Focke Wulf Fw 190 identity

[Roger Gaemperle]

The information about 160896 is interesting and new to me. 10 years ago I was looking for information about this Fw 190 G-3 as I own the control stick of this aircraft which an American soldier had removed. The information I published in my book (which came mainly from Nick Beale, ULTRA) is in the following:

"(...) little is known about the history of this particular Fw 190. It was, however, mentioned in two British ULTRA reports. The first one dated August 11, 1944, reported that W.Nr. 160896 was taken into Ergänzungsstaffel (Nacht) I./SKG 10 at Vörden near Osnabrück. Shortly after its arrival I./SKG 10 was re-designated III./KG 51 and the Ergänzungsstaffel was similarly redesignated. The second ULTRA report dated October 14, 1944, stated that W.Nr. 160896 was removed from Ergänzungsstaffel (Nacht) III./KG 51 at Vörden. At the beginning of November 1944, Ergänzungsstaffel (Nacht) III./KG 51 was renamed 14./Schlachtgeschwader 151 (14./SG 151). Hence, ‘removed’ could very well mean that the aircraft was simply transferred to 14./SG 151. And indeed, the Bestandesmeldungen (inventory reports) state that all aircraft of Ergänzungsstaffel (Nacht) III./KG 51, namely one Fw 190 A-3, two Fw 190 A-4, one Fw 190 G-2, and four Fw 190 G-3 were taken off strength in October 1944, while the inventory of 14./SG 151 at the beginning of November 1944 consisted of exactly the same number and type of aircraft. (...)"

If the aircraft was sent back to the unit after it received new wings, it may be that the "correct" unit of 160662 was 14./SG 151.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Roger Gaemperle

If the aircraft was sent back to the unit after it received new wings, it may be that the "correct" unit of 160662 was 14./SG 151.

Glad to be of help. I don't know if 14./SG 151 was ever active in the West, only that it operated against the Russians (from Berlin-Staaken) in 1945. I think (from memory) that it had been based at Schroda (Sroda, Poland) before Berlin and that it ended the war at Vaerlose, Denmark.