Focke-Wulf Ta 152H-1 – JG 301, Joseph Keil, Luftwaffe, Alteno 1945

Oxford Aviation 1/72 Scale AC028: Focke-Wulf Ta 152H-1 in the livery of JG 301, Luftwaffe as flown by Oberfeldwebel Joseph Keil based at Alteno in April 1945. The model is very accurate with a stand to display in undercarriage raised position only. Surely the only 1/72 scale model of this plane available, so an essential addition to any collection and good value for money.

The Focke-Wulf Ta 152 was a World War II German high-altitude fighter-interceptor designed by Kurt Tank and produced by Focke-Wulf. The Ta 152 was a development of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 aircraft with much longer wingspan for added stability at high altitudes. It was intended to be made in at least three versions—the Ta 152H Höhenjäger (“high-altitude fighter”), the Ta 152C designed for medium-altitude operations and ground-attack using a different engine and smaller wing, and the Ta 152E fighter-reconnaissance aircraft with the engine of the H model and the wing of the C model.

The Ta 152 H-1 boasted excellent high altitude performance, using a Jumo 213E engine (a high-altitude version of the Jumo 213A/C used in the Fw 190D), a two-stage, three-speed supercharger and the MW 50 methanol-water mixture engine boost system. It was capable of speeds up to 755 km/h (472 mph) at 13,500 m (41,000 ft, using the GM-1 boost) and 560 km/h (350 mph) at sea level (using the MW 50 boost). To help it attain this speed, it used the MW 50 system mainly for lower altitudes (up to about 10,000 m/32,800 ft) and the GM-1 system for higher altitudes, although both systems could be engaged at the same time. The Ta 152 was one of the first aircraft specifically designed to employ a nitrous oxide power boost system.

The first Ta 152H entered service with the Luftwaffe in January 1945. While total production—including prototypes and pre-production aircraft—has been incorrectly estimated in one source at approximately 220 units, only some 43 production aircraft were ever delivered before the end of the European conflict. These were too few to allow the Ta 152 to make a significant impact on the air war.
The Ta 152 score at the end of the war was possibly seven victories and four losses in air combat (though a degree of uncertainty about those numbers exists). Four victories were achieved by Josef Keil, from 1 March 1945 to 21 April 1945. The statement that he had five victories on Ta 152 is unsubstantiated and is shown to be false by matching score table and dates. The Ta 152 was delivered to JG 301 on 27 February 1945 and the first Ta 152 combat action against American bombers happened on 2 March 1945, so his victory against a B-17 on 20 February 1945 couldn’t have been achieved flying that type of fighter. Alternatively, this results from an incorrect reading of published sources such as Lowe because JG 301 had the Ta 152 in service from late January 1945, and individual missions such as Keil’s could well have been flown. At least three victories were achieved by Willi Reschke.

The four losses in air combat were: Hptm. Hermann Stahl, KIA on 11 April 1945; Obfw. Sepp Sattler, KIA on 14 April 1945; two unknown JG11 pilots, downed by Spitfires in the last days of April 1945 during transfer from Neustadt-Glewe to Leck airfield.

The total Ta 152 production is not well known but 43 are identified,(H-0 and H-1) with c.6 prototypes.