World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
20 Feb 2009 09:57:22 AM

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 test flown during world war 2 Wright Field, Ohio. Date Unk. Markings are not original.

2.  Bill says:
20 Feb 2009 10:19:16 AM

Captured by U.S.A.A.F. in the Mediterranean, and evaluated at Wright Field, Ohio during W.W.2 early 1944. (DN+FP) retained its factory camouflage and wing national insignia, although the fuselage and tail markings do not appear to be original.

3.  Bill says:
20 Feb 2009 11:04:45 AM

So where are they now? Surviving Fw 190's are in Museum's in Europe,South Africa and at the National Air & Space Museum, Washington D.C. An Fw 190A-8 is owned by Mr. John Houston, and is under restoration at the Texas Air Museum in Rio Hondo, Texas. The aircraft was assigned to 12th Staffel of IV/JV5 in Norway. The aircraft was recovered from the crash site bewteen 1980 and 1984.

4.  BILL says:
23 Feb 2009 01:44:54 PM

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 was not only used by the Luftwaffe, but by: Hungary,Turkey and France.

5.  BILL says:
1 Mar 2009 11:12:25 AM

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-5 would continue to be built in France after WWII 64 aircraft were assembled and designated NC 900. Production ended in 1946 and the service life was very short lasted only as long as the Armee de L' Air needed until up-to-date aircraft reached squadron service.

6.  BILL says:
17 Mar 2009 08:28:48 AM

One of the first Focke-Wulf Fw 190's to be captured, was due to a navigation error by the pilot. After a dogfight with Spitfires, low on fuel and mistaking the Bristol Channel, for the English Channel he started to land at what he thought was his Luftwaffe base in France, but was in fact a RAF field in England. The British watched the Mystery aircraft do a victory roll and with his air craft still inverted lowered his landing gear and touched down out of a steep turn, what a show of flying skill. Before the astonished pilot could do anything, 1st.Lt. Armin Faber of III/JG 2 was taken prisoner on June 23, 1942 and his aircraft captured, intact!

7.  BILL says:
19 Mar 2009 06:03:28 PM

Foreign Aircraft were evaluated and tested not only at Wright Field,Ohio but also at Freeman Field,Seymour,Indiana where most of the captured enemy aircraft were tested.

8.  BILL says:
22 Mar 2009 03:21:47 PM

Another Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-2/A-3 has been recovered. Fw 190A-3 of 12./JG 5 took off from Herdla airfield Dec.15,1943, a few miles from the airfield it suffered engine failure, and landed in the freezing water the pilot was rescued by local fisherman.The aircraft was not salvaged, and left to lie on the seabed for 63 years. In 2006 the Focke-Wulf was salvaged.

9.  BILL says:
4 Apr 2009 02:01:57 PM

The many design features,the Focke-Wulf had, to ease pilot work-load was called a single power control, or Kommandogerat System that automatically controlled the r.p.m., fuel mixture, ignition timing, super-charger switch-over and boost pressure. Advanced as it was when the Focke-Wulf was designed in 1939, Beachcraft use the same type of control system years later in the design of the Twin Engine Beach-Starship in the 1980's and 1990's.

10.  Bill says:
8 Aug 2010 11:24:30 AM

After World War II BMW, was not allowed to
build aircraft, but the company went into
producing consumer goods.

"Enter the Isetta 300"

It was one of the first micro-cars, of the
post-war era, it was an Italian design,cheap and easy to maintain.
One interesting design feature of the Isetta,
the one door opened outward with the steering
wheel and and instrument panel, to allow the
driver and passenger to enter.

The Isetta 300 was powered by a one-cylinder
engine, and it took 30 seconds to reach
50 Km/h (31mph),top speed was 75 Km/h (47mph)
and could get 50mpg to 70mpg! depending on the driving conditions.

About 34,000 were built and many are still in
running condition and in private collections

Personal note*

"Childhood and the Isetta 300"

My late Fathers friend Cliff owned a Isetta 300 car. To me it looked like a big toy.
Cliff had a sense of humor, he installed a
large key, and when he started the engine, the key rotated.

Everyone had fun riding in that little car.
I remember the car was painted red and white.
Thank you ww2db, for allowing me to add my
personal notes.

