RESTORATION
Ju 88 - ARCTIC BEAUTY!
January 18th 2009
December 8th the Norwegian Aviation Museum received the fuselage of Ju88 D-1 W.No.1203 (4N+EH) from Hungary. The project is a joint project between the Deutsches Teknikmuseum, Berlin and the Norwegian Aviation Museum, Bodø.
The Ju88 was one of two recovered from the Mehamn area in the far north of Norway 2001 and was shipped to the Karl Birczak restoration shop in Hereg, Hungary, February 2004. Here it has been used as pattern for the rebuild of the DTMB`s own Ju88 G-1, still in Hungary.
After use, the fuselage of W.No 1203 was then reassembled, repaired and shipped back to Norway. The task of restoring and installing all the internal details has already begun at NAM, Bodø.
The official hand-over ceremony was held January 17th at Bodø where representatives from DTMB and the workshop were present.
The project of rebuilding the rest of the airplane is continuing at Hereg. Here the tail planes are to be rebuilt as the next step on the way to a complete airplane. The rebuild of the wings are still to be negotiated.
As a part of the total project, an agreement with the aviation museum at Redhill on the restoration of one of the two Jumo 211 engines for W.No. 1203 has been reached. Already this engine was shipped to Redhill beginning of January this year.
The restoration of the internals of the fuselage is expected to last two years depending on manpower and money. This job is to be undertaken by volunteers from the Bodø Aviation Historical Society. (BAHS) Since no agreement on the rebuilding of the wings is reached yet, no exact date can be set for the finishing of the total project.
The fuselage of W.No.1203 is
rebuilt to the highest standards, and the NAM. Bodø is very
satisfied with the quality of the work done.
Junkers
Ju88 D-1 W.No, 1203 finally at home!
9th December 2008
Several years of work at Karl Birczak`s restoration facilities in Hereg, Hungary is at an end!
The fuselage of our Ju88 D-1 arrived early Sunday 7th. of December at the museum. The transport was by truck from Hungary and was performed without accidents of any sorts.
Ju88s in progress
16th October 2007
The
two Ju88 fuselages being rebuilt in Hungary is nearing
completion. October 5th a small ceremony celebrating
the (near) completion of several years of work took place in
Hereg, Hungary.
Due to unforeseen delays in the rebuilding process, two- three weeks of work are still expected on the Norwegian Ju88 before being returned to Norway. Still to be fitted are things like the bottom gondola, bottom tank cover and tail wheel doors together with some minor parts. Upon arrival at Bodø, Norway the Norwegian museum team will then make the Ju88 complete with all internal details. Next planned step on the way to a complete aircraft will be the rebuilding of the tail plane and fin.
The Berlin Ju88 is to be completed with
internal details and equipment at Hereg before being transported
to Germany.
Report from
Hereg
25th April
2006
Our Ju88 project is moving forward!
Since last meeting the centre section of the fuselage has been completely dismantled, preserved and partially assembled. At the time of the meeting, the team was doing repairs to the top of the fuselage from where German troops (1943) removed the rubber tank and other valuable equipment.
To further ease the access to the front of this section, the cockpit has been temporarily removed. The cockpit will be permanently attached in the near future. The gondola (bola) in the bottom of the cockpit will then be made. As a pattern for this, the gondola from the Ju88 raised from the bottom of Lake Jonsvannet will be supplied.
The tail end
of our Ju88 will then be rebuilt and attached to the front
end.
The quality of the work is to the highest standards and we
are very satisfied with the end result.
The fuselage will at the time of delivery from Hereg, be
painted on the inside of the cockpit area with the correct
(Black/Grey RLM 66) colour. This will enable us to start the
process of installing internal details as soon as we receive
the fuselage.
Meeting
in Hungary
January 30 2006
The project has had great progress since last meeting. The
restoration agreement was that parts from our D-1 was to be
used as a patterns to make new parts for the DTMB`s G-2
model.
Almost all the cockpit structure of the G-2 was in small pieces and no drawings were available. As a result, a better background material was needed for the G-2`s reconstruction.
This background was found in the use of our D-1 for patterns.
The entire front section of our D-1 has been dismantled so that the parts could be used for patterns. Before dismantling, the fuselage front of the D-1 has been used as a basis for a jig. This jig is again used for the reassembly of both front fuselages.
