Ive been collecting Luftwaffe aircraft parts for about 3 years now, and I mostly collect parts in relic condition from crash sites. I had a run in with a part that had remains of asbestos on it last year. At first I didn’t know what the stuff looked like, but luckily my dad works in a field where he must be familiar with the deadly stuff. He was the one that told me it was on the part I received. I quickly sealed the part in a plastic bag, and put it outside. I’m pretty sure that part was washed away in the major flooding we received last august, as I haven’t seen it since.

Ive continued to collect aircraft relics from the German Luftwaffe despite the scare I had with asbestos. Ive tried my best to avoid parts that contain this mineral, and last Friday I had another run in with the terrible stuff. I bought a group of parts from a He-111 crash site in Stalingrad. I was exited to receive the parts as a good deal of history is actually known about this particular crash. But my excitement was short lived as I realized one part had visible portions of asbestos attached to it. To be exact it was a section of the engine fire wall. It is a piece that consist of two sections of skin, and sandwiched between them is a sheet of interwoven stands of asbestos. Like a fool I didn’t realize what the substance was. I was intrigued by the odd looking pieces of string hanging out of the relic, and touched it. When I did I saw visible particles fly off of the string, and into the air. It was then I realized what the substance was. I quickly sealed the relic in a plastic bag, and set it out side. I took the other parts that were shipped with it and boxed them up, and also set them outside.

After all of that I took a shower, and washed the clothes I was wearing. Ever since that day Ive been really paranoid over the exposure I had, and it also has me worried over the other parts in my collection. As far as I can tell no other parts in my collection contain the deadly stuff, but I could be wrong. So here are my questions. Should I be concerned over the exposure I had last Friday? What specific parts on Luftwaffe aircraft contained asbestos? Was asbestos even used on Luftwaffe aircraft, or was there some type of asbestos substitute? Hopefully you guys can help me out with this situation as its gotten me a bit worked up over the past few days.

Best regards- Jarret