Free Czechoslovak Fw 190 F-8

[comrade harps]

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 F-8
a/c Red 8, 68 Squadron, Free Czechoslovak Air Force
Personal mount of F/Lt Jan Novák
Brno, Czechoslovakia, March 1945



Following the August 1944 Separate Peace/Great Betrayal that brought peace between the Axis and the Western Allies, all Czechoslovakian citizens serving with the RAF were rapidly demobbed. For most, though, the war was far from over, as they immediately headed for home and joined the anti-Communist Free Czechoslovak Air Force to defend against the advancing Red Army.




F/Lt Jan Novák fled Czechoslovakia in early 1941 and joined the RAF, going on to fly 57 combat sorties with Bomber Command, flying the Wellington and Halifax. As the Free Czechoslovak Air Force didn't have any multi-engined bombers he was assigned to 68 Squadron, which was tasked with conducting nocturnal interdiction. The unit had been formed by the RAF in June-1941 to fly Blenheims (and later Beaufighters) on night fighter duties and was staffed mostly with Czechoslovakian exiles. With the fall of the Nazis from power the squadron was disbanded and, although its Czechoslovakian personnel wasn't allowed to take their aircraft with them, they did reform 68 Squadron at Brno in November.




This model is based on images and information published by the Free Czechoslovakian Information Ministry and released in several contemporary newsreels, newspapers and books. Of note is the SD 500 semi-armor piercing fragmentation bomb on the centerline pylon and the lack of underwing bomb rack. This omission was standard for the squadron, which reduced its logistical footprint by concentrating on the use of the AB 500 (submunition and flare dispenser), FLAM C500 (incendiary), SC 500 (general purpose high explosive) and SD 500 ordnance. Also of interest is the field-applied exhaust glare panel, the squadron not receiving any fully night adapted aircraft until the first Fw 190 F-9/R13s arrived in late April 1945.




Novák and his colleagues from 68 Squadron flew nightly interdiction missions against the Red Army until the final collapse of the Berlin Pact nations in May 1946. By then they were commanded by Squadron Leader Jan Novák. At war's end, Novák lead his squadron into neutral Switzerland, where they were briefly interned before crossing the border into France. In 1949 he immigrated to Australia as a refugee and worked on the Snowy Hydro Scheme.

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice! A valid concept, and a pretty rendition. 

PantherG did a respective profile some time ago, which I turned, in turn, into hardware (with some mods, e .g. a different engine and a re-shaped fin):


Whif Profile of a Fw190 A-8/S-90 in Czechoslovak Air Force service by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Avia S.91 (NATO Code 'Finch B'); aircraft 'IF-07' of 2. Letka, 1. SLP, Czechoslovak Air Force (Československé vojenské letectvo); Letňany AB, summer 1950 (Whif/Academy kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[comrade harps]

Nice! A valid concept, and a pretty rendition. 

PantherG did a respective profile some time ago, which I turned, in turn, into hardware (with some mods, e .g. a different engine and a re-shaped fin):


Whif Profile of a Fw190 A-8/S-90 in Czechoslovak Air Force service by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Avia S.91 (NATO Code 'Finch B'); aircraft 'IF-07' of 2. Letka, 1. SLP, Czechoslovak Air Force (Československé vojenské letectvo); Letňany AB, summer 1950 (Whif/Academy kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Great minds think alike! 

[NARSES2]

Neat 

[Old Wombat]

Neat 

+1

[zenrat]

Good job Comrade.

[Dizzyfugu]

Great minds think alike! 

I think so, too. Always a good signe when ideas pop up in different times and places - there must be something to it... 
And it's always interesting to see the different interpretations of the theme, too.