Source for Luftwaffe Jagdwaffe joke?

[DavidIsby]

“When an FW-190 crashes, they take the wreckage to Kurt Tank and he strengthens the parts that failed. When a Bf-109 crashes, they take the wreckage to Willi Messerschmitt and he lightens the parts that stayed together”.

I have seen this cited as a wartime joke, with variations, in a number of English-language sources. Does anyone know where it originated from or a German source?

[Don Caldwell]

Hello David --

Erich Schwarz, a long-serving JG 26 pilot, answered my request for a comparison between the Fw 190 and Bf 109 in almost those exact words. I can't give you a published German-language source, but I assume that the comment was common in the Jagdwaffe, and wasn't a "Fork-Tailed Devil" fabrication of Allied intelligence.

All the best,

Don

[Wolffchen]

Don,

I've been researching the details of the crew of a B-17 from the 306th Bomb Group that was credited as a victory to Erich Schwarz on 16 February 1943. It would add much needed detail from the German side to have some basic biographical details on Erich Schwarz. Would you be able to share any such information about him? i.e. date & place of birth/death & postwar life

Below is a link to an earlier post with information on my research and a request for information. I have copies of "The JG 26 War Diary" and "The Luftwaffe Over Germany."

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showth...hlight=Schwarz

Best Regards,

Wolffchen

[Don Caldwell]

Hello Wolffchen --

Look for a PM on Schwarz in a day or so.

Don

[Wolffchen]

Many thanks! I will be most grateful for whatever you are able to offer!!

Wolffchen