Hi Steve,
Thanks a lot for the analysis. Actually, looking at your list and at the picture, it may well be that it was a I./JG 6 aircraft instead (as I originally thought). The photo shows a RVB that may have been yellow or red (blue is I think out of the question as there is no horizontal Gruppe bar). The tactical code is very slightly darker, but could have been of the same color as the RVB. The aircraft apparently made a belly landing as the propellers are bent (hence A-8, not A-9), but otherwise it appears to be complete.
John Beaman provided a list of 3 JG 6 aircraft that had the code ‘Yellow 7’ or ‘Red 7’ (see my original thread
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=22496). The W.Nr.s do not fit the digits I can (barely) recognize, but I may read the digits wrongly:
From John Beaman:
- Fw 190A-8, 737394, Lackinger, Uffz. Wolfgang, 3.JG 6, gelbe 7 +, 19-Jan-45, MIA due to Luftkampf with La-7s., Lfl.6/Einsatz OstenGen.Qu.6.Abt.-BA-MA Signatur RL 2 III/766, p.42; KTB Ia Führungsabt. Lfl.Kdo. 6; Le Focke Wulf 190, p. 365, Raum Litzmannstadt, 100%, F
- Fw 190A-8, 737368, Raab, Ofw. Hans, 2.JG 6, rote 7 +, 18-Jan-45, Injured in crash after engine trouble due to Flak., Lfl.6/Einsatz OstenGen.Qu.6.Abt.-BA-MA Signatur RL 2 III/766, p.42; KTB Ia Führungsabt. Lfl.Kdo. 6; Le Focke Wulf 190, p. 365, Nordwestlich Schiratz, 100%, F
- Fw 190A-8, 961198, 2.JG 6, rote 7 +, 08-May-45, Surrendered to 10th Recce Group.RLVE. Larger, Fürth, 100%, F
thenelm, the photo was taken towards the end of the war and it was a Fw 190 A-8.
So, to summarized, the aircraft on the photo made a belly landing (probably sometimes between late 1944 and end of the war), possibly had the W.Nr. 739375 and probably was a I./JG 6 aircraft. JG 2 is not yet fully out of question, but less probable (also, I think no other photo of a JG 2 Fw 190 A with a RVB is known).
Since the aircraft made a belly landing and the W.Nr. was readable, it should either appear in a German or Allied report, I guess.
One other clue may be that there are two data plates near the BK on the fuselage side (2nd one possibly for repair or upgrade?) and the outer wing canons had been removed.
Chris (Hurricane) helped me with finding photos of other I./JG 6 aircraft with RVB (source e.g. Kagero Fw 190 Vol.II page 57 & 60). One shows even a ‘Yellow 7’, but the features (camouflage, position of the code, etc.) do not fit with my photo and it was probably a different aircraft.
It would be great if anyone has some information about 739375 from a German or Allied report.
Thank you for your support.
Regards,
Roger