IL2

Heinkel He-219A NJG3.3 (D5+BL) WNr 290126 Grove Denmark May 1945 00

Profile 00: Heinkel He-219 A-2 W.Nr. 290126 of 3./NJG1, Grove, May 1945 The uppersurfaces of W.Nr. 290126 were 76 with a reverse mottle of 75, while all undersurfaces and the vertical tail surfaces were matt black. The Werke Nummer appeared at the base of the fin in white, and the unit code D5+BL was applied to the fuselage sides in grey with the first two characters in reduced size and the 'B' outlined in white. While this profile has been reconstructed from the accompanying two photographs, it may be noted that when seen in its original Luftwaffe markings, the spinners had been removed and certain detail was hidden by the covers over the engines and cockpit. While the photograph of the machine in RAF markings shows most of these details, it is not certain if the aircraft's original spinners were refitted or whether those shown came from another machine. Similarly, all four dipoles for the FuG 220 SN-2 radar were angled at 45 degrees when the aircraft was first captured and painted black, although the two lower ones wre later replaced with examples painted white/red/white. The vertical aerials under the fuselage were for the FuG 25 IFF equipment and FuG 16 radio communications equipment, while the long fairing situated between these is believed to be associated with the FuG 12F blind landing system. Note also that there was no tail antenna but the two aerials for the FuG 101 radio altimeter were fitted under the starboard wing and a loop aerial was mounted on the upper rear fuselage.

Heinkel He-219A NJG3.3 (D5+BL) WNr 290126 Grove Denmark May 1945 01

Photo’s 01-02: The same 75/76/black finish is repeated on this He-219A-2 which was surrendered at Grove in Denmark in May 1945. This particular machine, WNr. 290126, had served with 3./NJG3 and carried the operational code D5+BL on the fuselage. This aircraft was selected for ferrying to the UK and, as shown (Photo 2) all national insignia were painted out and replaced with RAF roundels. When later seen at Farnborough, the legend 'Air Ministry' had been painted on the rear fuselage in white capital letters with the white number '20' painted centrally beneath it.