FW 190 F-9 W.Nr 440 340
This page has photos and the story of a late-war FW 190 F-9 that landed at Villa Franca in Italy. Thanks to Mark O'Boyle for sending me his father's photos of this aircraft, as well as providing some information about it.
FW 190 F-9 W.Nr 440 340, pilot and unit unknown, Villa Franca, Italy, May 1945 (Mark O'Boyle)
This FW 190 F-9 was flown to Villa Franca in northern Italy in the final days of the war by a German pilot. It was possibly intended for N.S.Gr. 9, which had recently left this airfield. The next FW 190 F-9 from this block, W.Nr 440 341 was found at München-Neubiberg, and it also had no unit markings. München-Neubiberg was a major location for aircraft supply to Italy during the war.[1]
The photos above were taken by an American servicemen, 1/Lt. Ken O'Boyle. Mr. O'Boyle, who passed away in 1987, wrote the following home about this aircraft on 7 May 1945:
"A Focke-Wulf 190 was captured intact - the others were burned in their hardstands. A funny story about the FW 190 - the pilot, an Eyetie, set it down and when he turned off the engine was surprised to see a flock of doughboys levelling rifles at him. He later said he thought the field was still held by the Jerries - that happened the day before we got up here." [2]
A member of the 57th FG, Dwight Orman, submitted his photos of this aircraft to www.web-birds.com, and he wrote the following about it:
"Late in the war we used a recently vacated German airfield at Villa Franco - story as I heard it - German pilot landed in his FW 190 thinking his guys were still there - on landing roll saw all the P-47s lined up - fled the scene with engine idling and brakes set - infantry guards used rifle butts to hole the canopy and while screwing around in the cockpit pulled the gear handle - last two pics show we extended the gear and towed it to the ramp - tarp over the canopy."
FW 190 F-9 W.Nr 440 340, pilot and unit unknown, Villa Franca, Italy, May 1945 (Jimmie R. Long Jr.)
This photo of W.Nr 440 340 was taken by Jimmie R. Long Jr., who was a P-47 pilot with the 65th FS/57th FG.
Footnotes
[1] N. Beale, F. D'Amico & G. Valentini, Air War Italy 1944-1945: The Axis Air Forces from the Liberation of Rome to the Surrender, Airlife, Shrewsbury, 1996, pp.200 & 206
[2] 1/Lt. Ken O'Boyle, Letter 7 May 1945
Sources
N. Beale, F. D'Amico & G. Valentini, Air War Italy 1944-1945: The Axis Air Forces from the Liberation of Rome to the Surrender, Airlife, Shrewsbury, 1996
1/Lt. Ken O'Boyle, Letter 7 May 1945
M. O'Boyle, Email 10 July 2004
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