Jim Pearce's FW189

I saw it there more than once, unless he took it to other shows. I know I definatly saw it 2 years in a row

Hornchurch- sorry, I know what year I went to the UK! The 189 was in the tent-2 pound to get in- both Jim and Lothar were there.

Many thanks for confirming the BH date. Am I right that it never appeared at W. Malling?

Tim

Lothar Mothes, Jim Pearce, 1995 & 1996

I have no recollection of it ever being taken to West Malling (post #4); can anyone please verify the exact date(s) if it was shown there – I thought it wasn’t recovered until 1992.

I certainly remember the remains of this aircraft being exhibited in a tent at Biggin Hill 1995 or 96 and photographed it there.

Tim

1996, I saw it at the Biggin show during my UK visit that year

‘

Dave, no you’re wrong mate, it WASN’T 1996 = it WAS 1995

I went BOTH years ~ The ‘189 was at the 1995 show, but NOT 1996

They DID have a (fundraising) stand there in 1996, but NO ‘189.

How do I know then…. (you might ask ?)

Because I took my Suzuki GS.1000-E (the bike in my avatar) to the 1995 show, along with my mates Steve, Adrian & Bob.

(Bob’s bike wuz a brand new 1994 Zephyr ‘550, late-reg’ ~ the others had a GSX-R.1100 & a VFR-750)

Black clouds loomed overhead around lunchtime & when I said to ’em, “I’m going in (to the marquee) to see the ‘189”, Steve was dismissive (!) saying, “I don’t wanna see that ol’ German ***t”
Replying “suit yerself then, you ******g mug, you’ll get SOAKED = Have fun” !!!!!!!!!

Bob & I went inside to see the ‘189
We went around TWICE ~ basically to stay out of the torrential rain.

After the 2nd time around, I met Jim Pearce inside the (seriously crowded) marquee & he spent at least 20 minutes chatting to me (& me only), showing me his personal photo’ album of the recovery.
(35mm ‘wet-film’ shots)

I asked him about the Soviet MiL Helicopters used in the recovery (Mi-6 ‘Hips’ IIRC, I’m not up on Soviet choppers).

I ALSO asked… “why the sniper rifles ?”

He replied, because of it’s remote location, there WAS a strong possibility of meeting bears, so, just a last-ditch safeguard.
(not wanting to harm the animals, otherwise).

I bought “the booklet” which I still have & made enquiries about the Polo shirts they were advertising, to raise funds.

3 weeks later, I received a form (on ‘official Fw.189 society letterheaded paper’) with all the relevant jargon to buy/purchase which types & colours (of shirts, key-rings, etc) & I still have that letter to this day.

Moving on to the 1996 Biggin Hill show, I left my Suzuki GS1000 at home.

I used my (newer) Kawasaki Z.1000-J instead, with only myself & the guy who now ‘owns’ (runs) the London ‘Hannants’ Colindale shop on the back of my bike.
(Hi C.Z. “if” you’re reading this).

He is/was well known for building good-quality Luftwaffe models in IPMS circles & in fact, his models can be seen both on the internet & inside one of Geoff Coughlin’s “Osprey” books on “How To Build…” (Luftwaffe).
I used to mix with Geoff, Micky Pitts & C.Z.
(IPMS shows with the former & socially with the latter, having introduced them both).

Being the Luftwaffe “nut” he was (back then), I told C.Z. about the Fw.189
(which I’d seen the year BEFORE, in 1995 ~ take note).

Looking forward (he thought), to seeing it, he wuz pretty crestfallen when (upon walking around), there was ONLY a much, much smaller ‘trade-stall’ type area ~ No marquee tent & NO Fw.189.

However, C.Z. & I “did” get one bonus we didn’t bargain for.

Lothar Mothes WAS in attendance there, for the 1996 show !

A guy introduced us & then walked off (to the back of the stall)

That left C.Z. “attempting” to talk with Lothar & me in fits of laughter !

Lothar DIDN’T speak ANY English whatsoever & was trying to explain stuff to C.Z.

Eventually, a guy came over who did some (very) ‘rough’ translation & we listened intently.

What struck me (body language, as I don’t speak German), is what a warm & friendly & pleasant fellow Lothar seemed to be.

After some 15 minutes with Lothar, we shook hands (warmly) & I nagged C.Z. to buy a booklet
(the same one that I had & still have).

