The SturmFw's, both R2's and R8's were made at Fieseler/Kassel werke's
the numbers were 680101 to 683340 although it appears that some of the 682designations were for the A-9/R2
the numbers i have do not give exacts for the R2 or R8 but are all put together,
Developed and sent from the factory in February of 1944 till January of 45 with a total of 1350 units divided up between the Sturmstaffel 1, JG 1 and JG 11, then the three Sturmgruppen of JG 3, 4 and 300. Also units in JG 301.
Now for the A-8 in general I have once heard some 6,000 units plus completed. anyone have the stats on that as I do not have all the werk nummerations by a long shot............
ok lets get totally confused now ....
The first so-called SturmFw's were in Sturmstaffel 1 and they were armored knights having four 2cm weapons and possibly cowling mg's but not always. These were A-6's with the designation R2 but the R2 was not always listed officially. Later in the winter of 44 some A-7's came into the staffel due to huge casualties. The introduction of the Mk 3cm 108 cannon in the A-7 led to the term A-7/MK but leter that was removed and the R2 designation was retained. The unit's machines were not always armored in the Sturmstaffel 1 as well as JG 1 and JG 11. The two latter units also had the predominance of A-8's as standard.
In June of 44 the Sturm Fw was given A-8/R2 some with mg's and some without; some without had the cowling fairings aerodynamically placed to restrict the bad flying characteristics of the ehavy bird. These were used in all three heavy units until November/December 1944 when the A-8R8 becmae the Standard Sturm Fw machine. This had all the heavy armor as well as mg's removed and teh aerodynamic farings on the engine cowling. there were no more field modifications, as these came straight from the factory, two 2cm inboard and two 3cm outboard. The true standard for the Sturmbocke.
During the fall of 1944 JG 301 also had SturmFw like machines, usually not armored although the aobve pic of white 21 says otherwise. The A-8/R2 had mg's or sometimes not but always the 2cm and 3cm weapons. The heavy units were also broken up amongst the Staffels of III. gruppe but again we find them in dribs and drabs in the other two gruppe's; the first and second. later IV. gruppe would arrive for a short spell but it operated the Bf 109G-10.
As the A-8 was being slwly fazed out the A-9 came into full on production with some having the heavy outboard 3m's. This was the A-9/R2 serving in JG 3, JG 300 and JG 301. 12 bladed fan and many the wooden prop for more power. Also the drop tank had changed in style and the Bubble top like canopy of the dora model was placed on the A-9 in many cases. From a distance though the A-8 and A-9 looked alike.
I have also heard the cheaply made Mk 108 3cm was in short supply along with the ammo. It was used also for the Bf 110G-4 Night fighter as well as SturmFw's and the Me 262 so yes many hands wanted the unit for their a/c . with the case of further acceptance of the Me 262 I beleive that they had priority of the weapon although new marks of Bf110G-4's were coming out with the Neptun FuG 217 radar and the forward armament was two 3cm weapons and two 2cm weapons in the lower nose.
SturmFw's were losing most of their armor and the outboard 3cm's being replaced by 2cm weapons although some armored knights stayed with JG 3. JG 3 and JG 4 staying on the Ost front from mid January till war's end while JG 300 stayed in the interior Reich flying the heavy Sturm fighter.....
I need Kaffe bitte ....... hope this all makes sense
Erich
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