Nachtjager aircraft list
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Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann II./JG 54 (KG+GB) Russia 1941 00 Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann of 1./JG54 As appropriate for its original training role, this aircraft was originally painted in Light Grey L40/52 overall. Later, perhaps when first assigned to JG54 as a liaison aircraft, it was repainted in a standard Green 70/71 uppersurface scheme with Blue 65 undersurfaces. At this time, the swastika was masked off, leaving a surrounding square of the original L40/52. Because of the more complicated masking involved, it would seem the fuselage cross and code letters were overpainted during respraying and, when reapplied, were incorrectly positioned, being higher than normal and not parallel with the aircraft centreline. Later, the uppersurfaces were again repainted with a temporary white snow camouflage which was applied unevenly and left areas of the green scheme showing through. This time, while the major part of the airframe was spray-painted, the white areas around the code letters were brushed on, leaving a green border which resulted in the slightly distorted appearance of the lettering. The name "Lilli-Marlen" (as opposed to the famous, and still popular, wartime song 'Lili Marlene') appeared in red under the cockpits, and the badge of 2./JG54 on a white disc was painted on the yellow engine cowling. Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann JG54.2 (KG+GB) Russia 1941 01 Photo’s 01-02: The Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann was designed as a sports, aerobatics and training aircraft and first entered service with the Luftwaffe in 1935.This example, coded KG+GB, served with 2./JG54 in late 1941 and although at least one source states that it later became a personal courier aircraft used by Oblt. Hans Phillip, who became the Kommandeur of I./JG54 on 15 February 1942, the display of Abschussbalken on the rudder is believed to represent 2.Staffel's tally rather than Oblt. Phillip's own victories. The machine has received an overspray of white and the name "Lilli-Marlen" appears on the fuselage. Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann JG54.2 (KG+GB) Russia 1941 03 Photo 03: When photographed again in early 1942, the yellow cowling had been overpainted white and the badge of I./JG54 had been added to its fuselage. This machine, one of at least two Bucker 131s operated by JG54, is known to have survived until 1943. Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann Bü 131 Jungmann The German Bücker Bü 131 "Jungmann" (Young man) was a 1930s basic training aircraft which was used by the Luftwaffe during World War II. Development After serving in the Kaiserliche Marine in World War I, Carl Bücker moved to Sweden where he became managing director of Svenska Aero AB (SAAB). He later returned to Germany with Anders Anderson, a young designer from SAAB. Bücker Flugzeugbau GmbH was founded in Berlin-Johannistahl, in 1932, with the first aircraft to see production being the Bü 131 Jungmann. Bücker Flugzeugbau's first production type, the Bü 131A was the last biplane built in Germany. It had two open cockpits in tandem and fixed landing gear. The fuselage was steel tube, covered in fabric and metal, the wings wood and fabric. It first flew on the 80 hp (60 kW) Hirth HM60R. In 1936, it was followed by the Bü 131B, with a 105 hp (78 kW) Hirth 504A-2. Most wartime production for the Luftwaffe was by Aero in Prague. Operational History Sturdy and agile, the Bü 131A was first delivered to the Deutscher Luftsportverband (DLV). The Bü 131B was selected as the primary basic trainer for the German Luftwaffe, and it served with "virtually all" the Luftwaffe's primary flying schools during the war, as well as with night harassment units such as Nachtschlacht Gruppen (NSGr) 2, 11, and 12. Yugoslavia was the main prewar export customer; "as many as 400 may have found their way" there. She was joined by Bulgaria with 15 and Rumania with 40. Production licenses were granted to Switzerland (using 94, 88 built under licence to Dornier), Spain (building about 530), Hungary (which operated 315), Czechoslovakia (10, as the Tatra T 131, before war began), and Japan, the last of which built 1,037 for Army with Hatsukaze power as the Kokusai Ki-86 and 339 for the Navy Air Services as the Kyūshū K9W. In Spain, production continued at CASA until the early 1960s. The Jungmann was retained as the Spanish Air Force's primary basic trainer until 1968. About 200 Jungmanns survive to this day, many having been fitted with modern engines. In 1994, the Bü 131 was restored to production briefly using CASA jigs by Bücker Prado in Spain, with 21 aircraft constructed as the BP 131, while SSH Janusz Karasiewicz in Poland also started production of a version of the Jungmann based on Czech plans in 1994 Variants * Bü 131A : Two-seat primary trainer biplane. Initial production version. Operators Czechoslovakia General characteristics * Crew: Two (student and instructor) Performance * Maximum speed: 183 km/h (99 kn, 115 mph) Bibliography * Bridgeman, Leonard. “The Bücker Bü 131B “Jungmann”.” Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. ISBN 1-85170-493-0. Web Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%BCcker_B%C3%BC_131 |
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