FW 190 in B-17 mid-air 14 July 1943

[BC]

Hi all:

On 14 July 1943, 381BG B-17F 42-3211 "T S" flown by 2nd Lt Manchester and crew was involved in a head-on mid-air collision with an FW 190 during the mission to Amiens/Glisy airfield. The FW 190 struck the B-17 near the No.3 engine and cartwheeled down the fuselage past the tail. The stricken B-17 made a belly-landing at RAF Manston on return and was salvaged.

Assuming that the FW 190 was a 100% loss, can anyone please identify it and its pilot?

TVM for any help.

Bob C

[Chris Goss]

Somewhere I have photos of TS after its crash at Manston and I seem to remember a possible match with the ac it collided but no pilot injuries

[BC]

Thanks but I have those images of the B-17 and crew. The one of the bellied-in aircraft shows the prop missing from No.3 engine and quite serious damage to the wing root area. I would be most surprised if the FW 190 survived the encounter and that the pilot escaped injury.

[Chris Goss]

Gone through JG 2, JG 26 and JG 27-no mention of any aircraft colliding albeit the photos clearly show one hell of a mess to No 3 and down the fuselage. No mention by Jochen Prien in his book either so only possibilities are Uffz Gerhard Nuss of 2./JG 2 (baled out wounded), Uffz Harry Kubon 5./JG 26 (baled out wounded)

[BC]

Thank you for the information.

BC

[Frans A]

I have Oblt. Günther Behrendt KIA 43-07-14 of 11./JG 2 crashed at RY near Rouen.

Frans A

[Chris Goss]

He was in a Bf 109 whilst the Americans said it was a Fw 190?

[BC]

The Americans were ruthlessly efficient in their aircraft recognition Chris - anything single-engined that pointed its nose at bombers was an "enemy fighter" to USAAF gunners. Thanks for info

[Don Pearson]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Gone through JG 2, JG 26 and JG 27-no mention of any aircraft colliding albeit the photos clearly show one hell of a mess to No 3 and down the fuselage. No mention by Jochen Prien in his book either so only possibilities are Uffz Gerhard Nuss of 2./JG 2 (baled out wounded), Uffz Harry Kubon 5./JG 26 (baled out wounded)

Don Caldwell in "JG 26 War Diaries vol 2" has Kubon falling victim to P-47s of the 78FG.

Don