
The
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 is a German single-seat, single-engine fighter
aircraft which was widely used during World War II. Along with its
well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the Focke Wulf 190
became the backbone of the Luftwaffe’s Fighter Force.
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.
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Fuselage Assemblies at Kolleda Germany 1945
The
Fw 190A started flying operationally over France in August 1941, and
quickly proved superior in all but turn radius to the Royal Air Force’s
main front-line fighter, the Spitfire Mk. V, especially 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 called Schlachtgeschwader (Battle Wings or Strike
Wings) from October 1943 onwards.

Fw
190 A of 2/JG 51 Lt. Joachim Brendel Winter 1942 1943. Engine BMW801
The
Fw 190A series’ performance decreased at high altitudes (usually20,000
ft and above), which reduced its effectiveness as a high-altitude
interceptor. From the Fw 190s inception, there had been ongoing efforts
to address this with a turbosupercharger BMW 801 in the B model, the C
model with the Daimler-Benz DB 603, and the D model with the Junkers
Jumo 213.
Fw
190 V5k. This is the V5 with the original small wing. The 12-blade
cooling fan and redesigned undercarriage and canopy fairings are
visible.
Problems with the turbos meant only the D model
would see service, entering service in September 1944. While these “long
nose” versions gave them parity with Allied opponents, it arrived far
too late in the war to have any real effect.
The Fw 190 was
well-liked by its pilots. Some of the Luftwaffe’s most successful
fighter aces claimed a great many of their kills while flying it,
including Otto Kittel, Walter Nowotny and Erich Rudorffer.

Schlachtflieger Fw 190 +E being fueled

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 winter +PH

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Jagdbomber +B

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 GN+25 in flight

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Jagdbomber +A

Fw 190 A of 11/JG 11 Pilot Uffz. Karl Heinz 1944

Fw 190 A white 10 of 10/JG 51 pilot Otto Gaiser, Smolensk February 1943

Fw 190 A-0s or A-1s of an unknown unit.

Fw 190 G-1 showing the ETC 250 bomb rack, carrying a 250 kg (550 lb) bomb, and the underwing drop tanks on VTr-Ju 87 mounts.

A
side view of the NMUSAF’s D-9. One can easily distinguish the D-9 model
from earlier variants by the extended nose and tail sections, in
addition to the exhaust manifolds located near the base of the engine
cowling
Wrecks / Crashes

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 attack aircraft +P crash landed

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 DN+FA crash landing

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Wreckage 2

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 black 10

US Troops with Luftwaffe Fw 190 and Bomber Wrecks

Destroyed Fw 190
Captured

A captured Fw 190A-4. The USAAF-painted Balkenkreuz and swastika markings are of nonstandard size and proportions.

British RAF Fw 190

British Fw 190 in flight

A
captured Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-3 at the Royal Aircraft Establishment
Farnborough with the RAEs chief test pilot Wing Commander H J -Willie-
Wilson at the controls August 1942.

Captured Fw 190A-5
Werknummer 150 051, in U.S. Navy colors

An
Fw 190 A-8/R2 in American hands. “White 11” of 5./JG 4 was captured
during Operation Bodenplatte after its engine had been damaged by
American light flak.

This
captured Fw 190 D-9 appears to be a late production aircraft built by
Fieseler at Kassel. It has a late style canopy; the horizontal black
stripe with white outline shows that this was a II. Gruppe aircraft.
Image sources: Wikipedia / Bundesarchiv / WorldWarPhoto
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