Conversion to Fw 190 of IV./JG 3

[Alfred.MONZAT]

Hello,

I could not find a firm answer on when exactly IV./JG 3 converted to the Fw 190 from the Bf 109 (and found what looks to be contradictory informations). Can you help me answer some of the following questions:
- When the Gruppe received its first Fw 190?
- When did they carry their first mission on the Fw 190?
- When did they carry their last mission on the Bf 109?
- When the first Fw 190 loss occured?
- When the last Bf 109 loss occured?

Thank you

[Nick Beale]

Judging by the table here of aircraft on and off strength, re-equipment started during May 1944 and was completed during June.

Bundesarchiv RL 2-III/857 (page 417 et seq.) is digitised and will tell you the days on which aircraft were lost and if it was operational or accidental but not whether it was a Bf 109 or an Fw 190.

[Alfred.MONZAT]

What I want to know is if IV./JG 3 carried any Fw 190 mission in May 1944 or if their first was on the Invasion Front in June (and making their Sturm debut on 7 July).

[Rottler]

Hello,

When the Gruppe received its first Fw 190?
On 8 May 1944 the IV./JG 3 received the first Fw 190 by taking over the planes and pilots of Sturmstaffel 1. The present 11./JG 3 was dissolved and the Sturmstaffel 1 was redesignated in 11./JG 3.

When did they carry their first mission on the Fw 190?
On 8 May 1944.
Then 10./JG 3 and 12./JG 3 replaced its Bf 109 G with Fw 190 A.

When did they carry their last mission on the Bf 109?
13 May 1944, 10./JG 3 and 12./JG 3

When the first Fw 190 loss occured?
11 May 1944: Fw 190 A-6 WNr. 470785 of Uffz Helmut Keune, injured, 11./JG 3.

When the last Bf 109 loss occured?
13 May 1944: the last combat mission on Bf 109 and the loss of the Bf 109 G-6 WNr. 412019 yellow 13 of Uffz Oskar Fischer 12./JG 3 KIA.

Sources:
Chronicle IV./Jagdgeschwader 3 (Prien 1996)
Jagdfliegerverbände Vol. 13/IV (Prien-Stemmer-Bock 2018)

Regards
Leo

[Alfred.MONZAT]

So the first full Fw 190 mission should be on 19 May.

Thank you Leo!