World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
12 Sep 2010 10:56:40 AM

Fw 190A-9, or F-8 Fighter-bomber version note rounded canopy and pilot's headrest.
The fighter was armed w/ two MG 131 in the
upper decking and two wing mounted 20mm
cannons.
The fighter could also carry four underwing
mounted MK 103 cannons, bombs and rockets.

2. Anonymous says:
20 Oct 2011 06:29:17 PM

This website makes thigns hella easy.

3.  Bill says:
24 Feb 2012 06:21:05 PM

WHO'S AFRAID OF THE BIG BAD WULF:

The Fw-190A-8 entered production in Feb.1944
powered by 1xBMW 801D air-cooled radial engine, of 1,700hp w/emergency boost to 2,000hp, driving a new paddle-blade wooden propeller.
The canopy had a new bulged design giving the pilot better visibility forward and sideways. For ground attack a center-line ETC 501 bomb rack was fitted, for different types of ordnance to be carried.
Production reached 6,500 aircraft. Armament
was 2x13mm MG 131 machine guns w/475rpg and 4x20mm MG 151/2D cannons w/250rpg inboard and 140rpg outboard, some Fw 190 models were modified w/30mm and twin-pack 20mm cannons under each wing.

TRAINER VERSION:

The Luftwaffe needed to re-trained bomber and dive-bomber pilots to fly fighters both the Bf 109 and Fw 190 were modified into two-seat trainers and assigned (Schulflugzeug) or school/training airplane, wing armament was removed, but upper cowling machine guns were kept aircraft.
Focke-Wulf Fw190A-5 and Fw190A-8s aircraft were given the designation Fw190S-5 and Fw190S-8

4. Gary says:
13 Jul 2013 07:39:10 AM

Some more experienced pilots flew without the outer wing cannon if they could get away with it. Their opinion was the tight cluster of 2 HMG and 2 cannon firing through prop arc was sufficient and the weight of the outer guns reduced manouverability.
Technically it was against regs, certainly Nowotny is quoted as saying he wanted to but wasn't allowed, but pictures show that some did.

5.  Bill says:
3 Nov 2013 07:14:52 PM

Another version of the FW190 was the single-seat
night fighter FW190A-8/R11 fighters were controlled by ground, aircraft mounted external
antennae on fuselage and wings.
Aircraft were modified with engine exhaust flame dampers (Flammenvernichter) gotta love those German compound words!
Armed with 2 x MG131,13mm machine guns located in the upper fuselage and 4 x MG151/20mm cannons or 2 x MG151/20mm cannons.

DEFENDING THE REICH:

Along with the Focke-Wulf FW190's were the night
fighter versions of the Junkers Ju88, Heinkel He219, Dornier Do217, Messerschmitt Me262B two-seat jet fighter and the Messerschmitt Bf109

6.  Bill says:
26 Nov 2013 11:04:38 AM

NUMBERS GAME:

As the air war continued, the Luftwaffe faced the need to rebuild its damaged aircraft, it couldn't
write off aircraft losses like the Allies who would have its aircraft replaced. In spite of its factories being bombed aircraft production remained high, it was the training of pilots that took time.
In the field the Focke-Wulf FW190 became the workhorse fighter-bomber Schlagtgeschwader or
Ground Attack Squadron that worked along side the Junkers Ju87 Stuka on the Eastern Front many were rebuilt from older airframes it wasn't uncommon to see a FW190 with a mix of camouflage, as the
fighter was rebuilt from one or more salvaged 190s and Luftwaffe ground crews didn't always have the time to change the livery of its rebuilt aircraft.

Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau GmbH was formed in 1923 by
Henrich Focke and Georg Wulf, Focke died in 1927 aircraft accident testing the F19 Ente canard monoplane.
Did you know that the Nazi regime considered Henrich Wulf to be politically unreliable, and had the board of directors force him out of his own company.

7.  Bill says:
18 Apr 2014 07:59:38 PM

MOONLIGHT SONATA:

Fw190A-5/R11 night fighter were later employed by the Luftwaffe before that, twin-engine bombers were modified and used as night fighters as the Ju88, Do217 and Bf110 early in the war, the Bf109 was used to combat RAF bomber raids over occupied Europe.

