The Focke-Wulf of the NJG
The most common type of Focke-Wulf used by the NJG 11 was the Focke-Wulf FW190A-6/R-11.
This model was unique among all the others in the respect that it was painted shades of black in most cases, was equipped with the FuG-217 Neptun J-2 radar, featured heated windscreen windows (to deter fog), an advanced PKS 12 autopilot system, anti-reflective markings and a landing light.
The Focke-Wulf was originally concieved as an air superiority fighter capable of matching wits with the Spirfires of England; this goal was achieved for a time during the Battle of Britain, but later models of Spitfires soon sent the LRM back to the drawing board, ultimately resulting in the TA-189 and the ME-262.
The massive armament of the "Butcher Bird" was immediately recognized, almost straight off the drawing boards when Kurt Tank designed the "work of art." Over the Messerschmitt ME-109, the staple of the Luftwaffe, the 190 posed several improvements:
The widespread, outboard-extending landing gear eliminated the tricky and dangerous ground handling of the ME-109s, allowing for easier field applications and the deployment in airfields that were not quite in operable conditions. The huge radial engine provided a massive amount of on-demand power, boasting over 200h.p., but blocking the forward field of view while on the ground. The radial engine was also uncommon in modern fighters, so that there was not an over-reliance on in-line radiator-cooled engines, such as was used in the ME-109. For this purpose, the FW was actually built around this engine.The size and placement of the rudder gave the pilot superb rudder authority, making the plane more maneuverable and easy to handle overall. Strategically-placed charges inside the plexiglas cockpit canopy's rim allowed for easy access in case of slider rail damage or "Canopy Stick," where the speed of air flowing over the cockpit bubble prevents the pilot from pulling the hood back. This increased the survivability of the pilot.Two upper-fuselage MG-34 7.62mm guns mounted in the nose, two .30 cannons in the wing roots, and two .20 cannons outboard of the landing gear (the latter replaceable by gun pods) gave the Wulf a very sharp set of teeth. Commanders who were saavy in close-air support immediately saw the air-ground role of the FW-190, which could be retrofitted on some versions with a SC250 general-purpose bomb or C-3 gas droptank.A quasi-roomy, quiet, padded and heated cockpit interior led to the FW having one of the most comfortable cockpits of any fighter during WWII. In addition, the bubble canopy gave the pilot a near uninterrupted 360-degree view of the skies, as opposed to the cross-bracing and bullet guards found in the ME-109. The Focke-Wulf FW-190 was made into more than eight variants, with several sub-variants, and were the basis for a a number of experiments, and saw action in nearly every theatre of operation. The FW-190 was used throughout WWII and recognized as the Luftwaffe's most effective fighter-bomber; like its Messerschmitt counterpart, the FW continued to be produced for a number of years after the war. There are less than five Focke-Wulfs in flying condition as of January 1st, 2000.