History
This Focke-Wulf Fw 190 was constructed as an A-8/R6 type with Werknummer / construction number 733682. It was built under licenses by Ago at Oschersleben and assigned to IV./KG200.
Kampfgeschwader 200 was formed on 20 February 1944 in Berlin Gatow to perform special operations like especially difficult transport or bombing missions and long-distance reconnaissance flights. They also tested new aircraft designs and captured allied aircraft.
IV./KG 200, the fourth group of Kampfgeschwader 200 was formed in November 1944 in Prenzlau, Germany. (KG 200 was disbanded on 25 March 1945).
This Fw 190 A-8/ R6 variant was powered by the standard BMW 801 D-2 It was also outfitted with a C3-injection emergency boost system, and the two fuselage-mounted 13 mm MG 131 machine guns, four 20 mm MG151 cannons and two underwing W.Gr 21 rocket launchers. The R6 suffix means Rüstsatz 6 (Eng, field conversion model 6) indicating a modification mounting the Rheinmetall-Borsig Werfer-Granate 21 rocket launcher introduced in 1943, as an airborne version of the 21 cm Nebelwerfer 42. These rockets were used in the anti-bomber role to have a weapon with a longer range then the defensive guns. Along with the Anti-bomber role, these were also used in the ground attack role.
(Another example of the use of the Werfer-Granate 21 was the smaller Wurfgranate 15 and the 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41).
Mistel
The German Mistel program was set up due to the fact that the German Luftwaffe lacked heavy bombers. The Luftwaffe used war-weary Junkers 88 bombers (Ju 88) and packed them with enormous shaped charge warheads. Testing started from the beginning of 1942. Fighter planes like the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 flew these unmanned bombers to their targets, released them at the designated target and the fighter plane flew back to its base.
Although a stop-gap solution it did have some success. On the night of 24 June 1944 five Mistels took off to bomb targets in the English Channel. On Ju 88 had to be jettisoned prematurely but the other four had success and sank several block ships. The attack on bridges near Küstrin to slow down the Russian advance in 1945 failed totally.
With a wry sense of humor the Germans named this weapon Mistel, standing under the mistletoe did not get you a kiss this time but a punch up the bracket.
The Focke Wulf fighter plane on display was used in a Mistel S3B pair along with a Ju-88H. The connector to the Mistle setup can still be seen underneath the aircraft.
The Fw 190 A-8/R6 was captured at Tirstrup, Denmark in 1945, and started its way back to the United Kingdom on 30 July 1945. After the tests it was displayed at the Cranwell RAF base (and other RAF Bases) before it was restored and delivered to the Imperial War Museum. It seems the camouflage and markings have been incorrectly applied but it is still a beautiful fighter aircraft to see.