THE UNFRIENDLY NIGHT SKIES:

However, by 1943 the Germans devised new tactics using single-engine fighters like the FW190 as night fighters. Interception was controlled by ground radar, this system was called "Wilde Sau"
(Wild Boar) fighters were vectored to targets and using visual contact with the targets, the sky would be illuminated from searchlights, flares, burning aircraft and the ground target itself. Pilots also flew with the risk of getting hit by their own flak, enemy fire, debris from shot down aircraft and mechanical failure.
This would provide the fighters with enough light to catch RAF bombers these tactics were very successful in helping to stop RAF bombing raids
and against Berlin later that same year.

IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT:

In 1944 these night fighter groups were needed to combat American daylight raids over the Fatherland
many of these "Wilde Sau" (Wild Boar) units were converted back to day operations.

RISKY BUSINESS:

The Fw190 night fighter was equipped with the
FuG217 Neptun J-2 that was installed vertically fore and aft of the cockpit, and above and below the wings. The FuG218 Neptun J-3 radar was installed on the wings mounted above and below on the wings. Some Fw190s were not always equipped
with radar equipment and were used as night fighter-bombers.
1,752 A-5's were produced between November 1942 to June 1943 for night operations, the fighters were equipped with flame damping shields to cut the glow of the hot engine exhaust at night. This
version of the Fw190 was armed w/2 x 131 heavy machine guns in the upper fuselage cowling and
4 x 20mm 151/20 cannons in the wings aircraft also carried 1 x 300 liter drop tank.

Moonlight Sonata: Ludwig van Beethoven, 1712-1773 German composer between the Classical & Romantic period.

8.  Bill says:
21 May 2016 08:16:58 PM

FOR THE FATHERLAND: FOCKE-WULF FW190

Against Allied bomber formations, the Luftwaffe tried different tactics the Sturmgruppen was formed. Attacking as a group the entire squadron
would attack line abreast using the combined firepower of all is cannons and heavy machine guns against the bombers.

MODIFICATIONS:

FW190's were armed w/4 x 20mm cannons w/250 rounds per gun, and 2 x 13mm machine guns w/475 rounds per gun. However, to increase the cannon firepower, the two-upper machine guns were deleted. Two of the four wing mounted 20mm cannons were also deleted and replaced w/2 x 30mm cannons, w/55 rounds per gun additional 2 x 20mm cannons w/250 rounds per gun in pods mounted under the wings.

IN THE LINE OF FIRE:

The pilot was protected with 50mm armored glass
windscreen and side canopy panels, the fuselage
had 5mm armored plate around the cockpit behind the pilots head and shoulders the engine had additional armor around the fuel tanks and engine.

HAZARDOUS DUTY:

Sturmgruppen pilots were volunteers the loss of
pilot's and aircraft were high at a time when the Luftwaffe lacked trained and replacement pilots and aircraft. During such missions many pilots out of ammo and low on fuel continued their attacks, by ramming the bombers this was a dangerous tactic, with little chance of survival, but some pilots were left with little options.

9.  Bill says:
22 Oct 2016 05:40:32 PM

CAPTURED...! WARS END

Focke-Wulf FW 190 assigned to 11./JG1 surrendered at Skrydstrup, Denmark May 1945. Data current as of September 2016.

OLD GERMAN PROVERB:
GO WEST YOUNG. GO WEST

As Soviet forces pushed their way from the East into Germany, hundreds of thousands of Military personnel & Civilians made the escaped to the Western Allies instead of being captured by the Soviets...

10.  Bill says:
1 Nov 2016 10:29:54 AM

CAPTURED RED WULF:

During WWII the Soviets captured different types of military equipment from the Germans. Among the aircraft captured were the Focke-Wulf FW190. Flown by Soviet pilots, tests were carried out against the latest Soviet fighters.

ALWAYS SOMETHING TO LEARN:

One FW190 had its original BMW 801 engine replaced with a Shvetson M(ASh)-82 that was within the same power and weight as the BMW.
The cowling was replaced from a Soviet La-5FN fighter, and now carried 2 x ShVAK SP-20mm cannons that replaced the MG131, 13mm machine guns. The Soviet Wulf was kept in airworthy condition, until retired around 1951.
Like most German aircraft and other equipment, it was most likely scrapped. However, the USSR did refurbished small arms
along with other useful equipment and kept them in storage...