The obsolete aircraft inventory of the Slovak Air Arms called for its modernization, also in case of the reconnaissance (spotting) fleet during the first years of the war. It was reminded many times by DLM (Deutsche Luftwaffenmission in der Slovakei) representatives. After the insistance of the Command of the Air Arms (VVZ) in Trenčín the Slovakian Ministry of Defense (MNO) star-ted to negotiate with the German RLM in Berlin for the supply of more contemporary German aircraft. As a result of these negotia-tions at the beginning of 1943, 14 FW 189A aircraft were ordered, with Aero - Dr. Kabeš, Prague-Vysočany, selected as the main supplier.
According to this contract a first five FW 189A-2 W.Nr.303, 304, 305, 306 and 316 were delivered in October 1943, and ferry flown by German pilots to Trenčín. On 6th October 1943 these were taken over for the LP-SVZ (Letecký pluk - Slovenské vzdušné zbrane, Aviation regiment - Slovakian Air Arms) by Slovakian technicians. The aircraft had standard German segmen-ted camouflage scheme with Luftwaffe markings which were sup-planted by SVZ markings in Trenčín's workshops. Immediately after closing the over-handing process the aircraft were taken over by the lst Reconnaissance Flight of SVZ by its commander stotník Galbavý. According to the original order it ought to be delivered twelve FW 189 version A-2 and two special photo-versions W-2. Further procesing of the order from the beginning of 1944 dealt with only ten aircraft. Up to mid March of 1944 seven additional A-2 aircraft were delivered from Prague plus one photo version, the unarmed FW 189W-2. All aircraft were ferry flown from Prague to Piešťany together with a further FW 189 destined for Bulgaria. Eight Slovakian FW 189s from Piešťany participated in the aviation parade in Bratislava on 14th March 1944.
A photo survey (photogrammetry) FW 189W-2 was allocated to the Photogrammetrical Institute of ing. Gál in Bratislava, the others being relocated to the 1st Reconnaissance Flight in Žilina. Here they started to be used for type re-training. On 13th May 1944 one FW 189A-2 was damaged on Piešťany airfield due to a collapsed undercarriage. Pilot rtm. Majchrák escaped unhurt. On the same airfield another FW 189A-2 accident occured during a wheels-up landing. More tragic was the crash of FW 189A-2 W.Nr.303 into a wood near Domaniža village, southwest of Rajec. Pilot rtm. z povol. Maďar, npor. v zál. Ujček and čtk. z povol. Ficek lost their lives. The Reconnaissance Unit in Žilina had thus lost three FW 189s during a few weeks.
By the order of VVZ the remaining six aircraft of the 1st Reconnaissance Unit from Žilina were flown over to Išla airfield near Prešov on 27 June 1944, where they were incorporated into the aircraft group of mjr. Trnka, subordinated to the so called East-Slovakian army of gen. Malár. These were the following FW 189 aircraft: W.Nr. 310, 315, 316, 327, 328 and 340. The photogrammetrical FW 189W-2 with its pilot npor. Košťál performed untill shortly before the outbreak of the SNP (Slovakian National Uprising) some photogrammetric flights over central Slovakia, returning to its Piešťany base. From this airfield the aircraft was relocated to Trenčín for minor repairs. But at this time QGO - announced a banning of all flying, the aircraft remained in Trenčín and the crew had to go to Bratislava by train. In Trenčín pilot J. Setvák with mechanic Kurpeľ and a few others took the advantage of the aircraft's present and escaped with it to Poland. A further six Slovakian FW 189's escaped on 31 st August 1944 from Išla to the Soviets, together with all of Trnka's aircraft group.
After the uprising (SNP) broke out, pilot rtm. Slivka with slob. Meško with FW 189 W.Nr. 316 returned to the Slovakian Tri Duby (todays Sliač) airfield on 6th September 1944. They brought a Soviet liaison officer, I. I. Skripka-Studensky with them. The aircraft was equipped with FuG 17 radio which was later used for coordinating the activity of the Combined Flight (of the uprisers). One more FW 189 piloted by stotn. P. Gašparovič with slob. J. Mej returned to Tri Duby on 11th September 1944. This aircraft later received the markings used by the insurgent Slovak Air Force during the uprising, and on 24th October 1944, with the finishing of the activity, it returned to the Soviets.
Type |
Werk.Nr |
Registration |
History |
A-2 |
2297 |
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Delivered ?. crashed on 13.5.1944 at Piestany airfield |
A-2 |
2303 |
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Delivered 6.10.1943. 1. recce flight in Zilina, crashed on 6.6.1944 near Domaniza village |
A-2 |
2304 |
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Delivered 6.10.1943. 1. recce flight in Zilina |
A-2 |
2305 |
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Delivered 6.10.1943. 1. recce flight in Zilina, crashed on 26.7.44 |
A-2 |
2306 |
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Delivered 6.10.1943. 1. recce flight in Zilina |
A-2 |
2316 |
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Delivered 6.10.1943. 1. recce flight in Zilina, 31.8.44 escaped to Soviet Union |
A-2 |
2310 |
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Delivered 7.03.1944. 1. recce flight in Zilina, 31.8.44 escaped to Soviet Union |
A-2 |
2315 |
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Delivered 7.03.1944. 1. recce flight in Zilina, 31.8.44 escaped to Soviet Union |
A-2 |
2327 |
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Delivered 7.03.1943. 1. recce flight in Zilina, 31.8.44 escaped to Soviet Union |
A-2 |
2328 |
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Delivered 7.03.1944. 1. recce flight in Zilina, 31.8.44 escaped to Soviet Union |
A-2 |
2340 |
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Delivered 7.03.1944. 1. recce flight in Zilina, 31.8.44 escaped to Soviet Union |
A-2 |
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Delivered 7.03.1944. 1. recce flight in Zilina |
A-2 |
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Delivered 7.03.1944. 1. recce flight in Zilina |
W-2 |
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Delivered 7.03.1944. Fotogrammetric version located at Fotogrammetric institute of ing. Gal in Bratislava |
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