Strange photo - Aircraft of World War II

Marcogrifo · 06-01-2009, 05:55 AM

Days ago I came across this strange photo of an early model of Heinkel 111 bomber on the site Airwar.ru:

Can someone tells me for what reason they digged into ground wheels?

I really can't figure out why...

Cheers

Colin1 · 06-01-2009, 05:58 AM

The only practical reason I can think of for digging the wheels out is that it got bogged in, they waited for the ground to dry out sufficiently and then got to it

Marcogrifo · 06-01-2009, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin1

The only practical reason I can think of for digging the wheels out is that it got bogged in, they waited for the ground to dry out sufficiently and then got to it

Yep, I see the point, it make sense, thank you Colin.
Anyway seems a bit strange to me they had previously parked the plane into a real marsh...

Any other?

Colin1 · 06-01-2009, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcogrifo

Yep, I see the point, it make sense, thank you Colin.
Anyway seems a bit strange to me they had previously parked the plane into a real marsh...

Any other?

I don't think they deliberately parked it in a 'marsh'.
The onset of the Russian winter brought many problems for German mobility, mud or 'rasputitsa' severely hampered progress, resupply and affected all arms of the German offensive, roads and landing strips were quickly reduced to quagmires. Ground forces often resorted to wheeled vehicles being towed by tracked vehicles, the Luftwaffe just did the best they could.

GrauGeist · 06-01-2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin1

I don't think they deliberately parked it in a 'marsh'.
The onset of the Russian winter brough many problems for German mobility, mud or 'rasputitsa' severely hampered progress, resupply and affected all arms of the German offensive, roads and landing strips were quickly reduced to quagmires. Ground forces often resorted to wheeled vehicles being towed by tracked vehicles, the Luftwaffe just did the best they could.

Funny how that same exact problem hampered Napoleon's troops too...

Matt308 · 06-01-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcogrifo

Days ago I came across this strange photo of an early model of Heinkel 111 bomber on the site Airwar.ru:

That's not an He-111. It looks to be an DB-3/Il-4.

pbfoot · 06-01-2009, 11:52 AM

I think it might be am early HE111 A or B model

Colin1 · 06-01-2009, 11:59 AM

I thought it was an early He111 too but I'm not familiar enough to positively identify it, be helpful if we could see the tail, that was unmistakeable

pbfoot · 06-01-2009, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin1

I thought it was an early He111 too but I'm not familiar enough to positively identify it, be helpful if we could see the tail, that was unmistakeable

I believe the Russian aircraft had radials

Marcogrifo · 06-01-2009, 12:31 PM

I think there's no doubt it's an Heinkel He111-b1 like this below:

Colin1 · 06-01-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcogrifo

I think there's no doubt it's an Heinkel He111-b1 like this below:

They're too well-dressed to be Russian ground crew

Matt308 · 06-01-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbfoot

I believe the Russian aircraft had radials

Yeah I know, but I was thinking they might have been Klimov diesels. I stand corrected.

A4K · 06-02-2009, 12:32 PM

I think Colin hit the nail on the head with the reason for the attitude of the wheels - you can see the planks lying around ready to be used for traction when they pull her out.

HerrKaleut · 06-02-2009, 01:03 PM

It is a 111B -1. I originally thought a b-2 but those nacelles are different

blimp · 10-25-2009, 07:50 AM

hi folks , a quick i.d. check shows the lack of early wing mounted oilcoolers and larger radiators make this version a He 111 b2 .

06-01-2009, 05:55 AM	#1
Marcogrifo Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Genoa, Italy Posts: 186	Strange photo Days ago I came across this strange photo of an early model of Heinkel 111 bomber on the site Airwar.ru: Can someone tells me for what reason they digged into ground wheels? I really can't figure out why... Cheers

06-02-2009, 01:03 PM	#14
HerrKaleut Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Darkest Norfolk, U.K. Posts: 71	111 It is a 111B -1. I originally thought a b-2 but those nacelles are different

10-25-2009, 07:50 AM	#15
blimp Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2	heinkel hi folks , a quick i.d. check shows the lack of early wing mounted oilcoolers and larger radiators make this version a He 111 b2 .

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06-01-2009, 05:58 AM	#2
Colin1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,766	The only practical reason I can think of for digging the wheels out is that it got bogged in, they waited for the ground to dry out sufficiently and then got to it

06-01-2009, 11:52 AM	#7
pbfoot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: niagara falls Posts: 5,586	I think it might be am early HE111 A or B model

06-01-2009, 11:59 AM	#8
Colin1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,766	I thought it was an early He111 too but I'm not familiar enough to positively identify it, be helpful if we could see the tail, that was unmistakeable

06-01-2009, 12:31 PM	#10
Marcogrifo Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Genoa, Italy Posts: 186	I think there's no doubt it's an Heinkel He111-b1 like this below:

06-02-2009, 12:32 PM	#13
A4K Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 3,224	I think Colin hit the nail on the head with the reason for the attitude of the wheels - you can see the planks lying around ready to be used for traction when they pull her out.