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23.06.

1942: German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter mistakenly landed on a British runway falling into enemy hands

1942: German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter mistakenly landed on a British runway falling into enemy hands
Photo Credit To Wikipedia Commons/A German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-3 of 11./JG 2 after landing in the UK by mistake in June 1942

Story Highlights

  • Historical event
  • 23 June 1942
  • This is how the British easily got their hands on an undamaged German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter. When compared with the then best British fighters, that aircraft had several advanced features, so it came in handy for studying the technology.

On this day, in 1942, a German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter aircraft mistakenly landed on a runway in Great Britain instead of returning to the area under German control. 



A German pilot who was flying the aircraft probably substituted the Bristol Channel between England and Wales for the English Channel. 

Thinking that he returned to the French coast, which was controlled by the Germans, he landed on the first airport that was within reach.

In reality, it was the coast of Wales and the airport on which he landed was called Pembrey and belonged to the British Royal Air Force (RAF).

This is how the British easily got their hands on an undamaged German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter. When compared with the then best British fighters, that aircraft had several advanced features, so it came in handy for studying the technology. 




In fact, before this unexpected gain, the British were reportedly considering to undertake a commando mission in order to take possession of one such undamaged aircraft.

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