FW-190s with Streamers

[jayastout]

While doing research for my last book I came across an unusual report made by 352nd FG pilots. They described engaging German fighters that appeared to have streamers or banners attached to them that trailed behind the aircraft by just a matter of feet.

Anyone know what these were? Were they intended to help identify formation leaders for the other members of the flight? Simple decoration? Or perhaps, the American pilots misunderstood what they saw? Any idea if this was a common practice--no other reports from the 352nd ever mentioned it.

The sighting involved pilots of the 352nd's 487th Fighter Squadron. They jumped three FW-190s that were working over a B-24 north of Osnabruck. The date was 9 April 44. Here's the quote:

"The 3 FW-190s bounced had 5 to 10 ft. black streamers on tail."

I can't figure out what use they might have been.

Anyone?

[Leo Etgen]

Hello jayastout

I am not very qualified to remark on this but I must say that I have never come across mention of Luftwaffe fighters using streamers. I am aware that occasionally commanders such as Boesler, Dobislav, von Kageneck, Ostermann and Schöpfel had a small metal pennant fitted to the radio aerial mast of their Bf 109 fighters but not streamers. Could it be that this observation was the result of battle damage or excessive exhaust caused by the rich fuel-air mixtures that German engines often had to run at due to the large amount of aromatics added to the fuel in order to boost the octane rating? Hopefully some other more knowledgeable individual can respond.

Horrido!

Leo

[jayastout]

I did wonder if it might be smoke or exhaust, but it's hard for me to imagine a gaseous emission so distinct as to be mistaken for solid material. I tend to think it might have been a one-time ad hoc experiment or "good idea"...the product of a few biers at the bar the night before. ;-)

[Kari Lumppio]

Hello!

Just a loose idea. Banner or streamer was sometimes attached to aircraft tail skid/wheel before pilot's first solo flight. I believe it is quite an old custom. For these Fw 190 it would be first solo with the type in some flying school? Far fetched, I know.

Cheers,
Kari

[jayastout]

Kari, that seems like a very plausible explanation. Perhaps it was the first combat mission for these three pilots and someone thought to mark it with penants?

[Snautzer]

The pennant was not a costum but a rule for pilots that went for their fist solo, indication to ground control just that.
I do not think a combat pilot, even a novice would get permission not would want to carry a pennant into combat. Consider the drag of it and the loss of performance.
Besides that i do not think a piece of cloth will hold together in speeds over 500kph

[Jim P.]

Streamers hung from wings was a fairly common occurence for Jasta commanders in the WWI.

[jayastout]

Originally Posted by Snautzer

The pennant was not a costum but a rule for pilots that went for their fist solo, indication to ground control just that.
I do not think a combat pilot, even a novice would get permission not would want to carry a pennant into combat. Consider the drag of it and the loss of performance.
Besides that i do not think a piece of cloth will hold together in speeds over 500kph

I agree that such a penant would create unwanted drag. But folks did all sorts of things during the war for which they never received permission (flying with pets, flying drunk, etc.) And I'm pretty sure that any decent fabric ought to have held together. We used to tow a fabric gunnery banner in the F/A-18 at 250 knots (IIRC). Not quite 500 kph, but I have little doubt the fabric would have held together at much higher airspeeds.

I'm of the mind this was a one-time stunt or "good idea."

[Larry deZeng]

It's not possible that the 487th FS pilot(s) could have been mistaken? I realize that's a long shot and would be at the bottom of a list of 100,000 possibilities, but it might be worth a second of thought. I'm sure they were quite busy at the time trying to score and stay alive, but they might, just might have experienced a momentary illusion. It happens.

[jayastout]

Yes, that's a good point; it's certainly possible that they were mistaken. But this was from the group's official mission summary report and I wouldn't think that they (he?) would go out of their way to debrief the point unless they were certain of what they saw. As for it being exhaust, or a leak of some sort (as I have also considered and others have suggested)...it seems odd that all three aircraft would have the same leak. And certainly the characteristics of the vapor would have changed as the aircraft maneuvered, so that it would be difficult to mistake it for a streamer.

Perhaps it will just remain a mystery.