Fw 190 A-5 W.Nr. 5988

[stephen f. polyak]

Dear TOCH,

With the snow coming down outside, it's time to examine another data/ID plate. . .

This one's marked Fw 190 A5 U3 TP with W.Nr. 5988. A bit of research suggests that the full W.Nr. is 0155 988. I presume "TP" indicates that it's a tropicalized (i.e., Tp) version. The plate also shows the manufacturer to be Arado and a build year of 1943.

What can be said about the history of this airplane?

Thank you,
Steve

PS: A scan of the plate will follow.

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Steve,

FW 190 A-5 W.Nr 55988 of 5./Sch.G. 2 was damaged at Catania in Sicily on 21 May 1943. I can't find any evidence of it being captured by the Allies in Sicily, Italy or Sardinia.

Cheers,
Andrew A.

[stephen f. polyak]

Thank you very much Andrew!

The plate is believed to have been taken by a U.S serviceman. Perhaps the damaged plane was left behind in Sicily? Unit history indicates that before Sicily it saw service in North Africa/Tunisia.

Here's the link showing the plate: http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.p...hryymk&thumb=4

Can anyone offer additional information?

Best regards,
Steve

[stephen f. polyak]

The fellow who took the Fw 190 plate also helped himself to one from a Ju 88. The Ju plate can be seen here; perhaps this too was in Sicily:

http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.p...1zkymd&thumb=4

Along with part information, a manufacturing date of November 1942 is entered. Unfortunately, there's no airframe W.Nr. to offer the possibility of further identification. Can the airplane part be established?