Focke Wulf 190D9 WkNr 211028

On the 18th March 1945 bombers of the US 8th Air Force bombed Berlin for what turned out to be the last time, the bombers were escorted to and from the target by some 426 P51’s who were for most of the time focused on protecting the bomb group from repeated attacks by Me262’s of JG7.

Uffz Werner Zech
during the war

Picture of the Fw190D9 “Black 8”

At approximately 11.53am Fw190D9’s of 14/JG26 were scrambled against all the odds to intercept the bomber formations on the return trip. In the “Gruppe” was a young Uffz Werner Zech flying Fw190D9 “Black 8” as he was going through a thin layer of cloud at 5000 metres Werner heard a loud bang, the aircraft, as it rolled to the left, failed to respond to any control inputs, Werner jettisoned the canopy and bailed out, he was picked up wounded in the arm and taken to a hospital in the town of Twistringen just southwest of Bremen.

Captain Francis Gerard in
P51 “Yi-Yi” during the war

Captain Francis Gerard claimed the kill. On the day he was flying as “Beefsteak Red 8” as lead in Major Shafers element. They were on there way home from fighter sweeps over Berlin when “we encountered two Fw190’s which dived out of the overcast and came head on at us. Major Shafer broke right into several enemy aircraft and I broke left into another flight of four. The rear two began to take violent evasive action and this permitted my wingman and myself to close on them. At this time my wingman was fired on from the rear and he broke off the attack and I was left alone. The two long nose 190’s ahead of me went into a turn which became a Luftberry with me in the middle. I began to pull in on the enemy aircraft immediately in front of me but hadn’t fired my guns when he rolled over to the left and bailed out. I claim one Fw190 destroyed”.

Werner’s Log Book, Pilots Badge and Wound Badge

Last flight entry (5) records the combat action of 18th March 1945. He officially left the Luftwaffe on the 14th April 1945.

Front Page of Werner’s Log Book

Combat reports clearly link the incident and claim however it is significant that Francis did not use his guns and Werner was wounded in the arm. Such is war.

I had the pleasure of meeting both men in their homes, both recounting much from this period, Werner living in Berlin and Francis north of Washington DC.

Lt General Francis Gerard (retired) at home signing aircraft print

Werner Zech at home signing aircraft print.

Werner having been a Luftwaffe instructor on many types of combat aircraft before being thrust into the final defence of Germany, initially with the famous JG53 “Greenherz” became totally disenchanted after the war and became a lorry driver after failing to settle into commercial flying.

Francis, an ace with the wartime 339th Fighter Group went on to become a long term serving USAF officer reaching the high rank of Lieutenant General.

I am truly grateful to both and feel extremely honoured at having met them.

Glenn Lacey

Note: The Gun Camera footage in this section is part of the original filmed loaned to me by Lt General F Gerard and full copyright belongs to him and his family. The footage on this site is not to be reproduced or sold in any form without the express permission of Lt General Gerard or his family.