When did 3./JG54 convert Bf109 to FW190?

[keith A]

When did 3 staffel convert to thw FW190? I have read it was May 1943 at about the time that Franz Eisenach became stafu. I believe they were flying the Bf109G-2 in the Spring of 1943.

regards

Keith

[Leo Etgen]

Hi Keith

Prein has the first Fw 190 loss as:

28 December 1942: Leutnant Walter Beims killed when Fw 190 A-4 (W.Nr. 0145 748) crashed at Heiligenbeil during a test flight, 100%

The last Bf 109 loss is listed as:

27 February 1943: Bf 109 G-2 (W.Nr. 10 350) flown by an unknown pilot, belly-landed at Krasnogwardeisk due to pilot error, 20%

I hope this helps.

Horrido!

Leo

[gogh]

I have Fw190A-4 WNr.0145748 noted with 7./JG54 source old LEMB

[Leo Etgen]

Hi gogh

I rechecked and there is no loss listed in Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 9/III on 28 December 1942 for III./JG 54. There were two losses on the following day but these involved Bf 109 G-2 fighters of 9./JG 54. I hope this helps.

Horrido!

Leo

[sidney]

I believe that III./JG 54 was never equipped with the Fw 190 A aircraft, so that reference from the old LEMB (i.e., post No.5) was most likely incorrect. If I remember correctly, the Gruppe handed over its remaining air-worthy Bf 109 G-2 aircraft by the end of January 1943*, and departed for France by train. Details can be found in the aforementioned Prien, Stemmer and others' book JFV 9/III.

[keith A]

Sorry chaps I believe there's misunderstanding. I am looking for details of 3 staffel, I Gruppe not III Gruppe. My interest is in Bazi Weiss who was apparently with 1./JG54 under Nowotny and then transferred to 3./JG54.

[gogh]

corrected
thanks Peter

[sidney]

Keith,

There was no misunderstanding. Your query was I believe answered in post No.2, while the remainder of discussion dealt with clarification on whether the Fw 190 A W.Nr. 0145 748 (i.e., quoted in post No.2) belonged to the first Gruppe or the third Gruppe.

[keith A]

Sorry I didn't check which staffel Beims was a member of. I see now he was with 3 staffel. It also answers a question as to why 1 staffel and the rest of the gruppe makes so few claims in the period late December 1942-early January 1943. Did it have any presence at the front as a unit while it converted? I note from my notes that Adameit makes a single claim for a PE-2 on 16 December 1942, and Doebele a second, Yak-4, on 30 December, possibly both reconnaissance aircraft and then it's not until early in the new year that they return to full action?

[keith A]

...lost myself a bit in my comment. 2 and 3 Staffel make just one claim each in this period for a U-2 and a Pe-2 respectively, but Leo's answer confirms they were flying FW190A by the time Weiss joins them in late February/early March 1943 I assume that his claims in January were also in the FW190A.