Early Focke-Wulf FW 190s on the Eastern Front:
The FW 190 A-1, A-2 and A-3 with Jagdgeschwader 51
By Andrew Arthy
This article looks at the service of the early FW 190 versions, the A-1, A-2 and A-3, with German fighter unit Jagdgeschwader 51 on the Eastern Front between 1942 and 1944.
Introduction
In late-1942 elements of Jagdgeschwader 51 gave up their Messerschmitt Bf 109s to convert to the Focke-Wulf FW 190. Although by this time the FW 190 had been in service for an entire year on the English Channel with Jagdgeschwader 26, J.G. 51 was to be the first Luftwaffe fighter unit to fly the radial-engined aircraft in action on the Eastern Front.
The Stab of Jagdgeschwader 51 converts to the FW 190 [1]
The Stab of J.G. 51 did not receive its first FW 190s until November 1942. It operated only a handful of FW 190 A-3s, before receiving the newer A-4 and A-5 variants early in 1943. However, in July 1943 the Stab of J.G. 51 took on twelve FW 190 A-3s from repair, keeping these until August.
The Stabsstaffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 converts to the FW 190 [2]
The Stabsstaffel of J.G. 51, formed from the 6. Staffel of J.G. 51 in late-1942, did not operate the FW 190 A-2 or A-3.
The Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen say the unit took on nine new FW 190 A-3s in January 1943, but subsequent entries for the unit in February and March 1943 would indicate that these were actually FW 190 A-4s.
The I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 converts to the FW 190 [3]
In August 1942 Hauptmann Heinrich Krafft's I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 converted to the Focke-Wulf 190 at Jesau, near Königsberg in East Prussia. The last victories claimed by the Gruppe with the Bf 109 came in the first week of August 1942. Later in the month the unit took on strength a single FW 190 A-1, ten FW 190 A-2s, and 32 FW 190 A-3s.
Elements of the unit returned to the Eastern Front towards the end of August. The first aerial victory to be claimed in the FW 190 by the Gruppe was by Leutnant Hans Boos of 2./J.G. 51, who shot down a Hurricane at 17:25 on 24 August 1942 in Pl.Qu. 47 843 from an altitude of 800 m. This was his 32nd victory. On 29 August 1942 a I./J.G. 51 FW 190 was damaged on a mission, although there was no enemy involvement in the incident.
All of I./J.G. 51 arrived back on the Eastern Front on 6 September 1942. The unit was first based at Lyuban, south of Leningrad, and initially flew Freie Jagd missions in Schwarm and Rotte strength, to get used to their new fighter. The unit was soon transferred south of Lake Ilmen, taking part in the fighting in the Demyansk area, 300 km south-south-east of Leningrad. The first FW 190 losses recorded by the Gruppe occurred during September 1942. For example, on 11 September 1942 FW 190 A-3 W.Nr 2149 pf 3./J.G. 51 suffered twenty per cent damage at Ljuban in a crash due to undercarriage problems. The first FW 190 of I./J.G. 51 lost in combat was on 29 September 1942. During September the unit's sole FW 190 A-1 was sent to be overhauled, and until February 1943 - when the first FW 190 A-4s arrived - the unit had on strength only FW 190 A-2s and A-3s. In October 1942 I./J.G. 51 transferred south to the Rzhev-Vyazma salient, operating from Vyazma-Süd and Orel. The last I./J.G. 51 FW 190 A-2s and A-3s went off strength in August 1943.
