Book Review of
Eagles of the Luftwaffe no. 1
Focke-Wulf Fw-190
Author: Dan Sharp
Mortons Books
ISBN: 9781911658054
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $19.99
ISBN: 9781911658054
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $19.99
HISTORY:
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 (nicknamed Würger; English: Shrike) is a German single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank at Focke-Wulf in the late 1930s and widely used during World War II. Along with its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the Fw 190 became the backbone of the Jagdwaffe (Fighter Force) of the Luftwaffe.
The twin-row BMW 801 radial engine that powered most operational versions enabled the Fw 190 to lift larger loads than the Bf 109, allowing its use as a day fighter, fighter-bomber, ground-attack aircraft and to a lesser degree, night fighter.
The Fw 190A started flying operationally over France in August 1941 and quickly proved superior in all but turn radius to the Spitfire Mk. V, the main front-line fighter of the Royal Air Force (RAF), particularly at low and medium altitudes. The 190 maintained superiority over Allied fighters until the introduction of the improved Spitfire Mk. IX.
In November/December 1942, the Fw 190 made its air combat debut on the Eastern Front, finding much success in fighter wings and specialised ground attack units (Schlachtgeschwader (Battle Wings or Strike Wings) from October 1943.The Fw 190A series' performance decreased at high altitudes (usually 6,000 m (20,000 ft) and above), which reduced its effectiveness as a high-altitude interceptor.
From the Fw 190's inception, there had been ongoing efforts to address this with a turbo-supercharged BMW 801 in the B model, the much longer-nosed C model with efforts to also turbocharge its chosen Daimler-Benz DB 603 inverted V12 power plant, and the similarly long-nosed D model with the Junkers Jumo 213.
Problems with the turbocharger installations on the -B and -C subtypes meant only the D model entered service in September 1944. These high-altitude developments eventually led to the Focke-Wulf Ta 152, which was capable of extreme speeds at medium to high altitudes (755 km/h (408 kn; 469 mph) at 13,500 m (44,300 ft)). While these "long nose" 190 variants and the Ta 152 derivative especially gave the Germans parity with Allied opponents, they arrived too late to affect the outcome of the war.
The Fw 190 was well-liked by its pilots. Some of the Luftwaffe's most successful fighter aces claimed many of their kills while flying it, including Otto Kittel, Walter Nowotny and Erich Rudorffer. The Fw 190 had greater firepower than the Bf 109 and, at low to medium altitude, superior manoeuvrability, in the opinion of German pilots who flew both fighters. It was regarded as one of the best fighter planes of World War II.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter
National origin: Germany
Manufacturer: Focke-Wulf
Designer: Kurt Tank
First flight: 1 June 1939
Introduction to service: August 1941
Retired: 9 May 1945 (Luftwaffe), 1949 (France)
Primary users: Luftwaffe, Hungarian Air Force, French Air Force, Turkish Air Force
Produced: 1941–1945 (65 produced post-War for French Air Force)
Number built: Over 20,000
Developed into: Focke-Wulf Ta 152
THE BOOK:
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 (nicknamed Würger; English: Shrike) is a German single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank at Focke-Wulf in the late 1930s and widely used during World War II. Along with its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the Fw 190 became the backbone of the Jagdwaffe (Fighter Force) of the Luftwaffe.
The twin-row BMW 801 radial engine that powered most operational versions enabled the Fw 190 to lift larger loads than the Bf 109, allowing its use as a day fighter, fighter-bomber, ground-attack aircraft and to a lesser degree, night fighter.
The Fw 190A started flying operationally over France in August 1941 and quickly proved superior in all but turn radius to the Spitfire Mk. V, the main front-line fighter of the Royal Air Force (RAF), particularly at low and medium altitudes. The 190 maintained superiority over Allied fighters until the introduction of the improved Spitfire Mk. IX.
In November/December 1942, the Fw 190 made its air combat debut on the Eastern Front, finding much success in fighter wings and specialised ground attack units (Schlachtgeschwader (Battle Wings or Strike Wings) from October 1943.The Fw 190A series' performance decreased at high altitudes (usually 6,000 m (20,000 ft) and above), which reduced its effectiveness as a high-altitude interceptor.
