KITS 09/2021

Fw 190D-13, WNr. 836016, V./EJG 2(?), Pilsen – Bory, Protektorat Böhmen und Mähren, May 1945

Only two Fw190D-13s are currently photographically documented. This one was found at Pilsen – Bory airfield with the engine

dismantled at the end of the war. The Black Stab marking on the fuselage shows that this particular aircraft was flown by the

Gruppenkommandeure. The exact operator of this Dora is not known, and V./EKG 2 formed from I./EKG(J) is one of the possibilities. If this theory is correct, then this Dora was flown by Hptm. Walter Grasemann. Nevertheless, thanks to confusion during

final days of the war, this aircraft could also have been flown by other units, such as JG 2 or JG 6. The series of at least fifteen

Fw 190D-13s was manufactured by Weser Flugzeugbau in March and April, 1945.

Fw 190D-13/R11, WNr. 836017, Stab./JG 26, Flensburg-Weiche, Germany, May 1945

This aircraft had belonged to JG 26 and was captured by the RAF at Flensburg–Weiche airfield on May 5, 1945. It is highly possible that this

aircraft was flown by Major Franz Götz, CO of JG 26 (Ritterkreuz holder, 63 victories). Yellow '10' is said to be Götz´s lucky number. The small

Ace of Spades badge on both fuselage sides refers to his career in the role of III./JG 53 'Pik As' commanding officer. The small inscription on

the lower part of the cowling is not accurately known – the most often mentioned likelihood is 'Kontrolliert', seen on other German aircraft. The

R11 designation indicates installation of the PKS 12 autopilot, and the letter 'R' stands for Rüstsatz ('additional set' in German). The WFG factory

camouflage scheme was darkened using RLM 81 and RLM 82 colours.

Fw 190D-13/R11, WNr. 836017, Flensburg – Weiche, Germany, summer 1945

This Dora was captured by the Royal Air Force at Flensburg-Weiche airfield. The German national insignia was overpainted with

a dark blue-grey colour by British personel with strangely positioned small white stars on the fuselage and wings. The inscription 'USA 14' was handpainted on the starboard side of the tail also. This aircraft took part in two mock dogfights with a Hawker

Tempest Mk.V on July 25, 1945. The Dora was flown by German pilots – Maj. Heinz Lange (former Kommodore of JG 51, Ritterkreuz holder, 70 victories) a Oblt. Günther Josten (former Kommandeure of IV./JG 51, 178 victories). Based on this evaluation,

both aircraft were considered to be nearly equal except for speed at height where the Dora was better. This Dora was handed

over to the Americans and shipped overseas via Cherbourg, France, aboard the British aircraft carrier HMS Reaper to the U.S.A.

It was restored and found its way to the Museum of Flight in Seattle, WA. Unfortunately, the reconstruction of the camouflage

scheme is not accurate.

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INFO Eduard - September 2021