The first victories claimed with the FW 190 by elements of I./J.G. 51 were as follows:
Stab I./J.G. 51: 29.09.42
1./J.G. 51: 30.09.42
2./J.G. 51: 24.08.42
3./J.G. 51: 30.10.42
One pilot who flew the FW 190 in its early service with I./J.G. 51 was Hauptmann Heinz Lange, who left 1./J.G. 54 and became Staffelkapitän of 3./J.G. 51 on 26 October 1942. His first victories with the FW 190 came on 4 December 1942, when he downed two Il-2s in the early afternoon. He had the following to say about the unit's new aircraft:
"I first flew the Fw 190 on 8 November 1942 at Vyazma in the Soviet Union. I was absolutely thrilled. I flew every fighter version of it employed on the Eastern Front. Because of its smaller fuselage, visibility was somewhat better out of the Bf 109. I believe the Focke-Wulf was more manoeuvrable than the Messerschmitt - although the latter could make a tighter horizontal turn, if you mastered the Fw 190 you could pull a lot of Gs and do just about as well. In terms of control force and feel, the 109 was heavier on the stick. In the Fw 190 aerobatics were a pleasure!
Structurally, it was distinctly superior to the Messerschmitt, especially in dives. The radial engine of the Fw 190A was also more resistant to enemy fire. Firepower, which varied with the particular series, was fairly even in all German fighters. The central cannon of the Messerschmitts was naturally more accurate, but that was really a meaningful advantage only in fighter-to-fighter combat."[4]
The II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 converts to the FW 190 [5]
In October 1942 Hauptmann Hartmann Grasser's II./J.G. 51 was the most successful Gruppe in the Geschwader. In that month II./J.G. 51 began to convert to the Focke-Wulf FW 190, moving to Jesau on 7 October 1942. The unit's last aerial victories in the Bf 109 before leaving the front were claimed three days earlier.
However, after beginning to convert to the FW 190 A-2 and A-3, the Gruppe was ordered to move to the Mediterranean in early November 1942. After collecting 23 Bf 109 G-2 Trops from Wiener-Neustadt, the Gruppenstab, 4. and 5./J.G. 51 all transferred to the Mediterranean, but 6./J.G. 51 remained behind and completed conversion training. It was soon to become known as the Stabsstaffel of J.G. 51.
The III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 converts to the FW 190 [6]
III./J.G. 51, under Hauptmann Karl-Heinz Schnell, began conversion almost as soon as II./J.G. 51 left for the Eastern Front. Thirteen FW 190 A-2s and A-3s were taken on strength in November 1942. III./J.G. 51's conversion was also undertaken at Jesau. A pilot was killed during the conversion process in a mid-air collision. It was not until January 1943 that the last of the unit's Bf 109s were sent to other units. Thus it seems that the unit converted to the FW 190 Staffel by Staffel, rather than all at once.
Michael Holm says that III./J.G. 51 was at Jesau converting to the FW 190 from 12 November 1942 until December 1942.
John Weal says that after conversion III./J.G. 51 returned to the front in December 1942, and was heavily involved in the fighting around Velikiye Luki. Weal incorrectly states the Gruppe was operating the FW 190 A-4 in December 1942, a version that would not be on strength with III. Gruppe until May 1943, a month after the first FW 190 A-5s joined III./J.G. 51.
III./J.G. 51 had FW 190 A-3s on strength until May 1943. In August 1943 the Gruppe briefly had five FW 190 A-2s on strength, which came from other units, but these had been sent elsewhere before the end of the month.
The IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 converts to the FW 190 [7]
IV./J.G. 51 was the last Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 to convert to the FW 190, also doing so at Jesau. However, the unit never operated the early FW 190 variants, instead taking on 24 FW 190 A-4s in January 1943.
The 15. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 converts to the FW 190 [8]
The Spanish 15. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 only ever used the FW 190 A-2 and A-3, taking on these variants in April 1943, and retaining them until converting back to the Bf 109 in January 1944.