From the Fw 190's inception, there had been ongoing efforts to address this with a turbo-supercharged BMW 801 in the B model, the much longer-nosed C model with efforts to also turbocharge its chosen Daimler-Benz DB 603 inverted V12 power plant, and the similarly long-nosed D model with the Junkers Jumo 213.
Problems with the turbocharger installations on the -B and -C subtypes meant only the D model entered service in September 1944. These high-altitude developments eventually led to the Focke-Wulf Ta 152, which was capable of extreme speeds at medium to high altitudes (755 km/h (408 kn; 469 mph) at 13,500 m (44,300 ft)). While these "long nose" 190 variants and the Ta 152 derivative especially gave the Germans parity with Allied opponents, they arrived too late to affect the outcome of the war.
The Fw 190 was well-liked by its pilots. Some of the Luftwaffe's most successful fighter aces claimed many of their kills while flying it, including Otto Kittel, Walter Nowotny and Erich Rudorffer. The Fw 190 had greater firepower than the Bf 109 and, at low to medium altitude, superior manoeuvrability, in the opinion of German pilots who flew both fighters. It was regarded as one of the best fighter planes of World War II.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter
National origin: Germany
Manufacturer: Focke-Wulf
Designer: Kurt Tank
First flight: 1 June 1939
Introduction to service: August 1941
Retired: 9 May 1945 (Luftwaffe), 1949 (France)
Primary users: Luftwaffe, Hungarian Air Force, French Air Force, Turkish Air Force
Produced: 1941–1945 (65 produced post-War for French Air Force)
Number built: Over 20,000
Developed into: Focke-Wulf Ta 152
THE BOOK:
Morton Books is located in the UK.
The book is soft-bound of 106 pages. Two pages are blank. In 7” x 9 ¾” page format.
CONTENTS:
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Chapter 2 – Early Development
Chapter 3 – Combat in the West
Chapter 4 – Fw 190 A. B and C
Chapter 5 – Fw 190 E, F. G, H and S
Chapter 6 – Combat in the East
Chapter 7 – Last Defence of the Reich
Chapter 8 – Special Weapons and Versions
Colour Profiles
Index
Appendix – Umbau mods and Rutsatz Kits
There are 84 black and white photos and 6 color ones in the book.
Aircraft types photographed are: FW-A17, FW-44, FW-56 Stosser, FW-57, FW-58, FW-59, FW-61V-1, FW-187 and FW-190V-1.
There are photos of Luftwaffe pilots too.
There are 12 color side view illustrations and one 3-view.
A FW-190V-1, that is overall light-gray, with a red band on the rudder with white circle on it and black swastika on the circle. It has black fuselage code D-OPZE.
A FW-190A-1 that is also overall light-gray, with a spinner divided into black and white halves. Black swastika outlined in white on the rudder and black fuselage code SB + KA.
A FW-190 A-2 that has a dark-gray spine, a two shades of gray mottle on its sides and a light-blue undercarriage. Black spinner, yellow rudder flap and panel under the nose. Fifty victory marke on the rudder flap. White circle with a black top hat with a thumb pressing down on it on the side of the nose. Fuselage code white 7 + I outlined in black. It was flown by Oberleutnant Egan Mayer. 7/JG 2, 1941-42.
A FW-190A-3 in the same scheme as 7 + i. It has white oval on the sides the cowling with a black rooster's head on it. White fuselage code of Chevron + and a narrow white fuselage band. Flown by Oberleutnant Armin Faber, Stab III/JG2, that landed at RAF Pembrey, 23 June 1942.
A FW-190A-4/U8 that has a light-gray spine over black side and undercarriage and black spinner. Light-gray letter H on fuselage sides. No cross or swastika shown. Flown by Feldwebel Otto Bechtold of 7/SKG 10. Landed at RAF West Malling on 13 April 1943. “Do Not Touch” was hand written down its side by its new owner.