11.  Bill says:
9 Aug 2010 09:52:27 AM

Correction to #10

BMW did not design aircraft However they
supplied engines to the Luftwaffe, and also
rebuilt damaged aircraft.

After World War II, BMW could not restart any
production for three years.
It wasn't until the 1950's, that BMW was able
to build cars.

To learn more, click on equipment and to other, here at the ww2db.

12.  Bill says:
11 Aug 2010 10:12:16 AM

The Focke-Wulf 190 cockpit had 80 levers,
controls and dials that were divided into two
instrument panels and three consoles.

Weapons were sighted by an RM 16B that would
permit preice aiming at ranges of 900 meters. FuG 25a radio also served as an early
type of IFF (Identify Friend or Foe).

The BMW 801 engine was based on the American
Pratt & Whitney radials and built under
license. BMW used its own design experience
and testing, to develop its own improved
twin-row engine.
The design had many advanced features such
as fuel control and fuel injection the new
Kommandogerat system,took the work load off the pilot.

20,000 Fw 190 Fighters were built, not counting damaged and rebuilt aircraft that were returned to service.
All versions were built by Focke-Wulf, Arado,
AGO and Fieseler.

13.  Bill says:
11 Aug 2010 05:15:48 PM

BMW was founded in 1916 the company did have a few prototype aircraft, but was known for the design of aircraft engines.

BMW did have proposed experimental projects
during WWII, but never left the drawing boards.

One was the Schnellbomber a turboprop with
45 degree forward-swept wings w/ pressuried
cockpit.

Another was the Strahljager Projekt another
unfinished experimental jet bomber powered
by a mix of turboprop and jet engines.

14.  Bill says:
11 Aug 2010 05:24:20 PM

OOPS! misspelled precise did it again.
Listed under number 12

RM 16B permitted precise aiming at ranges of
900 meters.

15.  Bill says:
12 Sep 2010 06:21:57 PM

THE FOCKE WULF FW 190 BUTCHER BIRD FLIES:

Focke Wulf Fw 190 fighters are being built again, by Flug Werk GmbH. using original
drawings and dies the Company even uses the
wartime 'werk number' for each of its planes.

The reproduction Fw 190 is about 450kg lighter without armor, cannons, machine guns
and ammunition and the fighter is 98% to the
original.

Since the BMW 801 engines are rare and if any
are found and rebuilt the alternate engine is
the Chinese-License built Russian ASh-82FN 14
air-cooled radial engine rated at 1650hp and
the original BMW 801 engine was rated at
1677hp the power output is about the same.
Unit cost is over 1,000,000 Euros.

16.  Bill says:
25 Sep 2010 10:44:45 AM

Did You Know...

Kurt Tank, the father of the Focke Wulf 190
flew many test flights himself.
While on a test flight, flying a Ta 152 that
was unarmed, Tank was jumped by a pair of
P-51 Mustangs.
Tank opened the throttle and and left the mustang's behind.

The Ta 152 was one of the Luftwaffe's best
piston-engined fighters of WWII.
The prefix FW was changed to Ta for Tank to
recognize his contributions in the design
and engineering of Focke Wulf aircraft.

The Ta 152 was a high-altitude fighter and
featured many advanced systems, such as a auto-pilot, blind landing system and improved
single-power control system to reduce pilot
work load.
The Ta 152 was powered by a Jumo 213 E piston
engine that delivered 1,750 hp, and a top
speed of 755km/h or 472mph.

Armament:
1x30mm cannon firing through the propeller
arc and 2x20mm cannons in the wings.
Some models carried 1x30mm and 4x20mm cannons

Only one Ta 152 is known to exist today, and is part of the National Air & Space Museum Collection, located in Washington, D.C. The aircraft is currently waiting restoration.

17.  Bill says:
25 Sep 2010 03:47:04 PM

Continued from # 15

The Focke Wulf Fw 190 reproductions built by
Flug Werk GmbH.,Cost 1,000,000.00 Euros each or between $1,335,260.99 to over $1,500,200 U.S. Dollars.
Value? One Euro 1.33541 U.S. Dollar more or
less.
So far the company has built twenty aircraft.

18.  Bill says:
25 Sep 2010 05:51:50 PM

The cost of a reproduction Focke Wulf Fw 190
fighter today is 1,000,000 Euros.

