Regarding the identity of the Fw 190 I agree with DaveF68 that it is PM679.
A few years ago I wrote a book that looked at testing WWII single-engined fighters and during my research was privileged to meet and interview Len Thorne who, after a tour on Spitfires, spent three years at AFDU flying with the likes of Allan Wright, Wimpy Wade and Bill Waterton. One of his jobs was to take a captured Fw 190 ‘on tour’ to various stations so that it could be seen at close quarters and flown in practice dogfights. This was in PM679 which Len regarded as ‘his aeroplane’.
The tour commenced in early August 1943 and lasted about three months. He flew to many bases including North Weald, Hornchurch, Kenley, Biggin Hill and Tangmere. There were also trips further afield to Ibsley and Exeter and even as far as Eshott in Northumberland. Len normally flew with an escort of two Spitfires but this was increased to four after he was nearly shot down over Hornchurch. The squadron C.O. involved didn’t open fire but Len admitted to being quite scared!
He also did comparative trials between PM679 and Spitfire XIV RB179 on 18/3/44. His last flight in PM679 was 24/6/44 but shortly after take off he had a major engine failure and only just managed to get it back on the airfield. It appears PM679 did not fly again and was used for spares for PE882 and PN999.
Len ended up with 80 sorties in the 190 amounting to around 100 hours so he must have had more time on the 190 than any other British pilot.
Sadly I have just discovered that Len died a few weeks ago at the age of 88.
Hope this is of interest
Peter
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