IL2

Ju-88C NJG2.4 (R4+GM) $Wilhelm Beier W.Nr 360219 Holland 01-02

Photo’s 01-02: Two views of a Ju-88 C-4 coded R4+GM of 4./NJG2, probably at Gilze-Rijen, shown after a taxiing mishap in which the machine lost its radar antennae and suffered other damage to its nose and propellers. This machine was flown by Ofw. Wilhelm Beier of 4./NJG2. Note, however, that when the photograph was taken, no victory markings are visible on the tail unit indicating that, if carried at all, Beier's tally was carried only on the port side. Note also that at this time the aircraft was clearly camouflaged in the standard 70/71/65 bomber scheme.

Pilots NJG2.1 $Wilhelm Beier October 1941 01

Ofw. Wilhelm Beier shown here after being presented with the Knight's Cross by General Josef Kammhuber on 11 October 1941. Lt. Beier was at that time the highest-scoring pilot of I./NJG2, claiming the destruction of 14 bombers.

Ju-88C NJG2.4 (R4+GM) $Wilhelm Beier W.Nr 360219 Holland 03-04

Photo’s 03-04: This view of the same aircraft, again almost certainly photographed at Gilze-Rijen in Holland, shows that the machine has now been almost entirely repainted with grey 74.A1so visible are the victory bars on the tail which have been left in a prominent white although the white segments of the Balkenkreuz on the fuselage and under the wings have been overpainted with temporary black distemper.

Ju-88C NJG2.4 (R4+GM) $Wilhelm Beier W.Nr 360219 Holland 05

Photo 05: The starboard side of the tail of the same machine showing the W.Nr. 360219 and 22 victory bars. Ofw. Beier's 22nd victory was an Avro Manchester which he shot down north-east of Moerbeke at 03.16 hrs on 29 August 1942.

Ju-88C NJG1.10 (R4+FM) $Wilhelm Beier W.Nr 360219 Holland 01-02

Photo’s 01-02: September 1942, Ofw. Wilhelm Beier was promoted to Leutnant and the following month transferred from NJG2 to the newly formed 10./NJG1 at Leellwarden, apparently taking his aircraft with him. On the night of 15/16 October, Lt. Beier claimed a B-24, two Stirlings and a Manchester, raising his tally to 36 victories. These photographs were taken shortly afterwards and, although this is the same aircraft, WNr 360219, as shown in , the individual aircraft letter has now been changed to an 'F', but neither the Geschwader code nor the Staffelletter have yet been amended to 'G9' and '0' respectively. In addition to the 36 victory bars, the tail has also been marked with a small representation of tbe Ritterkreuz awarded to Ofw. Beier in October 1941. Note also that the victory markings now appear on both sides of the tail and that the Englandblitz emblem, probably obscured by the spinner in the photograph on top of page 77, appears on the forward fuselage. Willlelm Beier was later commissioned and was credited with 38 victories up to the end of May 1943 when he became an instructor. Although he was retraining on the Me-262 night fighter in May 1945, Beier, then an Oberleutnant, flew no more combat missions and survived the war.

Ju-88C NJG1.10 (R4+FM) $Wilhelm Beier W.Nr 360219 Holland 00

Profile 00: Junkers Ju-88C-4 'R4+FM' flown by Lt. Wilhelm Beier of 10./NJG1, Leeuwarden, October 1942. This profile represents Lt. Beier's R4+FM after he achieved his 36th victory and shows the tail marked with a small representation of the Ritterkreuz and the appropriate number of white victory bars. Each bar contains a black diagonal line to denote a night victory and the date of the respective claim. Although camouflaged in a worn and apparently hastily applied grey 74, traces of the original bomber scheme of 70/71/65 remain, particularly on the tail and where the grey has weathered away from the engine cowling. Note that whereas the repainting around the fuselage code letters on the starboard side is quite crude, that on the port side was much neater. Traces of temporary black remain on the white segments. of the Balkenkreuz and a variation of the diving falcon badge of the Nachtjagd probably appeared on both sides of the nose. As explained above, although operating with NJG1 (code 'G9'), the machine still carries the 'R4' code of NJG2, Beier's previous unit.