Markings for Fw 190A-8 and Fw 190D-9 1/48
COL A
Fw 190A-8, W.Nr. 73372?, II./JG 300, Bayreuth-Bindlach, Germany, Spring 1945
This aircraft served with Jagdgruppe 10. The task of the unit was to test new tactics and weapons to be used against Allied four-engined heavy bombers. The JGr.10 aircraft sported the rendition of a red and yellow snake on both sides of the fuselage. At the end of the war this aircraft was reassigned to II./JG 300 and received relevant markings, such as theblue-white-blue fuselage band identifying JG 300 within the Defense of the Reich system. This band partially obscured the small code I1, which belonged to JGr.10. On the port side, this allowed the letter I to remain visible, and the number 1 on the starboard. This aircraft was dismantled and its remains found in May 1945 at Bayreuth-Bindlach air base, which served as a repair and conversion depot from 1944.
COL B
Fw 190A-8, W.Nr. 171641, Fw. Konrad Bauer, 5./JG 300, Erfurt-Bindersleben, Germany, August 1944
Konrad Bauer was born on February 9, 1919, in Gelsenkirchen. He joined the Luftwaffe in 1943, and after completing his training, he was assigned in March 1943 to 10./JG 51, which was fighting on the Eastern Front. With JG 51, he scored a total of eighteen aerial victories. In March 1944, he was transferred to 2./JG 3, and then in June to 5./JG 300, commanded by Lt. Bretschneider. With this unit, Fw. “Pitta” Bauer’s star rose, and he became one of the greatest aces in shooting down American four-engine bombers. On September 11, 1944, Fw. Bauer was shot down in combat with Mustangs, wounded (among other injuries, two fingers on his right hand were blown off), he landed near Nordhausen, survived a subsequent Mustang attack, and, after six weeks of convalescence, reported back to his unit. He no longer flew operational missions, after Bretschneider’s death, he assumed command of 5./JG 300, with which he remained until the end of the war. In total, he shot down 68 enemy aircraft, including 32 four-engine bombers, and was awarded the Knight’s Cross on October 31, 1944, for his achievements. He himself was shot down seven times. After the formation of the Bundesluftwaffe, he continued to serve in the air force and retired in December 1960 with the rank of Hauptmann. He died on October 26, 1990, in his hometown of Gelsenkirchen.
COL C
Fw 190A-8, Fw. Hannes Theis, 6./JG 300, Löbnitz, Germany, October – November 1944
Feldwebbel Hannes Theis served in the meteorological service and as a flight instructor before being assigned to 6./JG 300. During his service with JG 300, he scored a total of 10 aerial victories (five four-engine bombers and five fighters). He survived World War II and died in 2006. His Focke-Wulf marked “Yellow 9,” bore a horizontal yellow bar behind the fuselage cross (the horizontal bar denoted II. Gruppe, and the yellow color indicated a 6. Staffel aircraft), while the red band encircling the tail identified JG 300 aircraft flying as part of the Reich’s air defense. The inscription “Roter Hahn” (Red Rooster) painted beneath the cockpit referred to the red color of Theis’s hair.
COL D
Fw 190A-8, Lt. Gustav Salffner, CO of 7./JG 300, Löbnitz, Germany, March 1945
White 6, flown by the CO of 7./JG 300, carried the typical camouflage pattern from the closing months of the war. The top surfaces of the fuselage was sprayed RLM 81 that carried over to the side fuselage color, RLM 76. The top of the wings were covered with RLM 75/81 (perhaps 81/82). JG 300 ID marking in its later form, the blue-white-blue rear fuselage band, was carried. The emblem consisting of a unicorn on a red background was a simplified insignia of Salffner’s family. A Munich native, Gustav Salffner ended the war with Iron Cross Second Class and seven confirmed and seven probable victories.
COL E
Fw 190A-8, W.Nr. 737938, 4./JG 301, Brunnthal, Germany, 1945
This Focke-Wulf, found after the fighting ended near the village of Brunnthal, south of Munich, was manufactured at the Ago factory in Oschersleben in early 1945. The aircraft was camouflaged with RLM 74 and 75 on the upper surfaces, the side and lower surfaces—with the exception of the center section and the lower rear portion of the wing, which remained unpainted—were sprayed with RLM 76. An interesting detail is the reversal of the colors of the band used to mark JG 301 aircraft within the Reich Defense, correctly applied toward the rear of the fuselage the order should be yellow and red. Below the cockpit, the aircraft bears the Steppke coat of arms and inscription.
