Junkers Ju 88D-1/Trop, WNr. 430650
History
The Junkers Ju 88D-1/Trop, Werknummer (WNr.) 430650, is a significant artifact on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (NMUSAF) in Dayton, Ohio. This aircraft, known as "Baksheesh," holds a unique place in aviation history due to its dramatic defection and subsequent service with the U.S. Army Air Forces.
Completed in June 1943, this long-range photographic reconnaissance version of the Ju 88 was delivered to Romania, a German ally during World War II. In July 1943, a Romanian pilot, disillusioned with the Axis cause, flew the aircraft to Cyprus, defecting to British forces. The Royal Air Force assigned it the serial number HK959 and named it "Baksheesh."Following evaluation in Egypt, the RAF transferred the aircraft to the U.S. Army Air Forces for further testing. It was flown to Wright Field in Ohio, where it underwent extensive evaluations. After the war, the aircraft was stored in the Arizona desert before being shipped to the NMUSAF in January 1960 .