Arado Ar 68

Crash landing of Arado Ar 68 E DC+LF, flown by Oberleutnant Linkewiecz at Neustadt-Glewe, 2. September 1941. According to the inscription on the rear of the original photograph (and such inscriptions can at times be somewhat challenging to decipher), the reason for the crash landing was the torn control cable to the aircraft's rudder. At this point in time, the Ar 68, formerly used as a fighter by the Luftwaffe, had been relegated to the training role.

The photo provides a rare, clear view of the upper side of the Ar 68's cowling and cockpit section. It also shows the external damage incurred by the mishap: the propeller is fractured, the port landing gear has been crushed, the forward port fusleage is damaged, the upper wing has been dislodged and its structure damaged, the outer section of the lower port wing has be sheared off while the lower starboard wing also seems to have shifted forward, and oil or fuel is leaking from the aircraft.

The upper side of the aircraft does not appear to be painted in splinter camouflage and instead seems to be green overall. (German Aviation 1919-1945 collection)