Colors and markings of Junkers Ju 90 in Luftwaffe false Iraq group during Habbaniya war in 1941

[JWM]

Hi,

Some time ago I've got Junkers Ju 90 vacu. Thinking on build of it I was considering two options:

1. Transport machine from regular Luftwaffe squadron, like that one:

https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/media/junkers-ju-90.19089/full?d=1533599259

which seems to be overall RLM 02 with black engines and white band on fuselage and  code J4+KH. BTW the photo https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQV1p04Eppkbp7GvkrAE-Q_ZPkbL3BZAErC1w&usqp=CAU shows that there were white nose as well as white bottoms of cowlings present. There is also a set of three photos (one is here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkers_Ju_90#/media/File:Junkers_Ju_90B-1_in_Malmi_airport_(SA-kuva_145033).jpg ) showing Ju 90 (J4+GH, https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/junkers-ju90.41905/page-4)  from winter 1944 in Finland, which seems to have some winter temporary white cover on RLM02 (as for me).

 

2. The transport machine use to support anti British upraising in Habbaniya and Mosul (Iraq) in may 1941.

There are couple of photos of Ju-90 from this actions shwon in two very interesting articles here:

https://adl-luftfahrthistorik.de/dok/luftwaffe-einsaetze-im-irak-1941.pdf

http://falkeeins.blogspot.com/2015/12/air-war-in-syria-and-iraq-may-june-1941.html

 

For me they also looks like overall RLM02 with black engines remaining from original Lufthansa livery, but some painting profiles show them in NMF

 

There were three Ju90B used in Iraq , all ex-Lufthansa (W.Nr. 0003, GF+GA „Baden” – Hauptmann Hans von Goessel; W.Nr. 0005, GF+GE „Preussen” – Hauptmann Albert Gerstenkorn; W.Nr. 0009, BJ+OV „Thüringen” – Hauptmann Albrecht Klitzsch) as it is said here https://www.dws-xip.com/encyklopedia/lotde-iq/

I did not found any codes on existing photos, what likely was a results of hiding the Luftwaffe belonging (since Iraq insignia were painted on). 

But the most puzzling me this photo (colorized?):

which shows something like two shades of RLM-02...

This is also seen here, perhaps the same machine

 

BTW - here https://www.wikiwand.com/pl/Junkers_Ju_89 pphoto presents not Ju89 as written but Ju90 in two tone camo.

 

Any more information on Ju 90 in Luftwaffe service, especially in false Iraq colors will be welcomed!

Regards

J-W

 

[28ZComeback]

Not sure but maybe a discoloration that occurred as natural weathering in the Aegean Sea air or possibly touch-up paint.  The position of the new color is close to the spot where debris from the prop would hit the fuselage.  I don't know for sure but it was flying from rock and gravel fields in Greece and Rhodos. Maybe Manchuria. 

[G.R.Morrison]

Re: your color photo

Yes, you are correct about the black cowlings.

The lighter color was applied to obscure the black Lufthansa markings, the crane on the front, and name on fuselage.

 

A crew photo showing the fuselage shows no Kennung, a rather-small Iraqi triangle, vertically-striped ridders (outer faces only).

 

GRM

[JWM]

2 hours ago, G.R.Morrison said:

The lighter color was applied to obscure the black Lufthansa markings, the crane on the front, and name on fuselage.

 

A crew photo showing the fuselage shows no Kennung, a rather-small Iraqi triangle, vertically-striped ridders (outer faces only).

 

Many thanks! Since the lighter color was used to overpaint what looks similar, the whole airplane was rather painted then in NMF,

BTW - this photo described as Ju 89 shows rather Ju 90

https://www.wikiwand.com/pl/Junkers_Ju_89

 

On above photo as well as on the below one there is a small turret with gun on the tailplane area. On side profiles or drawing it is likely obscured by rudders.

 

It could be also interesting to know if machines in Iraq had this or not? Maybe it was only on a sole machine? Because that one (in Luftwaffe colors) do not have it

Regards

J-W

 

 

[G.R.Morrison]

No turret in the crew photo I mentioned above (Gerstenhorn's GF+GE).

 

Your photo of "J4+KH" is a Ju 90 (WNr.0009) from the summer of 1943

 

The one in the hangar was GF+GA, stuck at Damascus-Mezze for two days due to engine trouble -- note the crew's tents pitched alongside -- hoping for SOME shade from the tree.  This one was hauling an immense (800 Watts) transmitter and generator from a U-boat.

 

GRM

Edited July 2, 2022 by G.R.Morrison
a/c type corrected -- Thanks, gents.

[JWM]

3 hours ago, G.R.Morrison said:

Your photo of "J4+KH" is a Ju 290 (WNr.0009) from summer 1943

Hmm, accordingly to my source (K.H.Regnat, series Vom original zum modell, Junkers Ju 90) the j4+KH was Ju90 z2, no 90 0009, former Lufthanss "Thuringen", D-AJHB, in Luftwaffe initially BJ+OV, took part in Iraq operation...)

Regards

J-W

[KRK4m]

On 7/1/2022 at 9:00 PM, G.R.Morrison said:

Your photo of "J4+KH" is a Ju 290 (WNr.0009) from summer 1943

 

AFAIK The Ju290 had quite different wings, tailplanes, fins/rudders, twin mainwheels and BMW801 power eggs.

The plane in the photo stll has the single-row radials, short-span wings, single mainwheels and old-style tail.

Cheers

Michael

[Vesa Jussila]

Is it possible that WNr0009 was some modified prototypes? If I remember correctly some Ju-90s were modified Ju-290s. So then some kind of hybrid is possible.

[KRK4m]

WNr0009 was built for Lufthansa (along with 0001, 0003, 0005, 0006, 0007, 0008 and 0010) with 830hp BMW 132H (P&W Hornet licence) 9-cylinder radials.

WNr0002 and 0004 were similar, but powered by 1200hp P&W Twin Wasp (R-1830) 14-cylinder radials. Destined for South Africa, they were seized by the Luftwaffe prior to delivery.

As to the prototypes:

Ju 90 V6 became Ju 390 V1

Ju 90 V7 became Ju 290 V3

Ju 90 V8 became Ju 290 V2

Ju 90 V9 became Ju 390 V2

Ju 90 V10 became Ju 390 V3

Ju 90 V11 became Ju 290 V1

Cheers

Michael

[JWM]

I still have doubts on the colors on Ju 90 used in German support for Iraq during Habbaniya War in 1941... 

Namely, the color profile  shows it NMF, so it is assumed that all Lufthansa markings were simply stripped off.

However, all existing photos show the surface of Junkers very dull or mat, almost not reflecting any sunlight 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kytHGFnvVps/Vn7DxGUa2TI/AAAAAAAAVVM/pu3At6_3Zng/s1600/Ju90Iraq.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxCiK9fPua4/Vn7DvFdjquI/AAAAAAAAVVA/bYsPOYZUqlA/s1600/Ju90Iraq0Etna.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rlhzu6_qj1k/Vn7EGEDvhSI/AAAAAAAAVVQ/KmqoEWazb-c/s1600/Ju90Iraq3.jpg

http://www.dws-xip.pl/encyklopedia/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Ju-90_3.jpg

The Luftahansa machines (said to be in NMF) usually are shining as could be but at least a separate panels has different hues, what can be expected for bare metal 

 

On this photo  https://www.flickr.com/photos/skylarkair/11891135316/in/photostream/ for me it  is clear, that even during serving in Lufthansa they were not (at least not all of them) in a bare metal

Any comments on this will be acknowledged... A vacu Ju 90 is close to the top of my stash...

Regards

J-W