Flying Boat Lovers !

**peter taft** · #1 02-22-2011, 10:33 AM

Don't hear or see much about this beast ! The BV - 222

Trondheim, Norway, 27 August 1945. The war in Europe has ended after the suicide of Adolf Hitler in May, but in this photo, taken three months later, there are many interesting details. A German officer with service cap goes up the catwalk , perhaps it is the pilot of this Blohm und Voss BV 222. Behind him , head down, a German soldier also in uniform. In the background is another German military uniform , perhaps the Navy. Is this Bv 222 carrying a U.S. flag on the fuselage about to leave for the U.S? According to the Lela Presse 'Luftwaffe Seaplanes' book (Vol. 2) the Americans tested the BV 222 V-2 on 15 and 20 August 1945 after the British "loaned" it to them but testing was curtailed by technical problems with the engines. This magnificent aircraft was destroyed or rather 'scuttled' on 15 October 1945, still in Trondheim. Note that the caption indicates that this photo is "CONFIDENTIAL "and can not be used for publication.

**deckape** · #2 02-22-2011, 10:52 AM

Ahoy Grandson Peter
Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Germany,s Martin Mars. Now that would make one heck of a card model. Very impressive. Perhaps some day some designer would design one of these for us card modlers.

granddad boats

**Gixergs** · #3 02-22-2011, 12:29 PM

The Wiking was a big bird as was the BV 238. Blohm and Voss were more or less the German Counterparts of Short Bro's making many lovely flying boats the BV 238 being the biggest but the BV222 was the largest they had enter service.There's more about the BV222 here Charles Bain on the Blohm Und Voss Bv222 "Wiking"
Boats your right she would make an impressive model,but then so would any flying boat!There's a lot of interesting German transport waiting for a model both flying boats and land planes. Interesting post Pete thanks.

**SCEtoAUX** · #4 02-22-2011, 01:56 PM

That is a big airplane.

Someone with a sense of humor must have given that aircraft its registry letters. Maybe they were expecting an inferno.

**Gixergs** · #5 02-22-2011, 02:18 PM

Oh very well spotted!

**cmdr199212** · #6 02-22-2011, 02:34 PM

lol! nice catch

**peter taft** · #7 02-22-2011, 06:12 PM

Very sharp eyes there... must be at the peak of there performance

I think she's an awesome looking bird for sure, and like Grandad Boats and Phil says, would make a nice model for someone to design. The front end of her is very impressive. I think Revel kit's had her in their range {maybe wrong} also there were some metal models {ready made} again, unsure who manufactured them.