Table 1: Early FW 190s operated by the Stab J.G. 51
| Type |
New from Factory |
Repaired |
From other units |
Total |
| FW 190 A-3 |
0 |
12 |
4 |
16 |
| Total |
0 |
12 |
4 |
16 |
Table 2: Early FW 190s operated by I./J.G. 51
| Type |
New from Factory |
Repaired |
From other units |
Total |
| FW 190 A-1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| FW 190 A-2 |
18 |
1 |
6 |
25 |
| FW 190 A-3 |
39 |
16 |
11 |
66 |
| Total |
58 |
17 |
17 |
92 |
Table 3: Early FW 190s operated by II./J.G. 51
| Type |
New from Factory |
Repaired |
From other units |
Total |
| FW 190 A-1, A-2 or A-3 |
3 |
3 |
29 |
35 |
| FW 190 A-2 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
| FW 190 A-3 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
| Total |
3 |
3 |
35 |
44 |
Table 4: Early FW 190s operated by III./J.G. 51
| Type |
New from Factory |
Repaired |
From other units |
Total |
| FW 190 A-2 & A-3 |
0 |
9 |
7 |
16 |
| FW 190 A-2 |
17 |
3 |
14 |
34 |
| FW 190 A-3 |
5 |
3 |
22 |
30 |
| Total |
22 |
15 |
43 |
80 |
Table 5: Early FW 190s operated by 15./J.G. 51
| Type |
New from Factory |
Repaired |
From other units |
Total |
| FW 190 A-2 |
0 |
14 |
11 |
25 |
| FW 190 A-3 |
0 |
29 |
12 |
41 |
| Total |
0 |
43 |
23 |
66 |
Table 6: Early FW 190s operated by Jagdgeschwader 51
| Type |
New from Factory |
Repaired |
From other units |
Total |
| FW 190 A-1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| FW 190 A-2 |
35 |
18 |
35 |
88 |
| FW 190 A-3 |
44 |
60 |
54 |
158 |
| FW 190 A-1, A-2 or A-3 |
3 |
3 |
29 |
35 |
| FW 190 A-2 & A-3 |
0 |
9 |
7 |
16 |
| Total |
83 |
90 |
125 |
298 |
FW 190 A-2s and A-3s of Jagdgeschwader 51
FW 190 A-2 or A-3, 'Black <~ + ', pilot unknown, Stab I./J.G. 51, Lake Ivan, winter 1942/1943
RLM 70 spinner, yellow theatre band around Balkenkreuz, W.Nr above Hakenkreuz on port side
Source: Weal, Fw 190 Aces of the Eastern Front, p.13 photograph
FW 190 A-3 'Black << + ', Hptm. Heinrich Krafft, Kommandeur of I./J.G. 51, Jesau, East Prussia, August 1942
This aircraft is depcited with the Gruppe emblem under the cockpit on the port side. Camouflage is standard European RLM 74/75/76, with no theatre markings applied to the aircraft. Spinner is in RLM 70 Black/Green.
Source: Weal, Fw 190 Aces of the Eastern Front, p.48 profile
FW 190 A-2 or A-3 'Black < I + ', pilot unknown, Stab of I./J.G. 51, Eastern Front, autumn 1942
Yellow theatre band around the Balkenkreuz, summer camouflage, no unit emblems on starboard side.
Source: Rodeike, Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug, p.104 photograph
FW 190 A-2 or A-3 'Black < o + ', pilot unknown, Stab of I./J.G. 51, Eastern Front, autumn 1942
Summer camouflage.
Source: Rodeike, Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug, p.104 photograph
FW 190 A-2 or A-3 'Black < - + ', pilot unknown, Stab of I./J.G. 51, Eastern Front, autumn 1942
Summer camouflage.
Source: Rodeike, Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug, p.104 photograph
FW 190 A-3 W.Nr 130 539 'Black << + ', Hptm. Heinrich Krafft, Kommandeur of I./J.G. 51, Eastern Front, autumn 1942
No emblems on starboard side, W.Nr 539 above Hakenkreuz on starboard side, yellow theatre band just forward of the tail section, summer camouflage.
Source: Rodeike, Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug, p.105 photograph
FW 190 A-3 'Black << + ', Hptm. Rudolf Busch, Kommandeur Stab of I./J.G. 51, Lake Ivan, Russia, January 1943
Winter camouflage, white spinner, with yellow lower engine cowling, yellow band around the Balkenkreuz, and yellow wing-tips.
