A combat report from the Focke-Wulf ISS Langenhagen, 17 April, 1943:
(Excerpted from Focke-Wulf 190, Volume 1, Classic Publications)
On April 17, 1943, 107 aircraft from the US Eighth Air Force launched an attack on the Focke-Wulf factory at Bremen.
Five FW-190s from ISS FW Langenhagen took off to intercept.
"Our first Rotte took off at 12:43 hours heading for Bremen. At 12:59 hours, several enemy formations, totalling between 120 and 140 aircraft, were seen approaching from west to east towards Bremen near Verden at 6,000 m.We flew a northerly course towards Wessermunde, climbing to 9,000 m. From Wessermunde we flew west towards Leer.At 13:15 hours we made contact with the enemy. "Black 1" attacked a Boeing and left its port engine smoking. The B-17 crash landed. "Black 1" continued to pursue making an attack on two other enemy aircraft. " (Black 1 subsequently was forced to land at Jever due to lack of fuel).
The second aircraft in the flight, "Black 3", made three attacks, seeing pieces fly off the enemy aircraft, but its gunners succeeded in hitting Black 3's fuselage, wings and ailerons. This resulted in his guns jamming. This forced him to land back at Langenhagen."
In this attack, the Focke-Wulf factory was hit by 531 1,000lb bombs destroying half the factory. However, FW-190 production had been stopped there and dispersed six months earlier.
The ISS Langenhagen claimed 10 kills, with at least 5 going to Uffz. Mehlhorn flying "Black 5".
On 8th October, 1943, after downing three Fortresses using head-on attacks, low on fuel and low on ammo, Uffz. Mehlhorn was last heard from requesting vectors to the nearest field. He never returned.
