Hidden relic: The journey of a WWII German fighter plane
What could a descendant of a German aviator, a mysterious forest in Russia, and an associate of Bill Gates have in common? Although at first glance it is difficult to see the connections, these elements together form a fascinating story about an extraordinary discovery from World War II.
In the forest wilderness near St. Petersburg in 1989, something remarkable was discovered: an abandoned German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter plane. Some sources suggest the discovery was made in the autumn of 1990 by a local hunter. Analyses indicated that the aircraft was built in 1943 in Bremen. The question remains, why was the plane found in this location and how did it remain unnoticed for so many years?
The history of the German machine
At the controls of the plane was Paul Rätz, a German pilot with several aerial victories and three serious incidents to his credit. This particular plane was manoeuvring over enemy positions when it was shot down.
Rätz was flying on 19 July 1943 from an airbase in Siversky towards the then-besieged Leningrad. The mission of the German pilots was to disrupt supply deliveries that the Soviets were making through the so-called "death corridor."
Rätz's task was to intercept an armoured train, but instead of engaging the target, his plane suffered an engine overheating failure. This forced the pilot to make an emergency landing among the trees.
After abandoning the aircraft, Rätz headed west, hoping in vain to return to his own lines. Captured, he remained a prisoner of war until 1949, passing away four decades later, never having revisited his wrecked plane.
The aircraft was extracted from the forest via a helicopter operation in 1991, and its restoration was undertaken by the British and Americans. Paul Rätz's son also participated in the work on-site. During the restoration, a clog in the fuel system and a piece of material hidden in the engine were identified - evidence of potential sabotage.
Purchase of the found plane
A collector from the United Kingdom, Doug Arnold, was first to receive the aircraft, and later, Paul Allen - philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft Corporation with Bill Gates - expressed interest in it. In 1999, Allen's company, Flying Heritage Collection, acquired the plane.
In spite of the unknown value of the transaction, it is known that in July 2008, the aircraft was transported to Arizona for the completion of its restoration. For the first time since the war, the plane took to the skies on 2 December 2010, continuing its participation in air shows as the only operational Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter model.