Source: Weal, Fw 190 Aces of the Eastern Front, p.48 profile
FW 190 A-2 or A-3 'White 6 + ', pilot unknown, 1./J.G. 51 Eastern Front, autumn 1942
Geschwader emblem on port engine cowling, lower engine cowling is yellow, narrow yellow theatre band just forward of the tail section. W.Nr 539 above Hakenkreuz on port side, summer camouflage.
Source: Rodeike, Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug, p.105 photograph
FW 190 A-2 or A-3 'White 7 + ', pilot unknown, 1./J.G. 51, Eastern Front, 1942/1943
Summer camouflage, Geschwader emblem on port engine cowling, Gruppe emblem below cockpit on port side, yellow theatre band around Balkenkreuz. Maybe not an A-2 or A-3.
Source: Janowicz, FW 190 Vol. II, p.76 photograph
FW 190 A-2 or A-3 'White 10 + ', pilot unknown, 1./J.G. 51, Eastern Front, 1942/1943
Yellow theatre band around Balkenkreuz, no emblems on starboard side, summer camouflage, white spiral on spinner.
Source: Jessen, The Birth of the Butcher Bird 1939-1943', p.41 photograph
FW 190 A-2 or A-3 'White 10 + ', pilot unknown, 1./J.G. 51, Eastern Front, spring 1943
Summer camouflage, rear half of spinner RLM 70, front half white, narrow theatre band just forward of tail section, no black outline for Balkenkreuz. Perhaps 15./J.G. 51 considering the date given in the caption.
Source: Janowicz, FW 190 Vol. I, p.3 photograph
FW 190 A-2 or A-3 W.Nr 2261 'Black 8 + ', pilot unknown, 2./J.G. 51, Eastern Front, autumn 1942
Summer camouflage, RLM 70/71, Geschwader emblem on engine cowling, Gruppe emblem under cockpit, yellow theatre band around Balkenkreuz, W.Nr 2261 above Hakenkreuz on port side.
Source: Janowicz, FW 190 Vol. III, p.32 photograph
FW 190 A-2 or A-3 'Black 12 + ', pilot unknown, 2./J.G. 51, Eastern Front, 1942/1943
Summer camouflage, RLM 70/71, yellow theatre band around Balkenkreuz, RLM 70 spinner, no emblems on starboard side, W.Nr above Hakenkreuz on starboard side.
Source: Janowicz, FW 190 Vol. III, p.31 photograph
FW 190 A-3 W.Nr 0130 538 'White 6 + ', pilot unknown, 3./J.G. 51, Eastern Front, autumn 1942
White number would indicate 1./J.G. 51. Narrow theatre band just forward of tail section, Geschwader emblem on port engine cowling, yellow lower engine cowling, no black outline for Balkenkreuz, summer camouflage, Janowicz says RLM 71/72/76, W.Nr 0538 above Hakenkreuz on port side.
Source: Janowicz, FW 190 Vol. I, p.97 profile
FW 190 A-3 W.Nr 2277 'Brown 4 + ', pilot unknown, 3./J.G. 51, Eastern Front, winter 1942/1943
Winter camouflage, W.Nr above Hakenkreuz on port side
Source: Rodeike, Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug, p.106 photograph
FW 190 A-3 'Yellow 9 + ', Hptm. Heinz Lange, Staffelkapitän 3./J.G. 51, Vyazma, Russia, December 1942
Yellow theatre band just forward of the tail section, yellow lower engine cowling and yellow wingips. The aircraft is all white, inWinter camouflage, white spinner.
Source: Weal, Fw 190 Aces of the Eastern Front, p.48 profile; Janowicz, FW 190 Vol. I, p.91 profile
FW 190 A-3 'White 11 + I', Hptm. Herbert Wehnelt, Staffelkapitän of 7./J.G. 51, Orel, Russia, ca. January 1943
Winter camouflage, white spinner, aircraft number and III. Gruppe bar are black outlines, as is the fuselage cross. Yellow theatre band just forward of the tail section, but does not cover the spine of the aircraft. Lower engine cowling is yellow, as are the wing-tips.
