Need help identifying an airplane (or what's left of it)

rocker286

Member since
June 2010
From: Rochester, New York USA

Need help identifying an airplane (or what's left of it)

Posted by rocker286 on Sunday, November 6, 2016 3:59 PM

Hello everybody! I just got back from a family get together and my mother was given a whole slew of photos from my aunt. Neither of us had seen any of them before, but they're all of my Grandpa Bob during his stint in the USAAF during World War II. One particular photo stood out because it just looks awesome. It's of my grandfather in France in February of 1945. He's proudly standing next to a Luftwaffe plane that's been reduced to a scrap heap. At first I thought it might be a 109..but then I took a look at the landing gear and said no way. I'm now wondering if it might possibly be an MC. 205 that was pressed into German service after Italy's capitulation, but I'm not too sure. So I decided to share this piece of history with all of you, in hopes that someone might have a keen enough eye to tell me what this pile of scrap actually is! I'd like to make a diorama based on this exact photo, but I need to know what type of plane this is so I can buy the right kit. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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patrick206

Member since
March 2013

Posted by patrick206 on Sunday, November 6, 2016 4:17 PM

No expert here, but my guess looking at the gear and gear doors, FW190. I'll bet Lawdog or one of the other really knowledgeable ones will nail it.

Patrick

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ddp59

Member since
April 2005

Posted by ddp59 on Sunday, November 6, 2016 5:38 PM

appears not to be a me-109 as gear doors are on the wrong side of the landing gear.

http://www.aviation-history.com/messerschmitt/me109-02b.jpg

appears not to be a fw-190 as gear doors are the wrong shape.

http://cdn-live.warthunder.com/uploads/bc/64ad8b401181786818d2a82b8a31ce4e374dc2/Fw_190_2_01.jpg

even the mc-205 is the wrong shape of gear doors

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/db/79/59/db79595d7a32c18f644c9593d9f9138d.jpg

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BlackSheepTwoOneFour

Member since
January 2013

Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Sunday, November 6, 2016 6:36 PM

It's definitely not a 109 nor a 190. It looks more like a Dewoitine D 520 captured by the German Luftwaffe.

http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/f/24/2/0#1

Look at the gear door shape in the picture on top right page of the link below:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dewoitine_D.520

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tempestjohnny

Member since
November 2003
From: Naples, FL

Posted by tempestjohnny on Sunday, November 6, 2016 6:44 PM

Going with the markings behind the balkenkruz it could be a captured aircraft. Thinking a French D.520. Also look at the cooler door under the aircraft.

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rocker286

Member since
June 2010
From: Rochester, New York USA

Posted by rocker286 on Sunday, November 6, 2016 6:53 PM

You guys were right, it was definitely a captured Allied aircraft and DEFINITELY a D.520! I did some sleuthing of my own and found this photo:

http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/PippinBill/5215.htm

That's the EXACT same plane in my grandfather's photo. Thank you all for the tips! Now the next question is: What kit manufacturers make good D.520 kits in 1:72 scale? I think I know what my next kit will be!