Hptm. Werner Mölders, Staffelkapitan of 3.J/88 talking with one of his mechanics while his Bf 109 D-1 is being prepared for another sortie, Spain, November, 1938. Molders would become the top scoring ace of the Spanish Civil War with 14 confirmed kills, misteriously the rudder of his machine at the time was marked with 15 victory bars.

Molders in Spain

The three barrels of the SG 116 'Zellendusche' installed in a Fw 190 of Eprobungskommando 25. This experimental weapon consisted of a recoilless, single-shot, 30mm device and was to be fired upwards as the fighter passed under a bomber. It was to be activated automatically using a photo-electric cell. Trials were carried out by Ekdo. 25 in 1944 but proved to be largely unsuccessful.

SG 116 'Zellendusche'

The first prototype of the Ju 89, seen here being prepared for a test at the Junkers airfield at Dessau, was designed to meet the specifications of the 'Ural Bomber' programme, although better then the competition (Do 19) it was still a sluggish machine capable of no more then 390km/h (242mph) without armament. It made its first flight in December 1936, a 2nd prototype being build in early 1937, powered with more powerful engines. With the programme cancelation on 29 April 1937 further tests were abandoned and the airframe of a 3rd prototype being build at the time was converted to serve as the forerunner of the Ju 90 commercial transport. Both prototypes built (V1 and V2) served briefly with the transport unit KGrzbV 105 during the invasion of Norway in 1940.  The aircraft in the background is the Ju88 V1 which was also undergoing tests at the time.