Could anyone please help me with identification of the aircraft in the attached photograph. Many thanks
It is a Bucker 181 Bestmann. German in origin the aircraft shown is a captured example bearing the RAF roundel.
Please read the book War Prizes by Phil Butler. A great number of captured Bücker Bü 181 Bestmann aircraft was brought to Allied countries. The book has a description in every detail.
Evident in RAF Service: B-1 VM772 serial 120518 C-2 VN787 serial 501659 C-3 AM122 serial 120417 ?? AM121 serial unknown ?? VN169 serial unknown I don't know if the 181, with which two flight students deserted to GB in March 1944, is included.
Thank you all for your responses. The photograph came from the collection of a former airman who served with 304 and 318 Squadrons so I can't understand what it was doing with either of those - unless it was just a courtesy visit.
I got this from a French source. According to this, the aircraft was sent to F.G. Miles (Miles aircraft) for evaluation. This is all I have on it But here I have a (full?) list of the identifications in RAF service: RAF Aircraft Serial Numbers Database
Unfortunately not. What you see is all I have and I was trying to find out what connection the airman had to his plane. He was originally an electrician with 304 (bomber) squadron then moved to 318 (fighter-reconnaissance) squadron.
Hi, The aircraft was attached the Polish 318 Squadron in Italy. I am in the believe, you wil find the same aircraft on the photo links. http://www.samolotypolskie.pl/uploads/Products/product_587/Bcker_B_181_Bestmann_02.jpg samolotypolskie.pl - Bücker Bü-181 "Bestmann" (Zlin C-6 / C-106) I do not understand or read Polish language, so below a Google translation: samolotypolskie.pl - Bücker Bü-181 "Bestmann" (Zlin C-6 / C-106) Finn
Thank you very much for that information. Now I have the connection with 318 Squadron in Italy and the airman who had the photograph did serve with 318 Squadron in North Africa and Italy. He was not in an elevated enough position to have been responsible for evaluating the aircraft but he would certainly have been capable of maintaining it.