A FW-190A-5 that has a dark-gray spine, over light-gray sides and light-blue undercarriage. Yellow panel under the nose and yellow wing tips under the wings. Black and white spiral on spinner. It has a white shield with a black eagle diving on it on the sides of the cowling fuselage code is red X + - .This was the personal aircraft of Oberst Walter Grabmann, commander of the 3rd Jagd Division 1943.
A three-view of a FW-190A-8/R2 . That has a dark-gray spine, light-gray sides with dark-gray mottling over a light blue undercarriage, dark and light-gray splinter pattern atop the wings. Black and white spiral on the spinner. Fuselage code double chevron + and swastika on rudder. Flown by Hauptmann Wilhelm Moritz, IV (Sturm) JG, 3 April 1944.
A FW-190A-6/R1 that has a dark-gray spine, pale-gray sides and light-blue undercarriage. Large jet black section over the wing roots on side of fuselage with fuselage code of white 11 +, swastika on rudder. It has a yellow shield with a black wolf’s head on it on the side of the cowling. 1./NJGr 10, equipped with FuG 217 Neptun, June 1944.
A FW-190A-8, 5 JG4, April 1945. It is overall medium-gray with a light-gray cowling, black and white spiral on the spinner. Fuselage code of white 15 black skeletal type cross - . Black swastika on rudder sides.
A FW-190A-9 with 7/JG 301, 1945.. It is overall dark-green over a light-blue undercarriage. Has a black and white spiral on the spinner. Narrow white edge on the front of the cowling. Pale-blue rudder flap. Fuselage code of yellow 8 black skeletal type cross and a wide yellow fuselage band. Swastika on rudder.
A FW-190 AF-3, of 1/SG 4, 1945. It has a dark-grey spine that extends down over the wings on light-grey fuselage sides. Black and white spiral on the spinner. Fuselage code is red dot dot 7 dot dot outlined in white +. Swastika on rudder.
A FW-190 AF-8, of 1/SG4, Northern Italy, spring/summer 1944. It is in a medium brown with dark green mottling camouflage over a light-blue undercarriage. Black and white spiral on spinner. White fuselage number 1 outlined in black + white square. No swastika on the rudder.
A FW-190F-8/R1, II./SG 2, 1944-45. It is in a camouflage pattern of light-gray narrow stripes over dark-gray. Black and white spiral on spinner. Fuselage code of large black 9 skeletal black cross, wide yellow fuselage band and stripe under the wings. Swastika on rudder.
The Special Weapons chapter shows photos of a Mistel 2 combination that is a Junkers JU-88 carrying either a Me-109 or a FW-190 on its back on a scaffolding. A FW-190 armed with a wire-guided X-4 air to air missile and a FW-190 armed with a RZ 65 rocket launcher. A FW-190 armed with a SG 113 weapons system and one armed with the SG 116 weapons system, which was a series of tubes with MK 103 30mm cannons shells inside. One carrying a Blohm und Voss BV 246 glider bomb.
This book will be of great interest to modelers planning on building a FW-190 and to aviation enthusiasts alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the North American distributor of Tempest Books and all their titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
The book is soft-bound of 106 pages. Two pages are blank. In 7” x 9 ¾” page format.
CONTENTS:
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Chapter 2 – Early Development
Chapter 3 – Combat in the West
Chapter 4 – Fw 190 A. B and C
Chapter 5 – Fw 190 E, F. G, H and S
Chapter 6 – Combat in the East
Chapter 7 – Last Defence of the Reich
Chapter 8 – Special Weapons and Versions
Colour Profiles
Index
Appendix – Umbau mods and Rutsatz Kits
There are 84 black and white photos and 6 color ones in the book.
Aircraft types photographed are: FW-A17, FW-44, FW-56 Stosser, FW-57, FW-58, FW-59, FW-61V-1, FW-187 and FW-190V-1.
There are photos of Luftwaffe pilots too.
There are 12 color side view illustrations and one 3-view.
A FW-190V-1, that is overall light-gray, with a red band on the rudder with white circle on it and black swastika on the circle. It has black fuselage code D-OPZE.
A FW-190A-1 that is also overall light-gray, with a spinner divided into black and white halves. Black swastika outlined in white on the rudder and black fuselage code SB + KA.
