The Focke-Wulf 190 with III./Kampfgeschwader 101

The Focke-Wulf 190 with III./Kampfgeschwader 101

The FW 190 served with III./K.G. 101 in 1943, and this article provides some details on the type's service with this little known training unit. I would like to hear from anyone who has more information about III./K.G. 101.

Introduction
A series of ULTRA decrypts, and some other sources from the National Archives, reveal a little about the service of the FW 190 with the III. Gruppe of K.G. 101 in May and June 1943.

A Brief History of III./K.G. 101
III./K.G. 101 was formed from I./Kampfschulgeschwader 3 at Cognac on 1 February 1943 under the command of Hptm. Horst Beeger, who led the Gruppe throughout its existence. III./K.G. 101 trained pilots for service with FW 190 ground-attack units, probably S.K.G. 10 exclusively. I./K.S.G. 3 had been based at Cognac, and had provided training for S.K.G. 10 pilots in December 1942 and early 1943. When the pilots first arrived at Cognac they were given a short course on fighter tactics, starting with aerobatics in a Bü 133, then formation flying, aerobatics, and air to ground firing in an FW 190. Then came bombing training, including lectures, and pilots were taught about bombing land and sea targets. K.S.G. 3 had its own bombing range at Cognac.^[1]

The formation of III./K.G. 101

Previously	Became	Date
Stab K.S.G. 3	Stab III./K.G. 101	01.02.43
1./K.S.G. 3	7./K.G. 101	01.02.43
2./K.S.G. 3	8./K.G. 101	01.02.43
Erprobungsstaffel 410	9./K.G. 101	06.06.43

7./K.G. 101 was based at Cognac from 1 February to 14 July 1943, then moved to Lechfeld. 8./K.G. 101 was at Cognac until it was re-designated on 1 July 1943 as the Erg.Sta.(Nacht) S.K.G. 10. 9./K.G. 101 was at Lechfeld from 6 to 19 June 1943, when it became 13./K.G. 2. The remainder of III./K.G. 101 disbanded in August 1943.^[2]

29 May 1943
Around this date one FW 190 of III./K.G. 101 crashed in western Europe.^[3]

31 May 1943
A III./K.G. 101 FW 190 crashed at an unknown location, causing ten per cent damage. Two FW 190s were sent to Beauvais and St. Andre. Two FW 190s were off strength, having been returned to works.^[4]

During the day Oblt. Homann, the Technical Officer of III./K.G. 101, sent a strength return. The Gruppe had 36 pilots on strength. In the table below the number of aircraft on strength is shown, along with the number of aircraft serviceable in brackets.

FW 190 A-3	FW 190 A-4	FW 190 A-5	Total
2 (1)	2 (1)	15 (10)	19 (12)

The unserviceable FW 190 A-3 had crashed and was being repaired. It had suffered a hydraulic pipe burst. Two FW 190 A-5s were handed over to J.G. 2 at Beaumont le Roger on 31 May. In May 1943 the Stab J.G. 2 received three FW 190 A-5s from other units, I./J.G. 2 received one FW 190 A-5 from another unit, and was based at Beaumont le Roger at around this time, and III./J.G. 2 received twelve FW 190 A-5s from other units.^[5]

1 June 1943
One FW 190 A-4 of III./K.G. 101 had a damaged tail wheel, as did one FW 190 A-5. An FW 190 A-5 had engine damage, and another FW 190 A-5 was changing parts. One FW 190 A-5 was going overland to Beauvais, while one FW 190 A-5 was on detachment to St. Andre to be repaired. Coincidentally, St. Andre was the base of I./S.K.G. 10 at this time.^[6]

2 June 1943
An FW 190 of III./K.G. 101 had crashed, and two were away from base. FW 190 A-5 W.Nr 2535 '5T + DR' was given off strength for the second time on this day in error.^[7]

4 June 1943
III./K.G. 101 had 27 aircraft on strength, including eleven serviceable and fourteen unserviceable. Amongst the unserviceable were two FW 190s with ten per cent damage from crashes, and one FW 190 with five per cent damage from a crash. One FW 190 had crashed with an unknown amount of damage. One FW 190 had landed at Beauvais, and one had been ferried to the detachment at St. Andre for repair.^[8]

13 June 1943
7./K.G. 101 sent FW 190 A-5/U8 W.Nr 0129 to the Villacoublay repair facility.^[9]

21 June 1943
III./K.G. 101 sent FW 190 A-5/U8 W.Nr 0130 to Villacoublay for repair.^[10]

Unknown date
At some time in 1943 III./K.G. 101 sent FW 190 A-3 W.Nr 0130 244 '5T + KR' to Villacoublay to be repaired.^[11]

Footnotes
[1] NA AIR 40/2413, A.I.(K) Report No. 201/1943, pp.1 & 9; M. Holm, Kampfgeschwader 101, http://www.ww2.dk/air/kampf/kg101.html
[2] M. Holm, Kampfgeschwader 101, http://www.ww2.dk/air/kampf/kg101.html; Holm notes that the unit only operated Ju 88s, although this is clearly incorrect.
[3] NA HW 5/257
[4] NA HW 5/258
[5] NA HW 5/259; BA-MA RL 2 III/877, Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen; M. Holm, Jagdgeschwader 2, http://www.ww2.dk/air/jagd/jg2.html
[6] NA HW 5/259; M. Holm, Schnellkampfgeschwader 10, http://www.ww2.dk/air/attack/skg10.html
[7] NA HW 5/260; FW 190 A-5 W.Nr 2535 of 1./J.G 2 was 30 per cent damaged on 15 June 1943 in a force-landing at Bernay airfield after combat, when the pilot, Uffz. Karl-Heinz Kurth, was wounded. However, the loss report stated the W.Nr to be 2355, rather than 2535. Hans Ring noted that the W.Nr was 2535;Genst.Gen.Qu.6.Abt.(mfm#10)-Vol.18; Ring, JG 2 loss list, p.12
[8] NA HW 5/261
[9] NA AIR 40/1887
[10] NA AIR 40/1887
[11] NA AIR 40/1887

Sources
NA AIR 40/1887, Air P/W Interrogation Unit Main Headquarters Second T.A.F.: Focke-Wulf Repair Facility, Auxerre

NA AIR 40/2413, Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Reports 155-282A Vol 18, April-June 1943

NA HW 5, German section: reports of German army and air force high grade machine decrypts

BA-MA RL 2 III/877, Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen

Holm, Michael The Luftwaffe, 1939-1945, http://www.ww2.dk/

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