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Rumors Indicate That 50 Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A3 Fighters Supplied by Germany Were Buried After Military Agreement With the United States
For decades, a mystery intrigues Turkey: Were German World War II fighters buried under a military base in Kayseri? The story involves Focke-Wulf Fw-190 A3 aircraft, secret agreements, and interrupted investigations.
According to stories that have circulated for decades, 50 Focke-Wulf Fw-190 A3 aircraft, supplied by Nazi Germany to Turkey, are believed to be buried beneath the 2nd Air Supply and Maintenance Command in Kayseri.
These rumors gained traction with reports that, in 1947, an agreement with the United States required the destruction of military equipment of German origin as a condition for American post-war aid.
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Supposedly, instead of destroying the aircraft, Turkish authorities opted to secretly bury them.
Fw 190 A3: The Feared “Butcher Bird”
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A3, known as the “Butcher Bird,” was one of the most respected fighters of the Luftwaffe. Designed by Kurt Tank and introduced into service in 1941, the aircraft quickly gained fame for its power, agility, and durability.
Equipped with the BMW 801 D-2 radial engine, the fighter achieved speeds of up to 670 km/h. Its power exceeded 1,700 horsepower (1,300 kW). The armament was heavy: two 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns and four 20 mm cannons, making it lethal in air combat and ground attack missions.
The wide landing gear and robust structure made the Fw 190 a reliable aircraft. Luftwaffe pilots frequently praised it. Turkey acquired 72 units of this model during World War II, temporarily boosting its air force’s strength.
How Turkey Received the Fighters
During the war, Turkey maintained a position of strategic neutrality. In 1941, a trade agreement with Germany ensured the supply of Fw 190 A3s in exchange for iron and chrome.
Many of these aircraft were assembled or equipped internally at TOMTAS facilities located in Anatolia.
According to official documents from the Turkish Air Force, the last recorded flight occurred in November 1947, under the command of Lieutenant Orhan Aksu. After that, the fighters were withdrawn from service.
Previous Acquisitions and Parallel Projects
Even before the agreement with Germany in 1941, Turkey had already received other aircraft from Nazi Germany.
In 1938, it purchased six Focke-Wulf FW-58 bombers and fifteen Gotha Go 145 training aircraft. There were also attempts to acquire Heinkel He-111 bombers with Daimler-Benz engines.
At the same time, Turkey planned to produce 18 British Bristol bombers domestically. However, delays in licensing documentation forced the purchase of already assembled aircraft.
It also ordered 60 Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters, but deliveries did not occur after the break in diplomatic relations with Germany in 1939.
Turkish historians assert that these acquisitions reflected the country’s aviation policy at the time: strategic neutrality, supplier diversity, and the pursuit of self-sufficiency through domestic assembly. The aircraft factory in Kayseri, the predecessor of TOMTAS, played a central role in this effort.
Alleged Burial Gains Traction
The chronology of events coincides with the hypothesis that, upon withdrawing the fighters from service, Turkish authorities chose to bury them as part of a modernization program supported by the United States. According to this version, the Fw 190 A3s were removed from the military inventory and buried discreetly.
In 2015, an official investigation used metal detectors in the area of the Kayseri airbase. Large metallic objects consistent with the size and shape of aircraft were identified underground. The discovery renewed public interest in the case.
However, the failed coup in Turkey in 2016 interrupted the searches. Investigations were suspended, and the project was shelved indefinitely.
Civil Initiatives Tried to Advance
Before the excavation interruptions, some private initiatives attempted to advance the searches. Nejat Çuhadaroğlu, founder of the Hisart Museum, claimed to have had conversations with military officials and made significant progress in negotiations and excavations.
He emphasized that “this model of aircraft does not exist in any museum in the world,” reinforcing the uniqueness of the potential find.
Authorities Remain Skeptical
Despite speculations, members of TOMTAS have always maintained a cautious position. Ferhat Çakır, a board member of the company, stated in various interviews that no official records prove the burial of the aircraft.
According to him, “we have not found any concrete evidence of buried planes. But something was buried: the belief that the Young Turks could produce high technology,” suggesting a symbolism behind the rumors.
Academic studies and military investigations conducted to date have not located official documents confirming the existence of the aircraft underground at the base.
The Riddle of the Buried Fighters Remains Unsolved
With the excavations suspended and authorities maintaining caution, the mystery of the Nazi fighters buried in Kayseri remains without a definitive solution.
The story continues to spark curiosity among enthusiasts, historians, and the public, fueling one of the greatest enigmas of military aviation in Turkey.
With information from Interesting Engineering.
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