WW2 German Luftwaffe
Aircraft wheel semi-relic - Junkers
Ju87D or Ju87G Stuka
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A very rare opportunity to acquire a major Luftwaffe aircraft part consisting of a complete Continental tyre in good condition for its age along with the wheel hub attached to an axle. The markings on the tyre indicate German manufacture and the perhaps surprising English script “made in Germany” is typical of tyres of the period (and also pre-war) – Please see all photos including Battle of Britian Heinkel wheel. The word “Sporn” indicates an aircraft tail wheel as in “Spornrad”.
To give a visual impression of size the wheel is photographed with period Luftwaffe flying boots. These flying boots are NOT included in this auction. The wheel and tyre are around 30cm across.
The tyre size (please see photos) appears to be marked 380 x 150. This size is principally associated with the tail wheels of Luftwaffe Focke Wulf Fw190 fighters or fighter-bombers, The Messerschmitt Bf110 C heavy fighter and certain Stuka aicraft, that is Junkers Ju87 dive-bomber as well as ground attack types.
However it seems that existing examples of Fw190 and Bf110 tail wheels are cast alloy (so far as I have found) while this example seems to include an oxidised pressed steel hub, a method of fabrication known to be associated with some Luftwaffe bomber types. I am including a photo of a remarkably similar looking tail wheel from a crashed Battle of Britain era Heinkel He111 medium bomber that is also of pressed steel construction. The Heinkel tyre is also a Continental and marked “made in Germany” however it should be noted that the Heinkel wheel, although it looks almost the same, is about 50% bigger than this wheel!
(Note I cannot provide a link to the site relating to the Heinkel wheel but a search for “Spitfire Spares” should find it. I believe it is a highly reputable site and in any case well worth a visit).
The conclusion at this stage is that this wheel is probably from a Junkers Ju87D or Junkers Ju87G tank-buster aircraft making this a very rare and perhaps important find as there are now very few Stukas surviving.
The wheel was in fact recovered from the site of a Luftwaffe airfield in Eastern Europe about twenty years ago and the G variant had notable success destroying Russian, or more properly - Red Army, armour and tanks with its 37mm canon.
Of note is the fact that Hans-Ulrich Rudel, one of Germany’s most decorated aces flew this aircraft type.
It is not clear that the axle is an aircraft axle. It is possible, even likely, that the wheel served some ground-based utility purpose at the latter stage of its operational life as these wheels where used for all sorts of purposes, both during and after the war.
Condition
The wheel and tyre is in semi-relic condition. One side of the wheel has corroded to the extent that in one place there is a smallish hole. The other side of the wheel looks quite good and some paint remains. The wheel has seized on its axle, but the tyre remains good for its age and overall the tyre and wheel look great for display.
(It looks as if someone has marked this wheel Me109 - on the tyre – but this seems spurious as the Me109 wheel is a different size – smaller)
Given that the ID of this wheel is not absolutely certain (although it seems likely it is not a Focke Wulf wheel despite the correct tyre size) the starting price of this auction is low for a major Luftwaffe aircraft part, even in semi-relic condition, and especially for an iconic front line aircraft such as the Stuka. I very much hope this wheel will find a home with someone interested in completing the research – and perhaps getting a very good value wheel into the bargain!
Please ask any questions prior to bidding and I will try
and reply as quickly as I can as all sales are final.
Please DO contact me if you have any questions relating
to this sale.
I am always happy to try and answer questions in relation
to my sales – or related interests/wants.
Good luck if you are bidding!!