But how much did the Third Reich pay for its
wartime Focke Wulf Fighters?
By 1944 one Fw 190A-9 or D-9 fighter were
delivered to the Luftwaffe for about 56,600 RM's or Reich Marks.

Later during the war, many companies wouldn't
accept payment in Reich Marks, but only in
Gold and Silver and other precious metals.
They could see that the Third Reich was doomed.

BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU:

Did you know...

Another problem for Hitler, was that the
Krupp Works along with many other companies wouldn't accept anything, except Gold in
payment for their products.

They wouldn't even take a Reich Mark, only
Gold transfered to their Swiss and Swedish
accounts.

19.  Bill says:
26 Sep 2010 11:11:04 AM

Did you know...

Pilots flying the Focke Wulf Fw 190 could not
fly with the canopy open in flight.
Above speeds over 250 mph the canopy was
impossible to open, because of the air flow
over the fuselage.

To escape from a damaged 190, the pilot had
to use explosive bolts to blow the canopy
clear of the aircraft, and bailout.

20.  Bill says:
29 Oct 2010 05:43:33 PM

Kurt Tank started work as a engineer in 1924
in 1930 he went to work for Messerschmitt.

In 1931 Tank joined Focke-Wulf and worked as
technical director, worked on the Fw 200
Kondor long-range four-engine transport.
In 1938 the Bf 109 was in front-line service with the Luftwaffe, the(German Air Ministry) or RLM requested a back-up fighter a number
of designs were drawn and powered by the
Daimler-Benz DB 601 liquid-cooled engine.

The RLM rejected this engine as the Bf 109 was allocated DB 601 production.
Tank responed with a new engine, the BMW
18 cylinder air-cooled radial engine, it was
available to support production orders.

The first prototype flew in 1939, Tank who was a skilled pilot, flew many of the tests himself, (a real hands on engineer).
Many problems were corrected the fighter was
ready for production. The Fw 190A-1 fighter production started in June 1941. During the
war the fighter was improved and upgraded.

IMPROVE THE BREED: FW 190D

Tank improved his fighter by using the Junkers Jumo 213, 12 cyliner liquid-cooled engine. And the improved Daimler-Benz 603
engine. Pilots found the Fw 190D a superb
combat fighter equal to the North American
P-51 Mustang.

21.  Bill says:
9 Nov 2010 05:44:30 PM

In 1937 the German Air Ministry decided it
needed another fighter, to supplement the
Messerschmitt Bf 109.
Kurt Tank who was Technical director, at
Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau GmbH. and his design
team developed the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, the
aircraft made its first flight on Jun 1, 1939

The BMW-801, 14 Cylinder Air-Cooled Radial Engine was available to power the new fighter
BMW developed 22 versions of the 801 engine,
11 of which were built in series.
During its production life, about 22,000
engines were built, not counting damaged and rebuilt engines.

22.  Bill says:
9 Nov 2010 06:25:25 PM

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 V-1 Prototype was powered by the BMW 139,18 cylinder air-cooled
radial engine, of 1,550hp

Production Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-8 was powered by the BMW 801, 1,700hp.
As the fighter improved, so did the engines.

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190D was powered by the
Junkers Jumo 213 inline liquid-cooled engine
of 2,240hp w/ methanol-water injection for
a maximum speed of 426 mph,ceiling of 40,000 feet.
With its more powerful engine, the Fw 190D
had a longer nose, Tank extended the fuselage
20 inches forward of the tail, to balance the
aircraft out.

General of Fighters Adolf Galland stated that
only the Fw 190D and Me 262 should continue
in production, to stop Allied raids over the
Fatherland.

23.  Bill says:
28 Nov 2010 04:40:54 PM

Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG

Founded in 1923 Built and designed aircraft In 1931 under Government pressure, it merged
with Albatros-Flugzeugwerke.
Kurt Tank of Albatros became the driving
force in the Focke-Wulf Company. He designed
the Long-Range Fw 200 Condor and the WWII
Fw 190 single-seat fighter.

After WWII Tank could not continue to design
and build aircraft in Germany and he moved to
South America to continue work in the Aircraft industry, along with Professor
Heinrich Focke who went to Brazil to design
light helicopters.

