[Leo Etgen]

Hi Milos

Thank you for your interest in this particular machine. To begin with the small photograph you reference in question five apparently showing the aircraft from the front is included on page 288 of Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug by Rodeike and the caption states this to be presumably a machine of 6./JG 300 at Löbnitz in November 1944 so this is not the same aircraft you are interested in. The apparently darker camouflage on the starboard side is most likely due to the photographic film used and I am quite certain that the camouflage colors were the same on both sides of the fuselage. I agree that it appears that at the very least the upper starboard engine cowling panel and possibly the entire power egg was replaced by the time the starboard photograph was taken. The PR 16 loop antenna was not present when the port side photograph was taken but like the engine cowling question it is impossible to know when this happened. Additionally, note that this aircraft was equipped with erhöhte Notleistung as evidenced by the small yellow circle on the port machine gun cowling and normal metal propeller blades. It also had the normal canopy with the antenna wire pulley tensioning system and as well as the primer fuel fill point had the first aid hatch on the starboard rear fuselage. Early production Fw 190 A-8 series aircraft did not have the primer fuel fill point and late production examples did not have the first aid hatch. It is quite difficult to tell whether treaded or smooth main wheel tires were fitted at the times the two photographs were taken but based on the port side photograph I agree that most likely treaded tires were fitted at that particular time period. I hope this helps and I would be interested in your thoughts on the above points.

Horrido!

Leo