Strana 43
Fw 190A-6, WNr. 550473, Fw. Walter Nietzsche, II. /JG 300,
Rheine, Germany, summer 1943
Fw 190A-6/R11, WNr. 550143, Oblt. Fritz Krause, 1./NJGr 10,
Werneuchen, Germany, January 1944
In the middle of June 1943, II. /JG 1, commanded
by Hptm. Hoeckner, was transferred from
Woensdrecht, in Holland, to Rheine from where,
in the course of the following eight months,
it sortied against large formations of American
four-engine bombers penetrating, in ever
increasing numbers, the German Reich airspace.
The same airbase was home to II. /JG Hermann
as well, later renamed II. /JG 300, which for the
rest of 1943 operated II. /JG 1 aircraft in the
night-fighting role since JG 300 pilots had been
trained in single-engine aircraft at night. One of
the II. /JG 300 pilots flying this Fw 190A-6 night
fighter “borrowed” from II. /JG 1 was Fw. Walter
Nietzsche, who during the night from 27th to
28th September 1943 was killed in the cockpit
while fighting over Braunschweig. The legendary
worm Tatzelwurm painted in red confirms that
this aircraft belonged to 5. Staffel JG 1.
Fritz Krause started his wartime career with
III./JG 300 and in January 1944 was transferred
to 1./NJGr. 10. He was assigned to 1./NJG 11.
In September 1944 and became the commander
of 3./NJG 11 in November. In January, he was
appointed head of the entire III./NJG 11, which
he led until the end of the war. He completed
213 combat missions and achieved a total of four
victories. NJGr 10 was formed as a nightfighter
unit on January 1, 1944. It was equipped with
various types of aircraft. The 1st Staffel flew
Bf 109Gs and Fw 190As. The FuG 217 Neptun
radar was installed in NJGr. 10 aircraft to
test its efficiency under combat conditions.
A total of 48 Fw 190As were converted to this
nightfighter configuration. Fritz Krause flew the
aircraft depicted for a short period only, as in
the early summer of 1944, the NJGr 10 Fw 190As
were handed over to fighter schools and were
replaced with Bf 109G-6/AS. The Messeschmitts
were more capable in intercepting Allied
bombers and Mosquitos. The origins of the
badge on the cowling can be found with JG 300,
as NJGr 10 was formed using JG 300 pilots.
KITS 05/2025
INFO Eduard
43
May 2025