Canadian War Museum

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

David E. Brown
One and the same: Blue/Brown 6, Fw 190 A-8, 8./JG 26
Sat Jul 27 15:25:55 2024
24.138.6.89

Compelled by the discussion on the previous pages, I have investigated the above aircraft, utilizing the five known black & white photographs of the aircraft, the Canadian war artist's colour sketch, the AI2(g) Crashed Enemy Aircraft report and published works.

I believe that when studied in a chronological context, the above information indicates that all previous interpretations and reports on the aircraft were in fact correct. Study of the available evidence leads to the profound and unmistakable realization that this Focke-Wulf A-8 aircraft, WNr.175140 of II./JG 26, wore TWO different codes. The PORT side code was coded "Blue 6 + -" (number and Balken outlined in white), while the STARBOARD side core was "Brown 6 + -" (number and Balken outlined in black). The Werknummer would be found on both sides of the fin.

In essence, the key to unraveling this mystery was the war artist's colour charcoal sketch. All known photographs were taken of the aircraft's starboard side from various angles. The codes appear to be either dark- or light-coloured with a black outline that is no doubt due to photographic processes. It is known that 7. and 8./JG 26 wore brown and dark blue numbers respectively, the former having black outlines as confirmed photographically. Period photos of 8. Staffel aircraft are not yet known, but it is know that dark blue numbers were invariably outlined in white to accentuate the blue, or less commonly, plain blue. Blue numbers outlined in black are to this writer unknown.

Pointedly, all the photos were taken over the mid-late September 1944 period, and it is from these that the "Brown 6 + -" 7./JG 26 identity was interpreted. Three of these images are from either British (1) or Canadian (2) sources. Only one was taken by American personnel.

The earliest image of the aircraft was taken soon after the Melsbroek airfield was evacuated by II./JG 26 on 3 September 1944. The photo was obtained by my colleague Dave Wadman from a local veteran and is a front starboard-side view taken the from 2 o’clock position. Two Canadian servicemen are leaning against the wing-root / wing leading edge. That this is the earliest known shot of the aircraft is confirmed by the fact that the frame of the ‘flat’ canopy is still in position (though the Perspex is missing) and the cowling dorsal panel is intact and in place. The number 6 and II. Gruppe Balken have an intermediate grey tone and the black outline is visible supporting a brown colour for these markings. .

Around the same time of this photo, the aircraft was sketched in colour charcoal pastels by Canadian war artist Adolphus George Blumfield who was attached to 143 Wing RCAF. The sketch resides in the collection of the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Ontario. (Halliday, 1988). His sketch was made from the aircraft’s port side and while no Werknummer is shown, he has coloured the number and Balken as dark blue with white outlines in the identical style and dimensions as seen in the photos. Furthemore, the remains of the canopy frame and dorsal cowling panel are in the same position as in the Wadman photo, as are the open underwing gun panels, etc. It is thus highly probably that the photo and sketch represent the same time period, most likely the second or third week of September, 1944. The other three known photos, when carefully studied, reveal the slow, subtle but inexorable dismemberment of the aircraft over time

The next mention of this aircraft is in the CEA Report #255 of 10 October which described the aircraft with the same Werknummer as "Blue 6 + -", and that it was “burnt-out and looted". Obviously there is a discrepency here: Two aircraft at the same location with the same Werknummer and codes, but the latter being in different colours. It is only when considered in a chronological context is the answer revealed.

The Wadman photograph is cri