Junkers 88 G-6 at München-Brunnthal

In an attempt to reduce the impact of allied fighters strafing its airfields and destroying parked aircraft, the Luftwaffe started to build satellite landing fields and associated aircraft shelters in near-by woods. To add to the existing Munich area airfields München Riem, Neubiberg and Oberschleissheim, in May 1944 a stretch of autobahn as well as a flat agricultural area near Brunnthal south of München was turned into landing strips with adjacent repair facilities, accommodations and aircraft boxes cut into wooded areas, Loy (2010), p.41-43.

In 1945, V./NJG2 used Brunnthal and by the end of the hostilities, quite a number of its aircraft were located there (V./NJG2 originated from crews of III./KG 2 and was formed in December 1944). Other aircraft from this unit are known from photos to have ended up at Neubiberg on the southwestern outskirts of München and north of Brunnthal. After the war, a US disarmament unit commenced to gather all aircraft in the vicinity of Brunnthal at a single collection point. This site, adjacent to the autobahn, became a very attractive magnet to US soldiers and locals alike, providing us today with numerous photographs showing a great number of aircraft. Of particular interest and value is an aerial photograph covering the complete scrap yard. Originally published in Norbert Loy’s 2010 Jet & Prop article, I have added numbers to identify the individual aircraft.

source: Loy (2010), p.43

This article concerns itself only with Ju88G-6 found at Brunnthal. Examining available published and internet photographs, it appears that 14 Ju88G-6 were dispersed across the field, and at least 15 destroyed or burnt-out Ju88G wrecks were strewn across the scrap heap of at the west corner of the collection point.

The list below is my attempt to correctly identify the Ju88G-6 night fighters at Brunnthal using photographic evidence. However, in several instances, information shown by photographs is ambiguous. In those instances, I call out under comments the results of my interpretation. There will be misinterpretations, and there are gaps; any corrections, additions and differing views are very welcome.

I would like to express my gratitude and to acknowledge once more David E. Brown's valuable review and contribution to this article.

NO.	W.NR.	UNIT MARKING	MAIN SOURCE	COMMENTS
3	621353	Number “5” on tail plane; likely V./NJG2	Jet & Prop (1996) p.35	Werknummer confirmed, association with #3 almost certain. Unit not confirmed, but usage of numbers on tail plane consistent with other V./NJG2 aircraft
8	622345	U5+OT V./NJG2	Green (2006) p.29 Internet photos	Werknummer almost certain, discernible from photograph
11	621650	n/a		Werknummer confirmed
12	620154	n/a	Gaemperle (2011) p.13 Internet photos	Werknummer confirmed
15	622901	U5+GT V./NJG2	Internet photos	Werknummer confirmed. Clearly identified through Bf110 next to it.
21	621602	number “9” on tail plane V./NJG2		V./NJG2 Flugbuch entries confirm usage of aircraft marked “9”
22	62- - - -	n/a		Possibly 620154, Werknummer confirmed at Brunnthal, association with #22 uncertain
23	62- - - -	n/a	Gaemperle (2011) p.53
24	62- - - -	n/a
29	622322	U5+NT V./NJG2	Gaemperle (2011) p.54 Internet photos	Werknummer confirmed
30	62- - - -	U5+FT V./NJG2	Green (2006) p.29
38	621591	number “24” on tail plane Likely V./NJG2	Green (2006) p.29	Werknummer confirmed. Unit not confirmed, but usage of numbers on tail plane in line with other V./NJG2 aircraft
41	62295-	U5+AT V./NJG2	http://www.508pir.org/album_barger/index.htm	According to Steve Sheflin, Werknummer is 622951.
48	622990	U5+DT V./NJG2	Loy (2010), p.46 Internet photos.	It seems that on this aircraft, the Werknummer was changed to 623998 (Gaemperle (2011), p.52 and 53) and photographs show the original number with the peeled away newer number.

Viewed from the south-west corner of the scrap heap (see below), eight Ju88G-6 tail planes are discernible and the following can be identified:

Aircraft No.	Werknummer	Comments
10	none	No Werknummer, washed out Hakenkreuz (Number partially illegible, could also be “19”)
--	621328	Burnt-out or destroyed wreck, tail plane only with SN2 tail marking – “VI”.
--	620426	Burnt-out or destroyed wreck, tail plane only with SN2 tail marking – “V/DR”.
--	621439	Burnt-out or destroyed wreck, tail plane only.
4	62- - - -	Burnt-out or destroyed wreck, tail plane only with Werknummer burnt-off.
--	622314	Burnt-out or destroyed wreck, tail plane only.

Viewed from the north-east corner - close to the Ju290 - at least another seven Ju88G-6 tail planes can been seen. The following Werknummern have been identified by Crandall (2011) p.7:

Aircraft No.	Werknummer	Comments
--	622124	Burnt-out or destroyed wreck, tail plane only.
--	622958	Burnt-out or destroyed wreck, tail plane only.
--	623213	Burnt-out or destroyed wreck, tail plane only.

source: expired ebay auction

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