkers.html

http://falkeeins.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/junkers-ju-88-3zer-kg77-besatzung-nach.html

Junkers Ju 88, 3Z+ER, KG 77, Besatzung nach der Notlandung - Ebay photo find #109

 KG 77 Junkers Ju 88, 3Z+ER crash-landed near Dubrovnik, 8 February 1942..

Above; crew seen examining the wreckage following their crash-landing.." a view from inside the fuselage.."

" Dear Herr Deicke!

In order to save you unnecessary worry I must inform you that over the next few days you will not receive any mail from your son.  Returning from a combat sortie your son's crew had to carry out an emergency landing most probably because of bad weather. Despite communications difficulties we have received a telegram informing us that the crew are at an Italian field hospital at Ragusa in Croatia and that they are all safe and well. From this we must assume that the crew were able to bale out and have escaped injury. As soon as I know more I will of course let you know..."

Fritz Deicke crew at an Italian field hospital during February 1942 and flight surgeon's authorisation for three weeks convalescence dated 8 March 1942..

Photo set currently on offer here