World War II Database

1. Anonymous says:
7 Oct 2008 10:49:51 PM

US markings??? The German cross is clearly visible on the wing and on the fuselage!!! No US marks anywhere. Hmmm.

2.  C. Peter Chen says:
8 Oct 2008 05:01:07 AM

Yes, the German cross had not been removed, but on the tail you can clearly see USAAF Foreign Evaluation number "FE-400".

3.  BILL says:
24 Feb 2009 10:10:31 AM

Photo taken at Wright Field, Ohio. Many German, Japanese and Italian aircraft were tested during the war, and into 1946-1947 many the the aircraft were scrapped, and aviation history was lost, but a few axis aircraft survived many can be seen in museum's in the U.S.A. Europe and Through out the world.

4.  BILL says:
10 May 2009 07:10:27 PM

Ju 388 was built at Weserflug's Liegnitz/Silesia plant. Captured by Allied troops in Merseburg at the end of W.W.II. Shipped to Wright Field, Ohio for evaluation tests. In 1947 the aircraft was donated to the Smithsonian Instituation. Wings and tail taked from Ju 188 without modification, landing gear taken from Ju 88, aircraft had pressurised cabin, and designed as a high altitude aircraft. Tail carried (2) remote control MG 131/13mm weapons with a theoretical rate of fire of 800rpm. There were three versions Ju 388J (Night Fighter), Ju 388L (Reconnaissance) and Ju 388 (Bomber) number of aircraft built 100.

5.  Bill says:
28 Sep 2014 11:11:48 AM

JUNKERS JU 388

The Ju 388 was a development of the Junkers Ju88 and Ju 188 aircraft. Among the versions of the the 388 was its development as a night fighter to replace the Junkers Ju 88G night fighter.

The Ju 388 had improved armament and radar it was fitted with the new and improved FuG 240 dish sweep radar that was enclosed in a aerodynamic nose cone. Prototypes were built and tested, but never put into series production, some sources list that about 100 aircraft were completed.

UNFRIENDLY SKIES:

Night operations against allied aircraft took its toll on Luftwaffe aircraft losses were due to enemy action, mechanical failure, bad weather, crews failure to intercept targets due to combat conditions.
At the start of 1945 the Luftwaffe had about 900 night fighters however, by April of 1945 the force was down to over 500 aircraft most were grounded due to fuel shortages, spare parts.

THE JAPANESE: WORKING WITH STICKS & STONES

Japan expressed an interest in production of the Ju 388 agreements for the transfer of blueprints
and other technical data were to be supplied to Japan. Submarines making the dangerous trip from Germany to Japan carrying such cargo were sunk by the allies or disappeared.
What technical information that arrived in Japan led Japanese engineers to work at times with no more than drawings, limited technical data or few prototype aircraft or rockets.