The situation in the workshop today is that the G-2 is in the jig. Here the front section will be assembled completely with skins and internal structure. After this, approximately one month from now, the front section of our D-1 model will go into the jig. The same procedure will then apply for this front section, only that here also the section of the fuselage containing the wing mounts will be dismantled.
We have some corrosion in this area and it will be important to have this removed before final assembly. The front of both Ju88`s will be made structurally complete before both tail sections are joined.
Looking at the quality of the work done, we are very satisfied. You always have a balance of keeping as much as possible of the original parts and to do a good preservation. Some of the original parts are of poor quality and needs replacement. If not replaced, their life expectancy will be short, even after restoration. In some places these bad parts will be expensive to replace later.
Our policy is where the handbook says that the damage can be repaired, we will do so according to the manual. If the damage is extensive we will replace the skinning. We will try to have as much as possible of the original joints as possible.
Next meeting is scheduled for last part of April. We are then promised to have the both fuselages in almost a finished state!
The plans now are to have both fuselages ready sometimes this summer.
We are really looking forward to the
roll-out ceremony!
Repairs
of the fuselage
December
29 2005
The repairs of the fuselage structure have been delayed
somewhat but are now well under way in Hereg, Hungary.
Already the structure in the cockpit section have been
dismantled and copied. New parts for the Ju88 G-2 of the
Deutsches Teknikmuseum, Berlin have been made by using our
parts as patterns. Our front section is then repaired and is
said to be completed.
What is left is the rejoining of the front fuselage and the
tail section.
Next meeting will be January 25th 2006
in Hungary.
Immediately after this a new progress report will be filed.
Stay tuned!
German/Norwegian cooperation
December
1 2003
Norwegian Aviation Museum, Bodø (NL) and the Deutsches
Teknikmuseum, Berlin (DTMB) has agreed on the restoring of two
Junkers Ju88 airplanes. Several years ago a Ju88 G-1 was
discovered at the bottom of Plattensee inside Hungary 1996.
After recovery this airplane were taken over by DTMB. This Ju88
is planned to be part of the new exhibition in the DTMB-building.
However, most of the R/H side wing, the
tip of the L/H side wing and major parts for the fuselage were
missing.
The DTMB will use the wreckage of 0880797 as spares for the rebuild. The fuselage of 0881203 will be used for patterns. As of now no deal is made for the restoring of the wings for the 0881203.
In return for all this, DTMB will rebuild the fuselage of 0881203. Already all internal components are removed. The internal details are to be restored and put back inside the fuselage upon return. In addition to this DTMB will rebuild a set of wings for NLM´s Messerschmitt Bf109 G-2 project.
It is expected
that the two Ju88´s are to leave Bodø before X-mas. The
restoring of the two Junkers Ju88´s will take place at the Karl
Birczak Restoration shop in Hereg, Hungary.
Recovery at Kinnarodden summer 1999
Birger Larsen
The Norwegian Aviation Museum staged a similar expedition two years ago. Then the aim was to recover the engines and one tail section of the two Ju88s. Even if the weather then was marginal, we finally collected everything of what was planned.With the great help from 330 Squadron based at Banak AFB. We soon had the different parts in storage at Bodø.
This year we planned to dismantle the two Ju88s in order to have them airlifted to Mehamn Airport. Again with great help from 330 Squadron.
The expedition started out from Mehamn august 3rd. Accompanying us were two german journalists, Knut and Hans-Christof, covering the event for a german magazine. Altogether 6 other participants were to do the dismantling and preparations for airlifting.
Ready for
lift
In order to be in position for the dismantling of the two airplanes we first had to travel by boat. The boat (owned by Nordic Safari Wildlife AdventuresAS) brought us safely ashore at Sandfjorden.We put up the base camp down by the seaside. This way we only needed to carry the tools necessary for the dismantling of the first airplane up to the top of the mountain.
We still had two more nuts to loosen before we had the job finished. But - did we not hear the sounds of a helicopter??
A scetch of the
plane
Sure, a helicopter from 330 Sqdn. arrived. They had scrambled for a rescue operation close by and now they paid us a visit to see if everything went according to plans!
