Seeking information to identify a FW190 wreck in Norwegian littoral area

[gtangen]

I've recently discovered a FW190 wreck in sea near a former Luftwaffe airfield in West-Norway - Fliegerhorste Herdla.
Can anyone help me identify the fighter, with the following specification?;

• Markings on port side of fuselage - 16 or 1G/Balkenkreuz/one unrecognizable letter, number or tactical marking
  • The letter numbers are all white or all yellow with no outline
  • The balkenkreuz is black with white outline, and no (second) outer outline in black
• Markings on starboard side is not recognizable
• No fuselage band
• No noseband on cowling
• Possible one-colour spinner
• Black swastika with white outline on tail
• No visible werkenumber on tail
• The balkenkreuz on topside of main wings is black with white outline, and no (second) outer outline in black
• No visible emblem on cowling and fuselage
• No visible camouflage pattern on the plane

Most likely date of crash is autumn 1943, with reference to eyewitnesses to the incident.

[mhuxt]

Have a look here:

http://home.no.net/kjellsor/austevoll.html (weisse 16, but date ... ?)

and here:

http://www.luftwaffe.no/SIG/Losses/190tap.html

Cheers,

Mark

[flyvrak]

The first one can be ruled out. It crashed on land.
Regards Kjell

[Kjetil Aakra]

Hi.

Interesting find as I have studied the Herdla Focke-Wulfs in some detail.

Markings are certainly White 16, not 1G! But what I would really like to know is the markings behind the fuselage Balkenkreuz.

There are two units which comes to mind, 1./JG 5 (1942-43) or 9./JG 5 (1944-45), if the number is indeed white. If it is yellow it belongs to 3./JG 5 (1942-43), which seems most likely.

However, 9./JG 5 is also a strong possibillity if the number is white as I have only seen such high ID numbers on Fw 190s belonging to this unit, not 1. or 3./JG 5. However, the version of the aircraft would go a long way in determining its origin, or at least exclude some possibillities.

Any chance of posting some photos of the wreck?

Regards,

Kjetil

[mhuxt]

Hi Kjell:

I was referring to Uffz. Lehnert's Weisse 16, which is described a little below the detail on Helbing's Weisse 14. I thought Lehnert's aircraft came down into the water, or have I mis-read?

Cheers,

Mark

[gtangen]

Some extra information left out by accident;
* The plane has white or yellow wingtips
* The eyewitnesses reported that the pilot was rescued by locals
* There was a hole in the port side of cowling (approx. 30 cm in diameter). I think this possibly was caused by an outcoming rod (shoot-out) from an overheated cylinder. My suggestion is based upon the fact that an eyewitness reported thick black smoke coming out from the cowling before crash. No shooting were heard before the crash. Based on the reported weather conditions at that time (foggy weather - more or less no wind), this should mean that any air battle must have been taken place several kilometres away. The plane shows no sign of fire damage/impact.
Is it possible that the plane could be werkenr 5425 - FW190 A2 - IV./JG5 - emergency landing on sea Dec 15 1943(with reference to LUFTWAFFE SIG - FW190 losses in Norway)?

Best regards
gtangen