Nicknamed the "Butcher Bird," the Fw 190 was Germany's best air-to-ground fighter. Faster and more agile than the British Spitfire, it dominated the skies over Europe as a fighter and was the Luftwaffe's most important ground-attack aircraft. Controlled by the skilled hands of aces like Oberleutnant Otto Kittel, the FW-190 gained the reputation of being one of the greatest fighters of all time. This fighter-bomber and anti-tank aircraft was almost impossible to defeat until the introduction of the long-range P-51 Mustang.

Introduced in July 1942, the Fw 190 A-4 was equipped with the same engine and basic armament as the A-3. Updated radio gear, the FuG 16Z, was installed replacing the earlier FuG VIIa. A new, short "stub" vertical aerial mount was fitted to the top of the tailfin, a configuration which was kept through the rest of the production Fw 190s. In some instances, pilot-controllable engine cooling vents were fitted to the fuselage sides in place of the plain slots. Some A-4s were outfitted with a special Rustsatz field conversion kit, comprising the fitting of a pair of under-wing Werfer-Granate 21 (BR 21) rocket mortars, and were designated Fw 190 A-4/R6. The most important innovation introduced by the A-4 was, however, the fitting of various Umrust-Bausatze factory-refit packages.

The A-4/U1 was outfitted with an ETC 501 rack under the fuselage. All armament except for the MG 151 cannon was removed. The U3 was very similar to the U1, and later served as the prototype for the Fw 190 F-1 assault fighter. Some U3s used for night operations had a landing light mounted in the leading edge of the left wing-root. The U4 was a reconnaissance fighter, with two Rb 12.4 cameras in the rear fuselage and an EK 16 or Robot II gun camera. The U4 was equipped with fuselage-mounted 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 17s and 20 mm MG 151 cannon. The U7 was a high-altitude fighter, easily identified by the compressor air intakes on either side of the cowling. Adolf Galland flew a U7 in the spring of 1943.

The A-4/U8 was the Jabo-Rei (Jagdbomber Reichweite, long-range fighter-bomber), adding a 300 L (80 US gal) drop tank under each wing, on VTr-Ju 87 racks with duralumin fairings produced by Weserflug, and a centreline bomb rack. The outer wing-mounted 20 mm MG FF/M cannon and the cowling-mounted 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 17 were removed to save weight. The A-4/U8 served as the model for the Fw 190 G-1.

A new series of easier-to-install Rustsatz field kits began to be produced in 1943. The first of these, the A-4/R1, was fitted with a FuG 16ZY radio set with a Morane "whip" aerial fitted under the port wing. These aircraft, called Leitjager or Fighter Formation Leaders, could be tracked and directed from the ground via special R/T equipment called Y-Verfahren. More frequent use of this equipment was made from the A-5 onwards. The Fw 190A-4 could achieve 1,700 hp (2,100 with MW-50 boost). Its maximum speed was 670 km/h (420 mph) at 6,250 m (20,510 ft). Operational ceiling was 11,400 m (37,400 ft). Normal range was 800 km (500 mi). Normal takeoff weight was 3,800 kg (8,400 lb). A total of 976 A-4s were built between June 1942 and March 1943.

This particular 1:48 scale replica of a German Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-4 fighter that was piloted by Oblt. Erich Rudorffer, who was attached to the 6./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen", then deployed to North Africa during the spring of 1943. Sold Out!

Dimensions
Wingspan: 8-1/2-inches
Length: 7-1/4-inches

Release Date: April 2019

Historical Account: "Richthofen" - Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2) "Richthofen" was a German fighter wing during World War II. The unit was formed from parts of the 131st Fighter Wing on May 1st, 1939, in Doberitz and its first commander was Colonel Robert Ritter von Greim. At the outbreak of the war, the unit was based in the Berlin area under Luftgaukommando III. Its sub-units were equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109s variants.

In preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, most fighter units were transferred to Germany's eastern borders by May 1941 but JG 2 and JG 26 were left in north-west Europe where their aims was interdiction of Royal Air Force (RAF) daytime operations over Europe. The two wings maintained around 120 serviceable aircraft against the increasing number of RAF Fighter Command sweeps conducted to wear down the Luftwaffe in a war of attrition. One of the busiest days of combat on the Channel coast in 1941 took place on June 21st, with two RAF Circus offensives flown. II./JG 2 and JG 26 claimed ten and eight Spitfires shot down respectively although actual Spitfire losses were three.

On July 23rd, 1941, JG 2 claimed some 29 Spitfires, with a further 10 claims awarded to JG 26, against a real loss of 14. On July 23rd, 1941, JG 2 claimed their first three B-17 Fortresses shot down; the aircraft attacked were in fact Short Stirlings of 15 Squadron RAF Bomber Command, attacking the Scharnhorst in dock at La Pallice; one of the Stirlings being lost. JG 2 claimed its 800th success in August; six members of JG 2 received the Iron Cross in 1941. On August 12th, Circuses No. 69 and 70 attacked Saint-Omer and Gosnay. JG 2 intercepted the formations and the commander, Major Walter Oesau, was credited with five Spitfires in ninety minutes; two other pilots claimed six additional aircraft, although only six Spitfires were lost that day. The RAF flew three Circuses on September 10th and JG 2, in concert with its subordinated training squadron, claimed 25 fighters shot down, against an actual loss of seven Spitfires.

1942 saw most of JG 2 convert to the Focke-Wulf 190 A, the exception being the 11th Squadron which was a "high altitude" squadron. It experimented with pressurized cabins and other technical refinements. JG 2 continued to operate in occupied France from Brest to the Somme, while JG 26 covered Northern France and Belgium.

In November 1941, Jafu 2 and Jafu 3 were ordered to allocate one squadron from each of their subordinate fighter Geschwader as Jabo (fighter-bomber) squadrons. JG 2 became part of IV./Schnellkampfgeschwader 10 (SKG 10). On August 19th, 1942, JG 2 took part in repelling the Allied Dieppe raid.

In spring 1943, I./JG 2 led by Walter Oesau, moved to Triqueville airfield. Wing Commander Alan Deere planned an attack on the unit to provoke a confrontation. The plan involved a low-level approach by Deere and No. 403 Squadron to catch the FW 190s as they were taxiing for take-off. No. 611 Squadron was to attack the site and the No. 341 (Free French) Squadron were to patrol at 3,000 ft (910 m) south of the airfield, to guard against a counter from other elements of I./JG 2 at Evreux. No. 403 Squadron were spotted before the attack was launched and JG 2 aircraft reacted immediately by dispersing at low-level immediately after take off. Deere fired on the hangar buildings before pursuing the JG 2 aircraft. Elements from Evreux joined in and a dogfight took place between evenly matched formations. The RAF squadrons left due to low fuel, 611 claiming two JG 2 shot down. I./JG 2 from Evreux claimed two Spitfires of 341 Squadron.

Successful USAAF operations over Germany led to many novice and replacement pilots being killed through the first half of 1944; more importantly, the experienced pilots were also being lost. JG 2's commander Egon Mayer was shot down and killed in March 1944. One month later his successor Major Kurt Ubben was also killed by US fighters. JG 2 was the main Luftwaffe unit attempting to counteract the Allied Air Forces during the D-day landings on June 6th, 1944.

Unternehmen Bodenplatte was a mass fighter attack against the Allied airfields in the Low Countries and France on New Years Day 1945. It was hoped it would help regain temporary aerial superiority for the new German offensive through the Ardennes, but instead, it delivered crippling losses to the Luftwaffe. Numerically, of all the fighter units JG 2 suffered most in this poorly conceived operation, suffering 37 pilots killed and nearly 40% losses. It took several weeks for JG 2 to regain operational status. During winter and spring, JG 2 was based out of Germany. It was formally disbanded on May 7th, 1945.