New plans were made and then the helicopter set out for Mehamn Airport. Soon they returned carrying a new tool borrowed from the people working at the airport.
The two remaining nuts came off in a hurry and soon we could return to the base-camp in a good mood.
Down there we collected logs to make a fire. Torgeir was appointed "Grillmaster" and celebrating the succsessful day we felt rather satisfied with what was acheived.
Two of the team soon were on their way up on top of the mountain for the first Ju88.
Close to lunchtime the first of the Ju88s was ready for airlifting. At the same time three of the crew set course for the second of the Ju88s. Here they started disconnecting the nuts which held the right hand wing to the fuselage. The nuts were very corroded and soon problems arose disconnecting the bottom nuts. Trying very hard using every trick in the books they finally could disconnect the second wing!
Now the weather had improved and returning to the camp we could now enjoy the splendid wiews of the area in a brilliant sunshine.
Since now everything were done we decided to return to Mehamn. At six o`clock in the evening we again were picked up by the boat. Soon we enjoyed a beer and a pizza at the hotel.
In Bodø
The crew decided to at least try to lift parts from the Junkers in the Sandfjorden but only one flight was possible before the helicopter had to return to the airport.
Then very little happened for a long time. We had almost given up the idea of having the rest of the parts down before winter. Mehamn Airport authorities sent an E-mail reminding us of the centersection still present at the airport. The winter was just around the corner and they needed the area for clearing away the snow!
"You can come now", the answer was. The Sea-King has already flown in three loads of Junkers and they are now out there to pick up the fourth load!!!
Capt. Norderval and his crew had not let us down!
Now the only thing that remained was to repack for the shipment by boat.
Because of other planned arrangements at the museum we could not go to Mehamn until monday, oct. 8th. This allowed for the neccessary planning of the next step in the recovery operation. The four-man crew arrived in the evening. Next day the preparations started for shipment of the parts.
Thanks to super assistance from the employees of the Mehamn Airport we were able to finish the preparations in two days.
Because of the size of the wings the only kind of transportation possible was by boat. The Strand Shipping Company found a suitable ship ("MS Tanto.") and planned to pick up the freight already the 18th. of october. Because of a lot of bad weather the shipping of the two Junkers were delayed by one week.
Friday october 26th. was a great day for all of us at the museum. Then the two Ju88`s arrived.
The wings and the remains of the fuselage of W.no.0797 is in storage at the Bodø AFB but the front part of the fuselage of W.no.1203 is in the workshop for cleaning and preservation.
In Bodø
Historical facts about the two airplanes:
Ju88 located at Kinnarodden:
Type: Ju88 D-1
Serial: 088 1203
Markings: 4N+EH
Unit: 1(F)/22
History: Started out from Kirkenes to bomb the ship A.Marti (3500 t.) south of Bjørnøya february 17th. 1943.Was hit by flak and had to belly-land with damage to the left engine. None of the crew wounded. Later on some important parts recovered by german soldiers from Banak AF.
After the war sold by the Norwegian Government to a team of four living in Mehamn. Intended to be broken up as scrap.
Sold to the Norwegian Aviation Museum 1998.
Crew:
- Feldwebel Gerhard Kunert (B.17.03.1920) Pilot
- Lt. Hans Krüger. (B.07.03.1920) Observer/Nav.
- Unteroffizier Fritz Sundergeld (B.22.05.1922) Radio operator.
- Unteroffizier Georg Lechner (B.24.06.1920) Air gunner.
Ju88 located at Sandfjorden:
Type: Ju88 C-4
Serial: 088 0797
Markings: 4D+HA
Unit: KG30
History: Made an emergency landing coming from the sea. Sliding over the small hill, the airplane stopped before reaching the small lake in the bottom of Sandfjorden. All three of the crew wounded in the emergency landing.
Sold to the same group that bought the other JU88 at Kinnarodden.
Sold to the Norwegian Aviation Museum 1998.
Crew:
- Staffelkapitän Kuno Gotthard (B.19.03.1913) Pilot.
- Oberleutnant Helmut Lüttgens (B.22.11.1913) Navigator.
- Stabsfeldwebel Willi Hillebrecht (B.27.11.1910) Radio operator