In 1951 aircraft production was permitted in
Germany and Focke-Wulf was reborn. In 1961
Focke-Wulf joined forces with several other companies to develop rocket and aircraft designs. Focke-Wulf merged with Weserflug in 1964 to become Vereinite-Flugtechnische Werke (VFW).

24.  Bill says:
29 Nov 2010 11:03:58 AM

NOT SO GOOD BMW

During World War II BMW has admitted using
between 25,000 to 30,000 slave laborers
they were POWs and Inmates from Concentration
camps.

25.  Bill says:
20 Dec 2010 11:51:16 AM

RARE FOCKE-WULF FW 190A-5 WILL SOON FLY

Found in a Russian forest in the late 1980s the fighter was recoverd, shipped to England
for initial restoration.
Final restoration carried out in Arizona, USA
The aircraft's original BMW 801 radial engine
was rebuilt, to airworthy status.

There are replica Focke-Wulfs flying, but not
an original, operational Fw 190. Much of the
aircraft's original structure was kept, and
restored fitting and refitting, testing and
research.
Many of the components have been supplied by
Flug Werke, and built to the original drawing
blueprints. Many of the other parts have been custom-built.

The Fw 190 was assigned to Jagdgeschwader 54
operating in the Leningrad area, the pilot
was captured. The Fw 190 is located at the
Flying Heritage Collection, Paine Field
Everett, Washington.

26.  Bill says:
3 Mar 2011 03:18:48 PM

File Photograph Fw 190 in flight previous comments dated 20 Feb 2009

Focke-Wulf Fw190G-3 W.Nr 160016 tested at Wright Field, captured Salerno,Italy 1944
last assigned unit Luftlotte SG/4, that was operating in the Mediterranean.

The USAAF tested a number of Focke-Wulf a/c
during WWII they were identified by number
for example FE-121(Foreign Evaluation)was a
Focke-Wulf Fw190D Black 5, that served with
JG/26 this aircraft was tested and evaluated
until 1946 when lack of spare-parts grounded the fighter.
Many of the German, Japanese and Italian a/c were scraped after WWII due to the lack of interest with the public. Some aircraft did
escape the scrap yard, were put into storage and preserved so they could be displayed at a later time, for future generations.

27.  Bill says:
19 May 2011 07:00:40 PM

JAPANESE FW 190:

The Japanese received one Focke-Wulf Fw 190
for test and evaluation in 1943 the aircraft
wasn't put into production by the Japanese.
The Fw 190 received the Allied code name of
"Fred".

LATER DEVELOPMENTS:

The Japanese used technical evaluation and analysis of the Fw 190 in the development of the Kawasaki Ki-100 radial engine fighter.
With the shortage of inline liquid-cooled
engines, and airframes that needed engines would have powered the Ki-61 Hien "Tony" a solution had to be found.

The engineers at Kawasaki studied the design of the Fw 190s radial engine with its slim fuselage, and used this data to develop the Ki 100 one of the outstanding radial engine powered Japanese fighters of the war.

Later durning the war, the Japanese bought the blueprints for the Focke-Wulf Ta 152 but
never put into production.
It would have been very interesting what the Japanese Ta 152 would have done against the American B-29 raids over the Empire.

LAST SHOTS FIRED:

The last air-to-air kills of WWII were Yak 9s
that were shotdown by Ta 152s over Berlin in April 1945.
The Russians captured a number of Fw 190Ds
and used them in operations,along with other captured German aircraft in the last weeks of the war.

28. Anonymous says:
15 Mar 2015 08:43:13 PM

Hi,
My name is Ludwig Leidig and I'm the author of the historical biography Bombshell. Chapter 3 comprises a great deal of info on Focke-Wulf (mostly unknown).

29.  Bill says:
28 Nov 2016 02:25:53 PM

TESTING ONE, TWO, THREE:

File photograph shows captured Focke-Wulf FW190 (DN+FP) W.Nr.160016 tested Wight-Field, Ohio aircraft was assigned to Luftlotte SG/4 and was captured Salerno, Italy.

Pilot Major Gustav Edward Lundguist USAAF, later he was assigned to the 486th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group flying North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang 44-13395 he was shot down near Merseberg, Germany, became a POW until the end of the war in Europe, he was credited with two air-to-air victories.

After the war, he decided to stay in the USAAF/USAF and retired as a Brigadier General USAF after 29 years of service...