Source: Weal, Fw 190 Aces of the Eastern Front, p.49 profile
FW 190 A-2 or A-3 'Black 7 + I', pilot unknown, 8./J.G. 51, Eastern Front, winter 1942/1943
Yellow theatre band just forward of the tail section, band does not cover the fuselage spine, W.Nr above Hakenkreuz on port side. III. Gruppe bar is white. No emblems on the port side.
Source: Rodeike, Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug, p.106 photograph
FW 190 A-2 or A-3 W.Nr 460 'Black 1 + I', pilot unknown, 9./J.G. 51, Eastern Front, winter 1942/1943
Jessen says it is W.Nr 1460 'Red 1 + I'. III. Gruppe bar is in white. Gruppe emblem under cockpit on port side. Yellow theatre band just forward of the tail section
Source: Jessen, The Birth of the Butcher Bird 1939-1943', p.38 photograph
FW 190 A-2 or A-3 W.Nr 495, pilot unknown, J.G. 51, Eastern Front, autumn 1942
Summer camouflage, RLM 70/71, W.Nr 495 above Hakenkreuz on port side.
Source: Janowicz, FW 190 Vol. II, p.75 photograph
Jagdgeschwader 51 FW 190 A-1, A-2 and A-3 Losses [9]
FW 190 A-3 W.Nr 2149, 3./J.G. 51, 20% 11.09.42 [Stkz. PD + SL. In March 1943, after being repaired, it served with 1./J.Gr. West]
FW 190 A-3 W.Nr 130 539, Stab I./J.G. 51, 100% 14.12.42
FW 190 A-2 W.Nr 20 234, 7./J.G. 51, 80% 24.02.43 [Stkz. DN + CN. Previously served with 4./J.G. 26 in early 1942 as 'White 7 + -']
FW 190 A-3 W.Nr 5481, 8./J.G. 51, 20% 12.04.43
FW 190 A-2 W.Nr 421, 15./J.G. 51, 100% 05.05.43
FW 190 A-3 W.Nr 5327, 15./J.G. 51, 100% 08.06.43
FW 190 A-2 W.Nr 2286, 15./J.G. 51, 100% 14.07.43
FW 190 A-2 W.Nr 510, 15./J.G. 51, 100% 12.08.43
FW 190 A-3 W.Nr 2262, Stab J.G. 51, 10% 15.08.43
FW 190 A-3 W.Nr 449, III./J.G. 51, 15% 17.08.43 [according to F & B, this should be an FW 190 A-2]
FW 190 A-5 W.Nr 525, 15./J.G. 51, 100% 21.08.43 [probably actually an A-2 or A-3]
FW 190 A-2 W.Nr 20453, I./J.G. 51, 100% 22.08.43 [Genst.Gen.Qu.6.Abt. does not have variant, F & B says it was an A-2]
FW 190 A-2 W.Nr 506, 15.(Span.)/J.G. 51, 100% 31.08.43
FW 190 A-3 W.Nr 494, 15./J.G. 51, 100% 18.09.43
FW 190 A-2 W.Nr 5410, 15./J.G. 51, 100% 12.10.43
FW 190 A-3 W.Nr 5442, 15.(Span.)/J.G. 51, 100% 21.10.43
FW 190 A-3 W.Nr 5345, 15./J.G. 51, 100% 19.11.43
Table 7: Jagdgeschwader 51 FW 190 A-1, A-2 and A-3 Werk Nummer List
| Werk Nummer |
Type |
Unit |
| 421 |
A-2 |
15./J.G. 51 |
| 449 |
A-3 |
III./J.G. 51 |
| 460 |
A-2 or A-3 |
9./J.G. 51 |
| 494 |
A-3 |
15./J.G. 51 |
| 495 |
A-2 or A-3 |
J.G. 51 |
| 506 |
A-2 |
15.(Span.)/J.G. 51 |
| 510 |
A-2 |
15./J.G. 51 |
| 525 |
A-5 [A-2 or A-3?] |
15./J.G. 51 |
| 20234 |
7./J.G. 51 |
A-2 |
| 20453 |
I./J.G. 51 |
A-2 |
| 0130 538 |
A-3 |
3./J.G. 51 |
| 0130 539 |
A-3 |
Stab I./J.G. 51 |
| 2149 |
A-3 |
3./J.G. 51 |
| 2261 |
A-2 or A-3 |
2./J.G. 51 |
| 2262 |
A-3 |
Stab J.G. 51 |
| 2277 |
A-3 |
3./J.G. 51 |
| 2286 |
A-2 |
15./J.G. 51 |
| 5327 |
A-3 |
15./J.G. 51 |
| 5345 |
A-3 |
15./J.G. 51 |
| 5410 |
A-2 |
15./J.G. 51 |
| 5442 |
A-3 |
15.(Span.)/J.G. 51 |
| 5481 |
A-3 |
8./J.G. 51 |
