Focke Wulf Fw 189A-1
Focke Wulf Fw 189A-1 V7 + 1H, Wk Nr 2100, 1.(H)/Aufk.Gr.32 May 1943
Unteroffizer Lothar Mothes Iron Cross(1st & 2nd Class).
Scale 1:144 Wingspan 5" (127 mm)
Base size 4.84" (123 mm) square (No. 3)
Weight not including base 2.75 ozs (75 grams)
Total number of models produced 37
When Lothar Mothes climbed into the cockpit of the Focke Wulf 189 reconnaissance
aircraft
V7+ 1 H, on the 4th of May 1943, the 23 year old pilot had no idea of the
traumatic two weeks in his life that lay ahead.
After being shot down by Russian fighters (Hurricanes) and crashing into
a thickly wooded forest near Loukhi, behind Russian lined, he was knocked
unconscious. The badly injured pilot found one of his crew, Ganther Albrecht,
the rear gunner dead, and Kurt Lebrecht, the observer, dying. His attempts
at saving his life were in vain and he began to organise his thoughts in
order to avoid capture.
He had long before decided not to be taken prisoner by the Russians if he
could help it, and so started the long trek back to his base. The journey
took two weeks of walking, stumbling, wading and crawling. He searched for
berries but was forced to eat tree bark and grubs. Lothar Mothes evaded
capture and returned to his own lines where he spent nine months in hospital;
convalescing. He had lost 20kg in weight, had severely frozen feet and head
wounds. What no-one at his base thought possible Lothar Mothes had achieved,
returning to his base through Russian patrols, front lines and very hostile
conditions. He went on to fly more than 100 reconnaisance missions in Fw
189 aircraft.
Lothar Mothes survived the War and is alive and well. He is an honorary
member of The Fw 189 Society which is restoring his aircraft V7+1H back
to flying condition. This is the only known surviving Focke-Wulf 189 in
the world today.
