Fw 190 A-8 W.Nr. 173078 --> Anything known?

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hello,

Is anything known about Fw 190 A-8 W.Nr. 173078?

The reason why I am interested is that a GI had removed parts from this aircraft incl. the aircraft's control stick and I am trying to find out more about its history.

It was produced in summer 1944 and was in operation for almost a year before the end of the war. It may have left some "traces" in that year or somebody may have a photo of this aircraft that apparently survived the war.

Roger

[Roger Gaemperle]

OK, I checked my source documents and found several Fw 190s that were produced in the same batch as 173078.

Source: October 1944 Crashed Enemy Aircraft Report No. 225 10 October 1944:
- Rheims/Champagne: 173060 fuselage only
- Rheims/Champagne: 173065 - stripped
- Prosnes/Le Patron: 173062 - burnt out

Source: October 1944 Crashed Enemy Aircraft Report No. 227 25 October 1944:
- West of Pontoise: W.Nr. 173053 7+ Shot down by A.A. and destroyed

Source: AI2(G) Serial 260:
- Rheims Railroad Yard: 173056 Found abandoned and stripped

Any others from the 1730xx batch?

And a photo taken at Rheims showing Fw 190 1730xx:

[Charles Bavarois]

Roger,

WNr. 173.078 was reported with I/JG 2 at Husum on 12. August 1944. No further information. Source is Ultra HW 5/566.

Greetings
Carl

[Nick Beale]

And thanks to that pointer from Charles, I was able to find the attached image. Unfortunately these lists of aircraft Werk Nummern featuring in signals traffic do not tell you the context in which they arose.

The full reference is CX/MSS/R281(A),13.

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hello Carl and Nick,

Thank you very much for that most interesting piece of information. It's great to hear that it had been attached to an operational unit.

It may very well be that it had been left behind in St. Trond when they moved to Merzhausen, but that's pure speculation of course. Hopefully, sooner or later a photo will surface. I have checked some of the ATI reports of French airfields, but couldn't find it. If it was found later in 1945, when the Fw 190 A was not interesting anymore, it may well be that it was just not recorded anymore in any intelligence report.

Regards,
Roger

[Roger Gaemperle]

After they refreshed at Husum I./JG 2 moved for a shirt while to St. Trond and then to Merzhausen in September 1944 where they would stay until 1945. At the end of the year they completely converted to the Fw 190 D-9.

Therefore, I assume that the aircraft was either found at Merzhausen or was handed over to another unit at the end of 1944 where it was continued to be used until the end of the war. Is it known to what unit(s) JG 2 handed you ver their Fw 190 A in December 1944?

I have been trying to find photos of JG 2’s Fw 190 at Merzhausen taken in fall 1944, but could hardly find any in my books. Does anyone know in what book such photos can be found?

Thanks
Roger

One of the few photos I found (source:https://www.einsatzhafen-merzhausen....e-1944-1945/):

[Snautzer]

Stand 1.1.45 zur Operation Bodenplatte,

Bild möglicherweise im Nachlauf der Operation
aufgenommen...

Jagdgruppe 1 Oberstleutnant Ihlefeld Location
I/Gruppe FW 190 A-8 Twenthe
II/Gruppe FW 190 A-8 Drope
III/Gruppe Bf 109 G-14 Rheine

Jagdgruppe 2 Oberstleutnant Bühligen
I/Gruppe FW 190 A-8/A-9 Merzhausen

https://www.geschichtsspuren.de/foru...wo-t17059.html

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hi Snautzer,

Thanks! I have seen the thread, but could only find a Fw 190 D-9 photo. I should have stated more clearly that I was looking for Fw 190 A-8 photos at Merzhausen in the period September to December 1944. The only photo I could find is the following (but not details of the markings can be seen):



Cheers,
Roger

[Peglar]

Oh great, to see this Foto from Merzhausen from 9. September 1944 here at the Forum.

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hi Peglar,

I indicated the source in my previous post as https://www.einsatzhafen-merzhausen....e-1944-1945/

And I have only linked the image that is online on that site. If it is taken offline, it will disappear on this forum as well. I hope there is no issue sharing this photo here when I indicate the source and only link the image rather than uploading the file? Otherwise, I'll edit my post and remove it.

Cheers,

Roger