Focke Wulf Ta 152H-0,(W.Nr.150010)
Unit: Stab/JG301, Code: Green 4,
tenth pre-production machine, 
Flown by Oberfeldwebel Walter Loos. 
found at Tirstrup, Denmark, May 1945.

Only one of these aircraft survives today, first it was assumed, that this is Werknummer 150020, but meanwhile doubts appeared, so the actual Werknummer remains a mystery..... Werknummer 150010 was built in January 1945 at the Focke-Wulf plant in Sorau (east of Berlin) and received the Stammkennzeichen (factory code) CW+CJ. Ofw. Walter Loos flew green 4 several times with the staff flight of JG 301 (red/yellow fuselage band). With three victories he is the most successful known Ta 152 pilot. Towards the end of April 1945 the planes are said to be passed over to JG 11 (yellow fuselage band). Whether the re-painting of the tactical markings could be carried out in the chaos of the final war days, is not clear.

The British captured this aircraft after the war at Tirstrup airfield (Denmark) left behind by the beaten and retreated Luftwaffe units. Later on she was shipped to the USA on HMS "Reaper" as USA 11 . As usual for interesting foreign equipment, she was flown from Newark, New Jersey to Freeman Field near Seymour/Indiana subsequently receiving the registration FE (Foreign Equipment) 112 . The next station was Wright Field for further testing and Park Ridge, where aircraft were collected for a later use in a  museum. Later the code was changed to the new USAF number T2-112. 

Today the Ta 152H-0 is the last surviving example and belongs to the NASM at Washington and is stored at the Garber Facility, awaiting thoroughly restoration.

The 3dz files for the 190d-slot are from Mike1, the basic skin template is made by Ade Kelley. His camouflage represents the late-war interim camo RLM 75/83/76 (violet grey/dark green/light blue) when switching from the grey-grey air-superiority combination to the green-brown ground concealment colours. I changed this skin according to the latest research results, repositioning the nationality markings and changing the paneling from H-1 to H-0 standard. The "green 4" now shows the correct shape of the figure how it appeared on Freeman Airfield. The original tactical sign was bleeding through the British overpainting after the protective "Eronel" plastic coating was removed from its surfaces. The re-painted later US figure 4did not have the correct shape and colour. The overpainted factory code CW+CJ was still visible in the US and I skinned the repainted areas. Recent basic restorations carried out at the Garber facility on the tail of T2-112 still show the red/yellow fuselage bands with remnants of the factory code underneath. It is very likely the Stammkennzeichen is still present on the lower surfaces beneath the Luftwaffe/RAF/US overpaintings.

Characteristic feature of the early preproduction Ta 152H-0s is the prominent "saw teeth" camouflage at the leading edge. Due to the relatively high gear struts of the Fw 190/Ta 152 variants the wing lower surfaces made good target on the ground. Late Luftwaffe camo systems are putting much emphasis in concealing those inadequencies by toning down the leading edge areas and even the landing gear covers.

I hope you like this "plane with history"! Thanks to Ade Kelly and all others providing me with the basics for this work!

Enjoy!

Fran_Zee
April 2008

FranZee@t-online.de

Original Readme:
================

Mottled camo version for European theatres in the 190D
slot, adapted from files by Mike 1 and DeanH

cheers
Ade Kelly 'flying tiger'
june 2006


History: Courtesy Michael 'Mike1' Riddell

The first Ta 152H prototypes were completed in the summer of 1944 and the first Ta 152H-0 service test aircraft rolled off the assembly lines in October-November 1944. The Ta 152H-0s had no fuel tanks in their wings. They were joined a month later by the first production Ta 152H-1 aircraft, which had fuel tanks in the wings. The Ta 152H-1 was armed with one engine-mounted 30-mm MK 108 cannon with 90 rounds and two 20-mm MG 151 cannon in the wings with 175 rpg. 330 pounds of armor were carried for the protection of the engine and the pilot. Most production machines were delivered to Ta 152H-1/R11 bad-weather fighter standards. A MW 50 boost tank was fitted in the inboard port wing tank for use in enhancing low-altitude performance, with the GM 1 high-altitude boost tank aft of the cockpit being standard.

Approximately 150 Ta 152H-1 fighters were manufactured between January 1, 1945 and the final abandoning of production with the arrival of Soviet forces at the Cottbus assembly plant. No Jagdgruppen ever completely converted to the type, but several Jagdstaffeln operated the Ta 152H alongside the Fw 190D and other types. Most of the Ta 152s operated in the close-support role. Others flew "top-cover" for bases from which Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighters operated, trying to protect the jets from being "bounced" by Allied fighters during takeoff or landing. It was said that no British or American fighters risked attacking an Me 262 during landing while Ta 152s were known to be circling the airfield. The large wing area of the Ta 152 made it quite easy to fly. Most of the Ta 152Hs, however, were destroyed on the ground by Allied air attacks while awaiting delivery. A few Ta 152Hs were allocated to the Mistel program.

Specifications:

Engine: Junkers Jumo 213E-1 twelve-cylinder liquid-cooled engine rated at 1750 hp for takeoff (2050 hp with MW 50 boost) and 1320 hp at 32,800 feet (1740 feet with GM 1 boost). Maximum speed: 332 mph at sea level (350 mph with MW 50 boost), 465 mph at 29,530 feet with MW 50 boost, 472 mph at 41,010 feet with GM 1 boost. Service ceiling was 48,550 feet with GM 1 boost. Initial climb rate was 3445 feet/minute with MW 50 boost. Weights were 8642 pounds empty, 10,472 pounds normal loaded, 11,502 pounds maximum. Wingspan 47 feet 41/2 inches, length 35 feet 1 2/3 inches, height 11 feet 0 1/4 inches, wing area 250.8 square feet. 

