In May 1944, IV/Jg 3 underwent two major changes. First, they transitioned to the Fw 190A-8 from the Bf 109G-6. Second, they incorporated the experimental bomber killer squadron, Strumstaffel 1, into their ranks with the intent of expanding their successful tactics to full Gruppe strength. The "Sturm" (Storm) strategy was to engage the bomber stream from the rear with all planes line-abreast, firing up close en masse. Early successes, such as downing twelve B-14's from the 492nd BG on July 7th, quickly led to the creation of two other Strumgruppen(II/Jg 4 and II/Jg 300). Unfortunately, the heavily armed and armored 190A-8/R2 and R8's were sitting ducks for the American escort fighters. Aircraft losses were often 25% each mission and accumulating much faster than the B-17's and B-24's they claimed to have downed, and they claimed 125 of them by the end of 1944. Pilot losses were so heavy that allegedly the Gruppe Kommodore, Wilhelm Moritz, needed to be relieved from duty due to suffering a nervous breakdown.
Fw 190A-8/R2 flown by Willi Maximowitz of 11.(Sturm)/Jg 3 in June 1944. This skin is an adoption of Warhound's original.
Maximowitz's aircraft is finished with the black cowling sported by IV/Jg 3 in the early months. The black area on the fuselage sides is bordered with a lightning bolt in the squadron color of red. A white tail band, Jg 3's color in the Defense of the Reich system, is also marked with IV Gruppe's squiggle tactical marking. The prop spinner is black with a yellow spiral, contrary to the original skin's red and yellow spinner. Not sure why this is seen in so many profiles and such since a well known photo clearly shows the spinner is mostly black with a darker than white spiral, which is presumably yellow. It could have been red since it closely matches the lightning bolt on the side, but it doesn't look right when testing it, so I went with yellow.
Fw 190A-8/R2 flown by Werner Gerth of 11.(Sturm)/Jg 3 in July 1944. This skin is an adoption of Fencer's original.
Gerth's aircraft is very similar to Maximowitz's since they both belonged to the same squadron. The major difference is that Gerth had dark green paint, I presume it to be RLM 70, applied over the standard RLM 74 and 75 gray camouflage. The spinner spiral is white in keeping with Fencer's original skin since the photo reference is not good enough to contradict that detail. But I did change the lightning bolt to red from yellow, since yellow was used by the yellow numbered planes in 12 staffel.
