3./ or 4./JG 2 Fw 190 A W.Nr. ??9375

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hello,

I am going to publish a photo of a Fw 190 A that may have been attached to 3./ or 4./JG 2. Part of the W.Nr. is readable and could have been either:

??9375
or
?9375?

The tactical code was '7', possibly yellow or blue.

Does anybody have such a Fw 190 with this W.Nr. fragment in a loss database?

Thanks,
Roger

[S Sheflin]

Hi Roger,

When I saw your partial Werknummer, I immediately thought of the AGO 739XXX series. I sorted my files with various combinations of “9375,” with 739375 being the only apparent possibility. While 739375 fits nicely within known AGO Werknummern, in my files at least, I list no JG2 Fw190s from the 739XXX series.

Following are a few nearby 739XXX WNrn. and their reported Geschwadern:

739366 JG300
739370 JG6
739371 JG1
739374 JG6
739380 JG6
739381 JG1
739385 JG1
739390 JG6
739398 JG300
7394??
739401 JG11
739407 JG1
739412 JG3
739416
739417 JG1
739421 JG300
739427 JG6
739427 JG300
739431 JG300

Steve Sheflin

[thenelm]

I would agree with Steve - with the one caveat as to what was the time frame as to when the photo was taken? If 1942 then we are talking a whole different animal.

[Roger Gaemperle]

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

[John Manrho]

Roger,

To spoil the fun a little bit. I do not believe that the Fw 190 shown on page 60 (top) of Kagero Vol.II is a I./JG 6 a/c. I can't say much about the one on page 60 (below) but if this comes from the same original source it's doubtful too. The one on page 57 is still open to discussion in my opinion. The problem is that we do not know the original source of these pictures.

John.

[Michal]

Fw 190A-8, 961198, 2.JG 6, rote 7 +, 08-May-45, Surrendered to 10th Recce Group.RLVE. Larger, Fürth, 100%, F

Interesting, is known more about this bird? Name of pilot? Where he took-off?

Thanks