The fate of (00-L) Red Painted FW190A8

FW190A8R2-II.5.JG4-(W11+-)-WrkN681497-Emergency-Landed-USAAF-Saint-Trond-Airfield-Belgium-January-1-1945.

On January 1, 1945, the base of the 404 fighter group of the 508 squadron at Sainte-Trond airport 
was attacked as part of the Bodenplatte operation with the aim of destroying the allied aviation 
on the ground.

The Fw-190A-8 of the corporal Walter Wagner of 5th Squadron of the 2nd group of the 4th Fighter 
Regiment (Gefreiter Walter Wagner, 5. II / JG4) was slightly damaged by the allied anti-aircraft 
artillery and was forced to land at the St. Trond airport. In fact, Wagner made a mistake in 
choosing the target and attacked St. Trond, thinking it was LeCulot. Wagner's group suffered 
heavy losses that day - 17 pilots were killed, missing or injured, six were taken prisoner.

Wagner's airplane was restored and, in order to distinguish it from German planes, it was 
completely painted in a bright red-orange color. Also, the false code 1-1-45 (capture date) 
and the designation OO (star) L were painted on the aircraft.

In the new coloring, the aircraft did not fly and was left at the St. Trond airport after 
the departure of the 404 fighter group. It was not recovered and exact whereabouts afterward are
unknown.