Focke-Wulf variant identification
 

Hello,

the picture below shows a wreckage of Jabo Fw 190 version. Is it possible to state exactly what variant was it?


Best regards
Wojtek
http://www.polishairforce.pl/_temp/fockewulf.jpg

Re: Focke-Wulf variant identification
 

I would say an Fw 190F-8 or F-9 because of the late all black Balkenkreuz.

Re: Focke-Wulf variant identification
 

Yes, it's very hard to tell from this perspective - bomb racks under the wing suggest it's an F-variant. The late style Balkenkreuz was applied to all Fw 190-models though, not only to the ground attackers.

The unusual long II.-Gruppe-bar could give away the unit - Wojtek, do you know when and where this photo was taken?

Christian

Re: Focke-Wulf variant identification
 

Hi,

yes, I know the unit but I didn't want to suggest anything to you :). I have noticed the bomb racks, but I am very curious if it can be distinguished further based just on the photo, for instance F-3 or F-8.

Place of taking the photo (Finow, end of April 1945) and probable circumstances of shooting down this aircraft suggest that it should have belonged to SG 3, what - in this case - would mean 4./SG 3 - and F-8 version. Is that correct?.

Is it possible to verify anyhow if the II Gruppe of SG 3 used such long bar as the marking?

Regards
Wojtek

Re: Focke-Wulf variant identification
 

Hi Wojtek,

I just looked through my photos and found that those longer-than-standard-Gruppe bars have been used not only by one particular unit. Besides to the unidentified ones like the one your Fw 190 was with, similar markings can be seen, for example, on some Fw 190s used by JG 4 and JG 6. So no proof on this side.

I am afraid the SG 3 possibility must be left to speculation too, as this whole unit isn't documented very well (at least in late-war photographs). All I can say is that II./SG 3 in fact used numbers as tactical markings and that two Fw 190s marked very similar to this overturned example were photographed by Soviet soldiers at Tutow, about 130 kilometers north of Finow. So all these planes might have belonged to the same SG-unit under Luftflotte 6 in north-eastern Germany (II./SG 3 and II./SG 1 being the most likely contenders), but unfortunately nothing more can be said with certainty. At least not by me. Perhaps someone else can help...

BTW: Do you have any more photos from Finow? The P-39s in the background are interesting too...

Re: Focke-Wulf variant identification
 

Pitot near the wingtip : -8 or later version.

Re: Focke-Wulf variant identification
 

Hi,

thank you very much for further details. This one is unfortunately the only picture taken at Finow airfield. The reason for it was that the photographer was interested mainly in this wreckage. The photo was taken as a proof confirming a claim done by a Yak-9 pilot who reported he shot down a landing Focke-Wulf 190 close to "Finowfurt airfield" (what for sure means finow). I think the pilot did it on his own or some groundcrew did it on his request.

If you are interested in the full photo not only the crop of the wreckage please send me your e-mail as a private message.

Thanks a lot again and regards
Wojtek

Re: Focke-Wulf variant identification
 

landing aircraft? where is the tailwheel
innocenti

Re: Focke-Wulf variant identification
 

Broken off in landing/crash

Re: Focke-Wulf variant identification
 

Hello. I do not know the unit for sure, but I know the aircraft is an F-9.