Periodically, we highlight vintage aircraft listed for sale with one of our sponsors, Platinum Fighter Sales. One of their newly-listed airframes which really caught our eyes is a rare 1944 Focke-Wulf Fw190 F-8 described in the text and images below.
The Focke-Wulf Fw190, nicknamed Würger (Butcher Bird) is a German single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank at Focke-Wulf in the late 1930s and widely used during WWII. Along with its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf109, the Fw190 became the backbone of the Jagdwaffe (Fighter Force) of the Luftwaffe. The twin-row BMW 801 radial engine that powered most operational versions enabled the Fw190 to lift larger loads than the Bf109, allowing its use as a day fighter, fighter-bomber, ground attack aircraft, and to a lesser degree, night fighter.
The Fw190A started flying operationally over France in August 1941 and quickly proved superior in all but turn radius to the Spitfire Mk. V, is the main front-line fighter of the RAF, particularly at low and medium altitudes. The 190 maintained superiority over Allied fighters until the introduction of the improved Spitfire Mk. IX. In November/December 1942, the Fw190 made its air combat debut on the Eastern Front, finding much success in fighter wings and specialized ground attack units from October 1943.
The Fw190A series’ performance decreased at high altitudes, which reduced its effectiveness as a high-altitude interceptor. From the Fw190’s inception, there had been ongoing efforts to address this with a turbosupercharged BMW 801 in the B model, the much longer-nosed C model with efforts to also turbocharge its chosen Daimler-Benz DB603 inverted V12 powerplant, and the similarly long-nosed D model with the Junkers Jumo 213. Problems with the turbocharger installations on the -B and -C subtypes meant only the D model entered service in September 1944. These high-altitude developments eventually led to the Focke-Wulf Ta152, which was capable of extreme speeds at medium to high altitudes (469 mph) at 44,300 ft. While these “long nose” 190 variants and the Ta 152 derivative especially gave the Germans parity with Allied opponents, they arrived too late to affect the outcome of the war.
The Fw190F-8 was based on the A-8 Fighter, having a slightly modified injector on the engine compressor which allowed for increased performance at lower altitudes for several minutes. The armament of the Fw 190F-8 was two 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon in the wing roots and two 13 mm (0.51 in) MG 131 machine guns above the engine. It was outfitted with an ETC 501 Bomb rack as a centerline mount and four ETC 50 bomb racks as underwing mounts.
The Fw190 was well-liked by its pilots. Some of the Luftwaffe’s most successful fighter Aces claimed many of their victories while flying it, including Otto Kittel, Walter Nowatny, and Erich Rudorffer. The Fw190 had greater firepower than the Bf109 and, at low to medium altitude, superior maneuverability, according to the German pilots who flew both fighters. It was regarded as one of the best fighter planes of World War II.
History
The substantial wreckage of Fw-190F-8, Wk Nr 581808, was recovered near the town of Priozersk, Russian Karelia, during the Summer of 2019. Loss records reveal that the 190 belonged to 1./SG-5, and was coded Q9+BT. The aircraft was one of 16 Focke-Wulf Fw190F-3 and F-8 ‘Jabos’ (fighter-bombers) based at Alakurtti, Finland, which was part of ‘Detachment Kuhlmey’. This Luftwaffe Unit was formed temporarily and dispatched to the large Finnish Air Force base at Immola in June 1944 to help counter large-scale Soviet offensives during the ‘Continuation War’. The Unit had around 70 aircraft on strength comprising Ju87s, Fw190s and Bf109s. On 4 August, whilst being piloted by Alfred Kruppa, this Focke-Wulf was engaged and hit by Soviet Hurricanes. Kruppa bailed out, landed in the Vuoksi River, and did not survive.
Fw190F-8 Wk Nr 581808 is a time capsule and is one of the most complete Fw-190’s in existence.
Many restorations to fly have started with much less. 581808 would make an excellent candidate to be rebuilt to flyable condition. Currently located in Minnesota, USA, and is available for inspection by appointment only. For further details on this beautiful piece of aviation history, be sure to contact Platinum Fighter Sales!
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Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
If the FW-190’s pilot bailed out how did the plane get down on the ground without being totally wrecked by crashing? That part of the story makes no sense.
That kind of thing happened a lot. Planes don’t always nosedive into the ground.
There is a Convair F – 106 on display at Dayton Museum from which it’s pilot ejected after being unable to recover from a spin and landed itself
I would like to know that too. Pictures of location where it was found would be great!
Dear Ted Lewis, We have published the information we have on the topic. I’m sure more will be revealed as research develops on this exciting, rare machine.
Dear David, As mentioned by others here, the aircraft isn’t necessarily destroyed after a baleout. It may be the aircraft was already low, which could explain why the pilot did not survive and the level of damage. We cannot comment on the specifics however, as we are not privy to any more detail.
It is interesting to know that there is another work to restore a Focke Wulf Fw 190F-8… I understand that in Hungary there is a similar work with a Focke Wulf Fw 190F-8 that belonged to the Royal Hungarian Air Force…
It is also interesting to me that it details that this copy belonged to the famous unit ‘Detachment Kuhlmey… which did such an effective job that they were able to stop the Russian advance and a possible invasion of Finland by the Red Army… and therefore the Finnish people He is eternally grateful to this unit that have paid tributes to them in Finland and at their grave in Germany.
Yes, this plane has a great story… it’s very interesting…
Well the data plate is probably intact , so all they have to do is rebuild the rest of it.
this machine was recovered from water / swamp. It was not destroyed. But if you look closely, it is assembled. The fuselage is broken into several pieces, the engine is torn out, the wing is in several pieces.
Very “nice” and interesting. But unfortunately everything is warped and damaged. The engine is not repairable. All the plates are rusted, oxidized, leaking. It’s beautiful and should be displayed in a museum.
If you can return aircraft to be able to fly it has to be done. After it hits the limit it can sit on display.
This thing is toast…..