Soviet Claims for Fw 189 4 May 1943
 

Soviet fighters were responsible for bringing down a Fw 189 of 1.(H)/32 near Louchi on the above date. Some records say it was a P-39, others a Hurricane and finally Maj Skiijarenko of 760 IAP. Can anyone help?

Re: Soviet Claims for Fw 189 4 May 1943
 

Maj. Nikolay Sklyarenko of 760 IAP flying Hurricane claimed one Fw-189 on this day.

Re: Soviet Claims for Fw 189 4 May 1943
 

Nikita

Thanks

Chris

Re: Soviet Claims for Fw 189 4 May 1943
 

Chris,

Researcher her a 'while' ago (27 years!!). I'm sure you found this.

One Fw 189 survives today. Its story starts on May 4, 1943 when Fw 189 V7+1H (Werk Nr. 2100), of 1./Nahaufklärungsgruppe 10, with V7 originally the Geschwaderkennung code for Heeres-Aufklärungsgruppe 32 based at Pontsalenjoki (due east of Kuusamo, and within the south-central area of modern Russia's Republic of Karelia) took off on a mission to photograph the Loukhi-3 airbase from an altitude of 6,000 m (20,000 ft), then to continue north along the Murmansk-Leningrad railway. Approximately 31 minutes after taking off, V7+1H was attacked by Lend-Lease-acquired Soviet Hawker Hurricane fighters. The aircraft dived to escape the fighters, but owing to damage already suffered, could not pull out in time, and it struck the treetops. The tail was torn off, and the crew nacelle left hanging upside down within the trees. The pilot, Lothar Mothes, survived but one crewman was killed in the crash and the third died from blood loss as a result of a severed leg. Incredibly, Mothes was able to survive two weeks in sub-zero temperatures, evading Soviet patrols while eating bark and grubs as he walked back to his base. Mothes spent the next nine months in a hospital recovering from severe frostbite before returning to the front line, eventually to fly another 100 missions.

In 1991, the wreckage of V7+1H was found in the Russian forest where it had remained for 48 years. The aircraft was purchased by a group of British aircraft enthusiasts and was shipped to the UK, arriving in the town of Worthing, West Sussex in March 1992. The Focke Wulf 189 Restoration Society was formed to restore the aircraft to flying condition. Her former pilot, Lothar Mothes, met up again with his aircraft at the 1996 Biggin Hill Airshow.

It was reported that this aircraft was acquired by Paul Allen’s Flying Heritage Collection. However, its current state is not publicly known.

http://www.aviartnutkins.com/images/...ff-Nutkins.jpg

Mark

Re: Soviet Claims for Fw 189 4 May 1943
 

Hello,

Gen.Qu. loss report from 5 May 1943 No. 38:
4.5. 1.(H)/32 Feindflug Auftrag: Louchi, Ursache: unbekannt FW 189 A-3 2100 (V7+1H) 100%
F Uffz Lothar Mothes vermisst
B Ofw Kurt Lebrecht vermisst
Bs Obgfr Günther Albrecht vermisst.

Correction from 24 May 1943:
Ofw Lebrecht, Obgefr Albrecht gefallen. Uffz Mothes verletzt zurück.

Regards
Leo

Re: Soviet Claims for Fw 189 4 May 1943
 

Thanks Leo & Mark I have this already