FOCKE-WULF FW190 DROP TANK FUEL CAP

Salvaged from a destroyed Focke-Wulf Fw190 caught on the ground during a daylight bombing raid by the USSAF 94th Combat Wing on the 9th April 1944 at the Furstenwalde Air Base near the Oder River, this Fw190 Drop Tank Fuel Cap is a rare piece of Luftwaffe memorabilia.

Established in 1935 as a Luftwaffe training base under the direct patronage of Field Marshal Hermann Göring, Furstenwalde had largely been ignored by RAF’s Bomber Command as not being of any real strategic importance.

However, with the Russian Red Army advancing further into German territory in late 1944, German engineers were rushed to the airbase to urgently extend runways and facilities to accommodate hastily formed squadrons of FW 190’s to bolster the heavily fortified German defences along the Oder River - seen by allied strategists as the last barrier before the big push into Berlin less than 40km to the west.

The German 9th Army were heavily dug in along a string of heavily fortified towns linked by anti-aircraft barricades and interlinked fields of artillery fire set back from the banks of the Oder River. 

Counting on air support from the Luftwaffe's Fourth Air Division and its 300 remaining aircraft from the entire Eastern front of some 3000 fighters, the Fw190’s were severely hampered by a critical shortage of fuel and serviceable airfields so training facilitates such as Furstenwalde suddenly became important bases.

Unfortunately they now also became targets of significance for the RAF and USAF bomber commands. Their strategic significance became even more important when the Russian offensive on the Oder fortifications under the command of the Red Army’s Marshals Zhukov was suddenly brought to an abrupt halt by fierce ground fighting and air attack by the Fw190s along the rivers embankments.

A hastily organised mission was ordered which fell to the USAAF’s 94th Combat Wing based in Southern England where 338 B-17 bombers along with a squadron of P-51 Mustang escorts carrying extended drop tanks assembled over the English Channel for their attack on the German air base.

Crossing the coast, the B-17’s reported little flak and only minor harassment from enemy fighters, giving them almost a clear run onto the target where over 867 tonnes of bombs were unleashed on the runways, hangars, repair shops, and other facilities.

The airfield was devastated and within a few days, the Red Army had broken through the Oder line and any remaining German forces in and around Furstenwalde were quickly captured.

Amongst the tangled wreckage of those Fw190s, JU88s and Bf109s caught on the ground during the raid, this Drop Tank Fuel Cap was souvenired by a Red Army combatant and over 75 years later, is now available as part of a fantastic Recovery Curios Vintage Aircraft Display.

Manufactured by the German Deutche Benzin-Uhrin (DBU Works), the central Cap cast markings read 'KRASTSTOFF' or 'FUEL' with the wording 'Beluftungsventil' or Ventilation Valve' in raised text around the cap at the base.

Made from an Electron magnesium, the DBU works produced two types of Fuel Caps, vented and unvented but used the same casting for each as indicated by the common part number 8-4520A cast into the reverse of the small attachment screw arm.

Primary aircraft fuel tanks on both the Bf109 and the Focke-Wulf Fw190 required a ventilated fuel cap, so five small holes were drilled into the middle of the casting and a small spring loaded padded washer pressed into the recessed housing beneath.

Even though labeled as 'ventilated', fuel caps without the hole and valve modification had no ventilation and were installed at the top of the 300lt aluminium drop tanks carried by both the Bf109 and the Focke-Wulf Fw190. Secured by two 8mm studs which were screwed down over the cap's arm cutouts, drop tanks required air pressurisation to transfer the fuel up into the aircraft system and so, they featured the 'sealed' cap version as seen here.

Mounted on its 100 yr old Mango Wood stand with a highly detailed hand crafted and airbrushed model of the iconic German fighter the Focke-Wulf Fw190 and informative Fact Sheet, this would make an extraordinary and highly valued, original memento of Luftwaffe air power for any aviation enthusiast.

This Focke-Wulf Fw190 collectable comes complete with detailed 1/72 or larger 1/48 Scale Model, Mango Wood Stand & Plaque plus Printed Fact Sheet featuring photo of collectable on aircraft.

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