Hi to all! The Arado rusts in peace in Krumono air base (museum since many years),about 6-10 km from Plovdiv(used to be named Fillipoupoli).This is one of the three still remainings of this type in the world,and with great sorrow and dissapointment realised that it has been destroyed.Indeed lot of hull cover is lost from last time I saw it live in 2005.
For the history,this plane was initially placed in Varna,and was about to be destroyed due to its sinfull past when Bulgaria was part of the Axis,and took place in the invasion and capitullation of Greece(North Greece,Macedonia and Thrace).
Maybe they didn't want anything "nazionalist" to remember the past....Who knows.
But fortunatelly at last,it was saved by some who realized its value and managed to place it in a museum.It was initially perserved with the Allied markings,the white/red roundels with a green stripe inside.

Until years passed and the "blood has been dried"-pls excuse for the comment,not in purpose/nothing personal,just facts- and they managed to repaint it in Axis Bulgarian markings operated from Varna.(I thing it is St.Andrews cross,if I am not wrong,used by the BVVS-Balgarski Voennovazdushni Sily- in WWII.)
However,they never thought to place it inside or move it to the national museum in Sofia to keep it away from all bad weather condition,but left it outdoor to meet its destiny.
To be destroyed and every visitor could have a part of it in his home...

Arado Ar 196 A-3
