"A fascinating and thoroughly researched account of Focke-Wulf 190 units, personnel and operations in the Sicilian campaign of the summer of 1943. Based on a variety of primary sources, this book describes many of the very eventful missions flown by a handful of Luftwaffe Fw 190s against a multitude of British and American land and naval targets. The book features numerous firsthand accounts from German, British, American and Commonwealth personnel, along with a wide selection of photographs and maps, and color aircraft profiles by well-known aviation artist Claes Sundin. The reader is also given a good idea of daily life for the Fw 190 pilots and mechanics during what was a long, hot Mediterranean summer, as they battled Allied bombing raids, lack of supplies, malaria, and many other complications. This is the first time that the full story of the Fw 190 in the battle for Sicily has been told, and this book will serve as the definitive account of this aspect of aviation history." REVIEWS "There are plenty of books on the Focke-Wulf Fw 190; many volumes have been published on WWII s second-most famous German fighter in service in north-west Europe and the Eastern Front, but the battle for Sicily? To my memory, nothing in any depth has been issued on this particular campaign and that s what makes Danish and Australian authors Morten Jessen and Andrew Arthy s new title so fascinating and unique. The book is a follow-up to their 2004 volume Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in North Africa and is an imposing production; it s a large format, 224 page hardback and the highly photogenic (if fighter aircraft can be considered photogenic) full-bleed image on the cover is almost irresistible if you are addicted to WWII aviation. The book is clearly produced with an eye for visual impact; as I often seem to state in this section each month, the photographic reproduction is excellent and many of the images are printed large on the page, all grist-to-the-mill for the modeler, hungry for Luftwaffe eye-candy. There are no less than 137 b/w and three color photographs in the book, plus eleven color profiles (by distinguished artist Claes Sundin) as well as maps that clearly define the specific zones of Fw 190 operation. For the modeller, there is a great deal of interest in this book. Naturally, lashings of punchy wartime photos of Fw 190s are scattered throughout and they give tantalizing clues to camouflage schemes, markings and the inevitable weathering; great stuff. But what really impresses is the sheer attention to detail; those six years of research were well spent and the result is an exhaustive account of the infamous Butcher Bird and its exploits in the vicious battle for the island of Sicily. Very highly recommended." - Tamiya Model Magazine, Marcus Nicholls "In this book the eventful history of the Fw 190 units in the Mediterranean is described from 14 May to 2 September 1943, with special attention to the battle for Sicily. It is extremely well-researched and excellently illustrated, with the story focusing on, amongst other things, why the Fw 190 was so important there. Like everywhere in this book, facts and figures complement each other perfectly, with many eyewitness accounts from both sides. Although the presentation follows a chronological thread, it remains a varied and well told story and an easy read. This exemplary book provides an overall picture of what happened, and tops it off with no less than ten meticulously compiled appendices, i.e. detailed casualty lists, camouflage and markings etc., not to mention the eleven exceptional color profiles by Claes Sundin. Conclusion: one of the best new releases for a long time!" - Flugzeig Classic, Wolfgang Muhlbauer"

More photos of Fw 190 Doras from miscellaneous and unknown units, many previously unpublished. 54 profiles and 17 top/bottom views and many scrap pieces of artwork by Thomas A. Tullis. A large section tells the story of JV 44 and the Doras of the Galland Circus with corrections and updates including new previously unpublished photos. 400 pages of history with 377 photos including 76 color images. A must-have complement to Volume One.

A detailed account of the aces who flew in this model of aircraft. The Fw 190 was the scourge of Fighter Command from the moment it appeared on the Western Front at Abbeville in August 1941 with II./JG 26. A nimble, speedy and well-armed adversary, the 'Butcher Bird' quickly proved superior to all Allied fighters of the time, particularly at medium to low altitude. Led by Experten of the calibre of 'Pips' Priller, Heinz Bar and Walter Oesau, the handful of Fw 190-equipped Jagdgeschwader flew against overwhelming odds, firstly on the Channel coast, and then in direct defence of the Reich when the Jagdflieger took on the might of the USAAF's Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. This is their story.

Full profile of the legendary German Second World War fighter.

When the Focke Wulf Fw 190 became operational in 1941, it gave its enemies a nasty shock: it could out-run, out-climb and out-dive the Spitfire Mk V, the best machine the RAF then had available. The story of the versatile aircraft is offered here, along with first-hand accounts from former pilots, and an interview with the head of the Focke Wulf design team, Professor Kurt Tank.

Using official German records, logbooks and personal accounts, the authors tell the little-known story of this rugged fighter's service in Tunisia in the fighter and ground-attack role and assess its technical and military performance.

The purpose of this new series entitled 'Models and Planes' is to show the most beautiful kits of the most famous planes. Photoscopes, "step-by-step" kit building, painting guides, hints, conversions, micro-painting, sketches and profiles, all these features are included. A must in the field of advanced modeling. Volume One in the series is dedicated to one of W.W.II Germany's most famous fighters.

An exploration of the early service of Germany’s Fw 190, containing a unique collection of rare photos displaying the wide use of this aircraft. Widely regarded as the Luftwaffe’s finest fighter, the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 first saw service in France in August 1941, immediately proving itself at least the equal of the then-latest Spitfire variant, the Mk.V. In this volume, Chris Goss takes a close look at the aircraft’s features as well as its early history. There were a number of characteristics which contributed to the Fw 190’s success. For instance, it was designed as a weapons platform and built to withstand heavy punishment. Another element in the Fw 190’s construction which added to its durability was its wide-tracked, inwards-retracting landing gear. The Fw 190’s BMW 801 D-2 radial engine also produced 1,677 horsepower, giving the early Focke-Wulf 190 A-8 a top speed of more than 400 miles per hour—which was considerably faster than the early variant Spitfires. As Goss points out, it was the Spitfires with which the Fw 190 pilots frequently had to contend when in combat over the English Channel, and particularly during the Allied raid on Dieppe in August 1942. The Fw 190’s weapons capability also saw it used as a fighter-bomber against Allied shipping in the Channel and against the southeastern coasts of England in 1942 in tip-and-runs raids. These fast, low-level attacks proved difficult for the defending RAF squadrons to counter and only one Fw 190 was lost on these operations. In this first of two volumes, Goss examines the aircraft’s features and early days, showing exactly why it was the workhorse of the Luftwaffe.

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 is regarded as one of the best fighters of World War II. Designed by Kurt Tank, it first saw combat in the summer of 1941 and went on to be produced in several variants. It remains a hugely popular subject for aviation scale-modellers. This book, the first of two to cover the Fw190, provides a detailed, step-by-step guide to modelling the Fw 190's A, F and G variants in 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32 scale. Key aspects such as creating mottled camouflage patterns, undercarriage and cockpit detailing, final weathering and finishing, and diorama bases to display your models are covered.