Focke Wulf Fw 190

Operational History

The Fw 190 became the backbone of Jagdwaffe (Fighter Force) along with the Bf 109. On the Eastern Front, owing to its versatility, the Fw 190 was used in Schlachtgeschwader (Attack Wings) which were specialised ground attack units. The units achieved much success against Soviet ground forces. As an interceptor, the Fw 190 underwent improvements to make it effective at high altitude, allowing the 190 to maintain relative parity with its Allied counterparts. The Fw 190A series' performance decreased at high altitudes (usually 6,000 m (20,000 ft) and above), which reduced its usefulness as a high-altitude fighter, but these complications were mostly rectified in later models, notably the Focke-Wulf Fw 190D variant, which was introduced in September 1944. In spite of its successes, it never entirely replaced the Bf 109. The Fw 190 was well liked by its pilots. Some of the Luftwaffe's most successful fighter aces flew the Fw 190, including Otto Kittel with 267 victories, Walter Nowotny with 258, and Erich Rudorffer with 222 claimed. A great many of their kills were claimed while flying the Fw 190.

Western Front

• Early use
• Operation Cerberus
• Operation Jubilee
• Fighter-bomber raids
• Normandy to Salzburg

Over Germany

• Wilde Sau
• The Sturmböcke

Eastern Front

• Fall Blau to Third Battle of Kharkov
• Operation Citadel to the Dnieper
• Operation Bagration to Budapest
• Hungarian Fw 190 operations (November 1944–1945)
• Silesia to Berlin

Mediterranean Front

• North Africa