Focke Wulf Fw190 in Combat

When the Focke Wulf Fw 190 first became operational in the autumn of 1941 it gave its enemies a nasty shock. The new German fighter could outrun, out-climb and out-dive the Spitfire Mk V, the best machine the RAF then had available. The only aspect of combat performance in which the Spitfire had the edge was in its tighter turning circle, and even that advantage was countered by the German fighter's better rate of roll. So great was the apparent superiority of the new German fighter that RAF personnel of all ranks ascribed to it an excellence even greater than it merited.
In June 1942 an Fw 190 pilot became disorientated during combat over south-west England and made a wheels-down landing in South Wales. This was a valuable prize indeed. At the Air Fighting Development Unit at Duxford the aircraft was put through a series of comparative fighting trials and revealed that the Fw 190 was as good as the best Allied fighters at that time, but like any combat aircraft it had weaknesses that could be exploited.
During the years that followed the Fw 190 served on every battle front. In addition to its fighter role it served as a bomber-destroyer, a fighter-bomber, a night-fighter and a photo-reconnaissance aircraft. The Luftwaffe came under increasing pressure during the final eighteen months of the war, and Fw 190 units suffered heavy losses. Yet to the very end the sight of an Fw 190 in position to deliver an attack was enough to strike fear into the hearts of its opponents.
The story of this remarkable aircraft is told using first-person interviews with Fw 190 pilots and the head of the design team, Professor Kurt Tank, supported by a comprehensive selection of photographs. The first edition of this book appeared in 1977 but has been out of print for nearly two decades. This thoroughly revised edition will be welcomed by all with an interest in Second World War aviation.

by Alfred Price
Published by Sutton 1998 of 1977 1st. 192pp profusely illustrated, index, appendix. 20x27 mint, d/j fine.





Note:
"Long" descriptions, where shown, may have been taken from the book's dust jacket notes, and as such are relevant to the date of publication (e.g. any references to "new edition" "previously unpublished photographs" etc.) and not the present.

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