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In
June -41 there was only two jagdgeschwaders in western front,
JG 2 and JG 26, which experienced the increasing activity of
RAF which was implementing it's 'lean towards europe'
strategy. These two jagdgeschwaders had little under 150
serviceable Bf 109E and F planes to face the increasing number
of Rhubarb and Circus operation conducted by RAF.
Prospects
could have been bleak for jagdwaffe unless the Luftwaffe had
fielded a new radial engined fighter. This fighter was of
course the soon to be legendary Focke Wulf Fw 190A.
In
September -41 RAF fighter command reading combat reports saw
first mentions of radial engined fighter that was initially
misidentified as American Curtiss Hawk 75 fighter used by
french before the defeat. It was assumed that Luftwaffe was
using these captured planes in combat. However, on 13th of
October -41 gun camera film of Spitfire from No 129 Sqn
provided first pictures of the Luftwaffes new fighter,
confirming intelligence reports that had been coming from
captured France for some time.
The
first unit to convert to this new type was II. gruppe of JG 26
in August -41. On March -42 I./JG 2 converted to Fw 190 and
other gruppen followed it by one per month. In mid march II.
gruppe was operational in Theville and Morlaix and at the end
of April I. gruppe was operational in Maupertus, Morlaix and
St. Brieuc flying Fw 190A-2's.
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