Α)1989: FW190 Found In Forest Clearing Outside Of St Petersburg Leningrad (Watch)
The FW190 was found in a silver birch forest 1989, near St Petersburg, it was recovered by helicopter in 1991. The current owners are the Flying Heritage Collection which is operated by Paul Allen.
Information
from researchers involved with the restoration confirms that the pilot
of the Fw190, Paul Rätz, was a POW and repatriated to Germany in 1949.
He passed away in 1989 and his son aided in the research for the
restoration.
Paul Rätz was a ground crew member before becoming a pilot with 1./JG54 in 1942 and 1943. He had several air victories and survived three crash landings. He was best known as a ground attack pilot and transferred to 4./JG54 on July 9, 1943.
The FW190 was found in a silver birch forest 1989, near St Petersburg, it was recovered by helicopter in 1991. The current owners are the Flying Heritage Collection which is operated by Paul Allen.
Paul Rätz was a ground crew member before becoming a pilot with 1./JG54 in 1942 and 1943. He had several air victories and survived three crash landings. He was best known as a ground attack pilot and transferred to 4./JG54 on July 9, 1943.