Focke Wulf 190: The Birth of the Butcher Bird, 1939-1945 (Luftwaffe at War) - Softcover

Long with its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the Fw 190 became the backbone of the Luftwaffe's fighting force. Capable of performing in theatres as diverse as North Africa, the Russian Front and in Western Europe, its superior killing ability earned it the nickname, the 'Butcher Bird'. Famed for its speed and manoeuvrability - some of the Luftwaffe's most successful fighter aces - from Otto Kittel to Erich Rudorffer - claimed a great many of their kills while flying it. This addition to the Luftwaffe at War series illustrates the different versions of the plane to see service, the theatres in which the plane served and the pilots who carved a name for themselves with the Butcher Bird.

MORTEN JESSEN is an aviation specialist and the author of The Junkers Ju 52: The Luftwaffe's Workhorse.