A FW-190 A-2 that has a dark-gray spine, a two shades of gray mottle on its sides and a light-blue undercarriage. Black spinner, yellow rudder flap and panel under the nose. Fifty victory marke on the rudder flap. White circle with a black top hat with a thumb pressing down on it on the side of the nose. Fuselage code white 7 + I outlined in black. It was flown by Oberleutnant Egan Mayer. 7/JG 2, 1941-42.
A FW-190A-3 in the same scheme as 7 + i. It has white oval on the sides the cowling with a black rooster's head on it. White fuselage code of Chevron + and a narrow white fuselage band. Flown by Oberleutnant Armin Faber, Stab III/JG2, that landed at RAF Pembrey, 23 June 1942.
A FW-190A-4/U8 that has a light-gray spine over black side and undercarriage and black spinner. Light-gray letter H on fuselage sides. No cross or swastika shown. Flown by Feldwebel Otto Bechtold of 7/SKG 10. Landed at RAF West Malling on 13 April 1943. “Do Not Touch” was hand written down its side by its new owner.
A FW-190A-5 that has a dark-gray spine, over light-gray sides and light-blue undercarriage. Yellow panel under the nose and yellow wing tips under the wings. Black and white spiral on spinner. It has a white shield with a black eagle diving on it on the sides of the cowling fuselage code is red X + - .This was the personal aircraft of Oberst Walter Grabmann, commander of the 3rd Jagd Division 1943.
A three-view of a FW-190A-8/R2 . That has a dark-gray spine, light-gray sides with dark-gray mottling over a light blue undercarriage, dark and light-gray splinter pattern atop the wings. Black and white spiral on the spinner. Fuselage code double chevron + and swastika on rudder. Flown by Hauptmann Wilhelm Moritz, IV (Sturm) JG, 3 April 1944.
A FW-190A-6/R1 that has a dark-gray spine, pale-gray sides and light-blue undercarriage. Large jet black section over the wing roots on side of fuselage with fuselage code of white 11 +, swastika on rudder. It has a yellow shield with a black wolf’s head on it on the side of the cowling. 1./NJGr 10, equipped with FuG 217 Neptun, June 1944.
A FW-190A-8, 5 JG4, April 1945. It is overall medium-gray with a light-gray cowling, black and white spiral on the spinner. Fuselage code of white 15 black skeletal type cross - . Black swastika on rudder sides.
A FW-190A-9 with 7/JG 301, 1945.. It is overall dark-green over a light-blue undercarriage. Has a black and white spiral on the spinner. Narrow white edge on the front of the cowling. Pale-blue rudder flap. Fuselage code of yellow 8 black skeletal type cross and a wide yellow fuselage band. Swastika on rudder.
A FW-190 AF-3, of 1/SG 4, 1945. It has a dark-grey spine that extends down over the wings on light-grey fuselage sides. Black and white spiral on the spinner. Fuselage code is red dot dot 7 dot dot outlined in white +. Swastika on rudder.
A FW-190 AF-8, of 1/SG4, Northern Italy, spring/summer 1944. It is in a medium brown with dark green mottling camouflage over a light-blue undercarriage. Black and white spiral on spinner. White fuselage number 1 outlined in black + white square. No swastika on the rudder.
A FW-190F-8/R1, II./SG 2, 1944-45. It is in a camouflage pattern of light-gray narrow stripes over dark-gray. Black and white spiral on spinner. Fuselage code of large black 9 skeletal black cross, wide yellow fuselage band and stripe under the wings. Swastika on rudder.
The Special Weapons chapter shows photos of a Mistel 2 combination that is a Junkers JU-88 carrying either a Me-109 or a FW-190 on its back on a scaffolding. A FW-190 armed with a wire-guided X-4 air to air missile and a FW-190 armed with a RZ 65 rocket launcher. A FW-190 armed with a SG 113 weapons system and one armed with the SG 116 weapons system, which was a series of tubes with MK 103 30mm cannons shells inside. One carrying a Blohm und Voss BV 246 glider bomb.
This book will be of great interest to modelers planning on building a FW-190 and to aviation enthusiasts alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the North American distributor of Tempest Books and all their titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
Highly Recommended.