COL F
Fw 190A-8, W.Nr. 170930, Stab I./JG 301, Stendal, Germany, April 1945
This Focke-Wulf, manufactured at the parent company’s plant in Cottbus, likely flew with JG 11 before being assigned to JG 301. After being assigned to JG 301, it served with the unit’s headquarters. The aircraft, painted in the standard Luftwaffe fighter color scheme of RLM 74/75/76, likely had its engine unit replaced, including the cowling, which was sprayed with a thin coat of RLM 76. The lower panels of this cowling were left in their natural metal color; only the rows of rivets were repainted. The nose was likely repainted in RLM 74. As with the aircraft in the previous color profile, the order of the Reich Defense band colors was reversed on this aircraft.
COL G
Fw 190A-8/R11, Ofw. Günther Migge, 1./NJGr. 10, Werneuchen, Germany, March 1944
This plane, modified for night missions, served with Nachtjagdgruppe 10, formed on January 1, 1944, from parts of JG 300. The unit was tasked with the defense of important cities and also carried out testing of new equipment for night fighters. Günther Migge was previously a night fighter pilot with JG 300, so his Fw 190 carried the Wilde Sau emblem, supplemented with the “Kognakpumpe” inscription, and a picture of a cognac glass. The outline of the emblem as well as the inscription were most likely red, but black cannot be ruled out. The aircraft carried the standard camouflage scheme with the use of black Adlerflügel behind the exhaust stacks in less common shape for this period of time. The bottom white segments of the fuselage Balkenkreuz were quite shabby. The kill marks on the rudder relate to Migge´s victories achieved with JG 300, but flying this aircraft with NJGr.10, he added several more kills.
COL H
Fw 190D-9, W.Nr. 211164, Stab/JG 300, Prag – Ruzyně, Czechoslovakia, May 1945
Dora W.Nr. 211164 found at Prague-Rusin airfield after WWII, in all probability belonged to Stab/JG 6 or JG 300. The upper cowling was painted in RLM 81 as well as the rest of the fuselage except for the rear, which was sprayed RLM 82. The tail section had previously been painted with a light colored tailband, which was oversprayed with RLM 81. The same colour was used for spots sprayed on the vertical tail surface. Wing upper surfaces were in RLM 81/ 82 too. The forward part of the wing undersides were painted RLM 81. Note the propeller spinner is missing the white spiral that was prescribed for all fighter aircraft engaged in the Western theatre of operations from July 1944 onwards.
COL I
Fw 190D-9, W.Nr. 500408, 5./JG 301, Bad Langensalza, Germany, May 1945
This Dora, W.Nr. 500408, was discovered by U.S. forces at the airport near Bad Langensalza. She was one of seventy aircraft of Mimetalls´ second production batch, produced between December 1944 and January 1945. The yellow-red tail band indicates that this aircraft belonged to JG 301, the red horizontal bar denotes use by II. Gruppe, and the white individual numbers denote 5. Staffel aircraft. The fuselage was camouflaged in RLM 81 and 82 pattern. Wing upper surfaces were RLM 81 and 82. The forward part of the wing under surfaces were RLM 81. Note two variations of the RLM 76 color. The camouflage of the aileron uppersurfaces indicate field replacement.
COL J
Fw 190D-9, W.Nr. 500666, II./JG 301, Erfurt-Nord Airfield, Germany, May 1945
This aircraft was found at the end of the war at Erfurt. Apparently, it got to this airfield by way of an emergency landing, as II. Gruppe JG 301 was based over the last few months of the war at Stendal (from February 19, 1945) and Neustadt - Gleve (from April 10, 1945). The yellow number puts it with 9. Staffel. The yellow and red fuselage band signifies JG 301. This aircraft also comes from the third production block from Mimetall and carries its typical paint scheme and colors.
COL K
Fw 190D-9, W.Nr. 500576, 12./JG 301, Wunsdorf, Germany, May 1945
This Dora, also manufactured at the Mimetall factory in Erfurt sometime in early 1945, was found after the war at the Wunsdorf airfield and saw operational service with the 12. Staffel of JG 301. Its camouflage was sprayed on the upper surfaces with RLM 81 and 82, while the sides and underside of the fuselage were painted in a late-production shade of RLM 76. The front portion of the lower wing surface was camouflaged with RLM 81, while the rear portion was left unpainted, showing the bare metal. Due to the fragmentation of production, the ailerons, landing gear covers, and tail surfaces were manufactured by subcontractors, for this reason, their undersides are painted RLM 76.