Blohm & Voss BV 238

The Blohm & Voss BV 238 was a prototype of a flying boat to be used by the Luftwaffe during the World War II for transport and long-range maritime patrols. Was developed by the German company Blohm & Voss.

 

The seaplane Blohm & Voss BV 238 was the heaviest airplane to fly when lifted off for the first time in April 1944. Physically was the largest aircraft produced by one of the countries that made part of the Axis. Its prototype, BV 238 V1 flew on 11 March 1944 and was equipped with six engines Daimler - Benz 603 V12 inverted-cylinder.

 

The sole completed BV 238 sank after an attack by three P-51 Mustangs of the 361 Fighter Group of the United States when it was anchored in Schaal Lake in September 1944. The construction of two more aircraft of this model were started but never completed .

 

Called Detroit Miss, the Mustang who led  the attack that destroyed the BV 238 was flown by American ace Ben Drew. Drew, contacted by the BBC in 1974, believed he had sunk one BV 222 Wiking .

 

A prototype built on the scale of ¼ of the BV 238, called the FGP 227, was used for testing during the development of the airplane on its first flight, but he made a forced landing and ended up providing anything new to the program.