Difference is, C.Z.’s copy WAS signed (in 1996) & as Lothar WASN’T there in 1995, mine is just “plain-jane”.

I bitterly regret (now) NOT buying a second copy in 1996, just to obtain Lothar’s signature.

Please DO NOT get the impression that I’m trying to be cocky or ‘arrogant’ regarding my insistence on the dates.

I just want to state “the facts” & get the dates right….

My Suzuki GS.1000 WAS NOT “road-taxed” in time for the 1996 show, my Z.1000-J WAS.

We rode home (on the Kawasaki) in 1996 with at least 3 x Dragon Ju.88-G.6 (1/48th) Nightfighter kits on board, as they were banging them out for £13.99 each (instead of £46.00 RRP) c/o Wonderland models.

If ANYONE is a regular visitor to the Colindale ‘Hannants’ store, ask Gary L. (shop manager) “if” C.Z. is about & he’ll confirm what I’m telling you guys (for real).

Like I say, just wanna put the record straight on the dates….

1996, I saw it at the Biggin show during my UK visit that year

It could have been at Biggin in 1995 or 1996 – I think I atteneded on one of these years

I certainly remember the remains of this aircraft being exhibited in a tent at Biggin Hill 1995 or 96 and photographed it there. I have no recollection of it ever being taken to West Malling (post #4); can anyone please verify the exact date(s) if it was shown there – I thought it wasn’t recovered until 1992.

Tim

Well I just liked the nose art!

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Apologies if any offence caused gentlemen, I have assisted at a big motorcycle show the past two years which charges a fee to come in nearly all of which. of which goes to a different charity each year which includes a programme, all sold by volunteers 99% of the public happily pay and enjoy the attractions, 1% sadly turn up determined not to pay and stand and argue aggressively about it.

Can’t wait to see this aircraft brought back to life!

I remember the fw189 also made an appearence at the Biggin Hill airfair around the 1991 time. My eyes nearly popped out!

A quick google assuming this is the same one
http://www.lasegundaguerra.com/viewtopic.php?f=240&t=12525

Not sure where it maybe now but it was in Casa Grande Arizona, a friend of mine was working on it, i believe after a dispute its moved again.

Mike

A quick google search will bring up a pic or two of it

A quick google assuming this is the same one
http://www.lasegundaguerra.com/viewtopic.php?f=240&t=12525

Hi All,
captainslow,
I remember that tent displaying the 189 only to well I never had enough money to buy one of the Geoff Nutkins ? prints to have it signed by Lothar Mothes so I bought a postcard size print of an artist’s impression of it being attacked by two Russian Hurricanes and asked Mr Mothes if he wouldn’t mind signing which he did, I shook his hand and thanked him then promptly had some buffoon tell me off as he was only meant to be signing the prints I just walked away, in my mind as on this forum to many snobs in the varied aviation fields, Mr Mothes RIP.
The only off putting part of your thread was your comment and smiley smirk about the unemployed chap, yes there are lazy lead swingers but nothing to be laughed about you are suddenly to be found without a job through no fault of your own. If you have been like me lucky like myself since leaving school (In my case 1976) and only recently had an industrial accident that brought on unemployment for what ever benefit you claim just pray it never happens to you because I can tell you through experience it’s not a feeling that you want to go through long term like I have.
Oxcart,
Your spot on matey.

Geoff.

Remember seeing the newly recovered wreckage in a tent at what was probably the last Great Warbirds at West Malling around 1991, they charged a small fee to go in and see it and the man in front of me gave all the ‘I’m unemployed, I shouldn’t be paying’ excuses and the the man taking the money politely told him to go and get a job!:D

Yeah, as we know ALL unemployed ppl are just lazy and have no other issues

Remember seeing the newly recovered wreckage in a tent at what was probably the last Great Warbirds at West Malling around 1991, they charged a small fee to go in and see it and the man in front of me gave all the ‘I’m unemployed, I shouldn’t be paying’ excuses and the the man taking the money politely told him to go and get a job!:D

A quick google search will bring up a pic or two of it

Sold to Paul Allen some years back, it is currently under restoration in an undisclosed location, with a confidentiality agreement in effect with the restorer (as is the case with all of Allen’s ongoing restorations).