Focke-Wulf Fw 190 of Jagdfliegerschule

This highly polished Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-2 “Blaue 4” was photographed while serving with Jagdfliegerschule 2 or 4. Both schools used as their emblem the so-called “Jägerpfeil” (Hunter Arrow) on a red shield. The emblem is just visible on the fuselage in front of the cockpit. As the blue aircraft numbers suggests an aircraft of a 4. Staffel, it may have belonged to 4./JFS 4. The photo must therefore have been taken in the summer of 1942, for in April 1943 JFS 4 was renamed Jagdgeschwader 104 and use of the JFS 4 emblem was discontinued. The fact that the aircraft is sitting in the open on the airfield tends to confirm the timing of the photo. The aircraft is finished in a factory-applied camouflage scheme of RLM 74/75/76, with the upper colors extending far down the fuselage sides. As the photograph shows, the lower edge of the dark colors is near the bottom of the tactical number. In the close-up photo, note the black-blue spinner and the yellow cowling underside. In the forward view a thick red ring may be seen on the armored cowling ring, with a fine black circle within. The significance of this marking is not known. Also visible between the starboard undercarriage leg and its retraction strut is the red cable which retracted the tailwheel. Photo by Hauptmann Rolf Schödter

Source :
 "Luftwaffe im Focus", Spezial No.1 - 2003