Junkers Ju86R-1 high altitude recce aircraft

Dave Eadsforth wrote in message ...
Good day, good people,

I wondered if anyone might be able to help with a couple of questions on
the Junkers Ju86R-1 high altitude reconnaissance aircraft that was in
service between 1943 and 1944?

I have a reference that states that these were operated by a Luftwaffe
unit called the 1./Versuchsverband Ob.d.L. Can anyone tell me in which
theatre this unit operated, and if at all possible, which base(s)?

Forty Ju-86Ps were delivered to Versuchsverband Ob.d.l.,
2.(F)/Aufkl.Gr.33, and Kommando Rowehl in 1940. Most were P-2 recon
a/c but there were also P-1 bomber aircraft. The P-2 was unarmed at
first but the P-2 could carry four SC250 bombs. It was used in the
same recon role but also performed bombing missions on occasion. The
aircraft operated over England as a nuisance raider before being used
to take photos of the Soviet Union prior to the invasion of June 1941.
When the Ju-86R became available in 1941 it was used again against
southern England until by September 1942 the Spitfire IX was able to
reach it. After that, the a/c operated mostly on the eastern and
southern fronts.

Is there any (accessible) record of the operations they carried out?

I haven't seen any...

Also, the Ju86P that preceded the Ju86R-1 was given a single rear-firing
machine gun after the first ones were shot down by specially prepped
Spitfire Vs. (It didn't help!) Was the Ju86R-1 given any defensive
armament?

Not that I can see from the photographic record; however, if a single
MG was mounted it most likely was in a dorsal position... the dustbin
mount having ben removed and no photos of a nose gun. I'll look around
to see if I can find a pic with armament.

There was also the Ju86R-2, which was a bomber version; did that have
any defensive armament?

Probably not, just the four SC250 bombs as in the P-version. The
bombers were only used "on occassion"...

Thanks very much!

Cheers,

Dave

Rob