Footnotes
[1] Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen Stab/JG51
[2] Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen Stab/JG51; Aders & Held, Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders; Holm, 'Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"'; Weal, Fw 190 Aces of the Eastern Front, p.14
[3] Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen I./JG51; I./J.G.51 Summarische Verluste - Flugzeuge; Luftwaffe Victory Claims Microfilms Film C. 2025/I, Film C. 2032/II & Film C. 2036/II; Holm, 'Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"'; Rodeike, Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug, p.86; Weal, Fw 190 Aces of the Eastern Front, pp.9, 12, 13; Information via Russell Guest
[4] Weal, Fw 190 Aces of the Eastern Front, p.13
[5] Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen II./JG51; Luftwaffe Victory Claims Film C. 2035/II; Aders & Held, Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders; Rübell, Kreuze im Himmel – Wie Auf Erden, pp.18, 197; Weal, Fw 190 Aces of the Eastern Front, p.12
[6] Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen III./JG51; Holm, 'Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"''; Weal, Fw 190 Aces of the Eastern Front, pp.12, 14
[7] Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen IV./JG51; Holm, 'Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"''
[8] Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen 15./JG51; Holm, 'Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"''
[9] Genst.Gen.Qu.6.Abt.; Burchard, 'Air Operations during Battle of Kursk: July-August 1943'; Rodeike, Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug, pp.70, 86, 105, 108
Sources
Genst.Gen.Qu.6.Abt. loss material
Summarische Verluste - Flugzeuge
Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen
Gebhard Aders & Werner Held, Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders: Eine Chronik, Berichte, Erlebnisse, Dokumente, Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart, 1985.
Pawel Burchard, 'Air Operations during Battle of Kursk: July-August 1943', http://www.lesbutler.ip3.co.uk/tony/pawel/index.html
Michael Holm, 'Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"', http://www.ww2.dk/air/jagd/jg51.htm
Krzysztof Janowicz, Focke Wulf FW 190 Volume I, Kagero, Lublin, 2003.
Krzysztof Janowicz, Focke Wulf FW 190 Volume II, Kagero, Lublin, 2004.
Krzysztof Janowicz, Focke Wulf FW 190 Volume III, Kagero, Lublin, 2005.
Morten Jessen, Focke Wulf 190: The Birth of the Butcher Bird, 1939-1943, Greenhill Books, London, 1998.
Peter Rodeike, Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug, Struve Druck, Eutin, 1998.
Günther Rübell, Kreuze im Himmel – Wie Auf Erden: Fronterleben im Jagdgeschwader Mölders, Heusenstamm,
Orion Heimreiter Verlag, 1980.
John Weal, Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Aces of the Russian Front, Osprey, London, 1995.
Information via Russell Guest
Home