From: jmmatthe@apgea.army.mil (Jeffrey M. Matthews <jmmatthe>)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.military
Subject: Re: FW-190 (was Re: Bf 109)
Date: 18 Dec 92 17:42:55 GMT
Organization: CRDEC APG

In article <1992Dec16.070915.7562@pixar.com> good@pixar.com (100% natural and hypo-allergenic.) writes:
>In article <1992Dec15.015848.18995@den.mmc.com> zwork@starfighter.den.mmc.com (Michael Corvin) writes:
>:
>:In its later versions the FW-190 (Ta-152) was probably the best all-round
>:German fighter.  Kurt Tank is said to have easily shot down two P-51D's 
>:that attacked him during a test flight (he was the chief designer). 
>
>When I took the tour of the Paul Garber Facility, our guide paused in front of
>the FW-190 (E, I think) and asked if there were any WWII vets in the crowd.
>When the response was negative, he explained that he had to be careful in front
>of whom he made the following statement: "This, in my opinion, is the best
>fighter aircraft of World War II".  He went on to explain about automatic
>systems which were manual in Allied planes even at the end of the war, the
>performance, weapons systems, etc.
>
>I must confess that, as big a fan of the Mustang, Lightning and Corsair as
>I am, if my fairy godmother granted me one chance at stick time in a warbird
>I think I'd have her fuel up a 190.  It looked so business like and, well,
>*right* that it has me quite intrigued.  I'd be interested in hearing more
>about this plane.
>
>(Interesting note: as I recall, the guide explained that the Allied plane
>with the best kill rate against the 190 was -- tada! -- the P-47 "Jug"!)
>
>		--Craig
>-- 
>	good@pixar.com
>	Make Welfare as hard to get as Bulding Permits

    In an interesting footnote  to history, the Eighth Air Force was so
impressed with the 190's all-around performance that in early '44 they
traded an entire squadron of P-51B's for some black market FW's.  The
Mustangs were, in turn, snapped up by the Luftwaffe, who were amazed by
the projected production rates.  The scene was thus set for a classic
meeting of the giants.

    Although the American pilots liked their new ships, the first mission 
was undertaken with a certain trepidation, as they were not eager to get
anywhere near the B-17's they were to escort.  The rendezvous was accom-
plished with much shooting of colored flares and exchanging of counter-
signs and counter-countersigns, but was otherwise uneventful.  After giv-
ing the bomber crews a closer look at their new "little friends", the
fighters were forced to turn back to Merrie Olde England due to low fuel,
leaving the bombers, as before, to go it alone.

    In one of the little ironies of that war, the 17's were intercepted by
the very Staffel which had acquired the Mustangs of their erstwhile escorts.
The ensuing fight was spectacular, but inconclusive, as the bomber crews
were understandably reluctant to shoot at the familiar shape of the '51.
The Luftwaffe pilots, for their part, returned to their flugfeld muttering
about the utter futility of pecking away at a thirty-ton bomber with four
fifties.

    After a little thought, and several midnight meetings in the back alleys
of Lisbon, all parties decided that the best thing to do was to trade back
and say no more about it.  After that, each side went back to designing for
its own needs and the rest, as they say, is history.  The Mustang got, then
lost, two more guns, but the handful of H models became the fastest piston
engined fighter to enter service.  The Focke Wulf got a three-speed blower
and a longer wing, and at altitude there wasn't a fighter in the world that
could stay with it, except for the Me. 262 which was academic.  The two
never met, as they operated half a world apart.

    Well, if it didn't happen that way, it should have.


    BTW, Herr Dr. Ing. Tank didn't engage the Mustangs, he outran them.
Turn, as they say, and burn.

J. Matthews
Standard Disclaimers Apply
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.military