Focke - Wulf Fw 190 operational history The Focke - Wulf Fw 190 " Würger " was used by the " Luftwaffe " during the Second World War in a variety of roles . Like the Messerschmitt Bf 109 , the Fw 190 was employed as a " workhorse " , and proved suitable for a wide variety of roles , including air superiority fighter , strike fighter , ground - attack aircraft , escort fighter , and operated with less success as a night fighter . It served on all the German fronts : Eastern Front , Western Front , North African Campaign and the Defence of the Reich . When it was first introduced in August 1941 , it quickly proved to be superior in all but turn radius to the Royal Air Force ( RAF ) front - line fighter , the Spitfire Mk . V variant . The 190 wrested air superiority away from the RAF until the introduction of the vastly improved Spitfire Mk . IX in July 1942 restored qualitative parity . The Fw 190 made its air combat debut on the Eastern Front much later , in November / December 1942 . The Fw 190 made a significant impact seeing service as a fighter and fighter - bomber . The fighter and its pilots proved just as capable as the Bf 109 in aerial combat , and in the opinion of German pilots who had flown both fighters , the Fw 190 presented increased firepower and manoeuvrability at low to medium altitude . 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 months . The Fw 190 was introduced on the Western Front in August 1941 . For the first few months of its combat career , the Allies , entirely unaware of the new fighter , attributed pilots ' reports of a new " radial - engine fighter " to Curtiss P - 36 Mohawks which the Germans had captured from the French . The new fighter outperformed the Spitfire Mk . V , the then top - of - the - line RAF fighter , in all aspects except turning radius . The Fw 190 was considerably better in firepower , rate of roll , and straight - line speed at low altitude . As Allied fighter losses rose and local air superiority over the Channel front passed to the " Luftwaffe " , Allied plans were tentatively made to launch a commando raid on a " Luftwaffe " airfield to steal an Fw 190 for evaluation . However , the British acquired an intact Fw 190 A - 3 in late June 1942 , when a " Jagdgeschwader 2 " pilot , Oberleutnant Armin Faber , landed on a British airfield by mistake . As tests confirmed the performance characteristics , British rushed development of the Spitfire Mk . IX with the new two - stage supercharged Merlin 61 engine . The RAF was also quick to study the aircraft for any novel design elements . In particular , the cooling system and installation of Fw 190 ' s radial engine was a direct influence on Hawker Siddeley ' s Tempest II . On the whole , Allied pilots who flew the Fw 190 found it pleasant to fly , very responsive , and , while the cockpit was small compared to most Allied fighters , it was well laid out . Most pilots found the Fw 190 ' s " Kommandogerät " system ( which automatically controlled the RPM , fuel mixture , ignition timing , supercharger switchover , and boost pressure ) to be more of a hindrance than a help . German pilots in some instances reportedly failed to pull up from a steep dive at low altitude , diving straight into the ground . It was thought that they had left the powerful , variable incidence tailplane trim mechanism in the " nose heavy " position , meaning that their aircraft could not recover from the dive in time . " Cerberus " and " Jubilee " . The first significant operation in which Fw 190s played an important role was Operation Cerberus , the " Channel dash " break - out through the English Channel and Dover Strait by the " Kriegsmarine " s small battleship s " Scharnhorst " and " Gneisenau " and the heavy cruiser " Prinz Eugen " on 12 February 1942 . Adolf Galland , the " General der Jagdflieger " ( General of the Fighter Arm ) , insisted that the operation take place during daylight hours and accepted responsibility for devising a plan to provide continuous daylight fighter cover against the heavy attacks expected by the RAF . By the end of the day , JG 26 had been credited with seven aerial victories and six probables for the loss of four Fw 190s and their pilots . Galland was to later call the success of this operation the " greatest hour " of his career . The Fw 190s first significant mass engagement took place on 19 August 1942 , during Operation Jubilee , the Allied raid on Dieppe . " Jagdgeschwaders " JG 2 and JG 26 had recently converted from the Bf 109 , fielding 115 fighter aircraft during the day ' s fighting , including a small number of high - altitude Bf 109G - 1 models ( although there is doubt as to whether G - 1 variants existed as operational types ) . The RAF committed over 300 fighter aircraft , consisting mostly of Spitfire VB models , with just six squadrons of Spitfire Mk . IXBs , and also some of the new Hawker Typhoon s . In addition , several squadrons of Hawker Hurricane s and RAF Allison - engined Mustangs performed fighter - bomber and reconnaissance duties . During the action , the two " Jagdgeschwader " lost 25 Fw 190s to all causes , including crashes , but , in return , they claimed 61 of the 106 Allied aircraft lost that day ( JG 26 and JG 2 claiming 40 and 21 respectively . Fighting over occupied territory , the RAF lost 81 pilots and aircrew killed or taken prisoner , against " Luftwaffe " fighter losses of 20 pilots killed ( 14 from JG 26 and six from JG 2 ) . Fighter - bomber raids . From the end of June 1942 , the Fw 190 A - 3 / U3 " Jabo " ( " Jagdbomber " , fighter - bomber ) equipped 10 . ( Jabo ) / JG 2 and 10 . ( Jabo ) / JG 26 , which operated with considerable success attacking shipping and port towns around the south - eastern coasts of England . These high - speed , low - altitude attacks were almost impossible to defend against , as the Fw 190s came in below effective radar coverage and were often gone before RAF fighters could intercept them . The most successful of these fighter - bomber operations was carried out on 31 October 1942 on Canterbury in retaliation for RAF bombing raids over Germany . In the largest daylight raid mounted by the Luftwaffe since the Battle of Britain , about 60 Fw 190s unloaded 30 bombs on the city , killing 32 people and injuring 116 , as well as causing a lot of damage to residential properties and shops . Only one Fw 190 was lost over England . The most successful RAF fighters used to intercept these attacks were the Hawker Typhoon s and the Griffon - engine Spitfire Mk XIIs , which were both fast enough to catch the Fw 190 , especially at low altitudes . In April 1943 , the two " Jabo " units were amalgamated into " Schnellkampfgeschwader " 10 ( SKG 10 ) which switched to night operations over southern England , a role in which the Fw 190 proved unsuccessful , taking heavy casualties from the de Havilland Mosquito night fighters . On the night of 16 / 17 April , on this unit ' s first operation , four Fw 190s which were attempting to attack London , got lost over Kent . Three of them tried to land at RAF West Malling : " Yellow H " of 7 . / SKG 10 , flown by Feldwebel Otto Bechtold landed and was captured , his Fw 190 later being evaluated by the RAE at Farnborough ; another Fw 190 of 5 . / SKG 10 , flown by Leutnant Fritz Sezter landed several minutes later . When Setzer realised he had landed on an enemy airfield and attempted to take off , his aircraft was destroyed by an armoured car . Setzer surrendered to Wing Commander Peter Townsend . A third Fw 190 undershot the runway and was also destroyed , the pilot escaping with a concussion . The fourth Fw 190 crashed at Staplehurst , killing the pilot . Normandy to Salzburg . The Fw 190 also saw heavy action in the 1944 Normandy Campaign . German fighters flew 760 sorties on 6 June 1944 against an Allied total of 14 , 000 . By 10 June , the dearth of specialised ground attack aircraft forces meant the " Oberkommando der Luftwaffe " ( High Command of the Air Force ) ordered the Fw 190 " Gruppen " to install bomb racks for these types of operations . Just 24 hours later , the Fw 190 units were asked to revert to air superiority roles again . With conflicting orders and harried by Allied air forces , losses were heavy . In the space of three weeks , 200 Fw 190s and 100 pilots were lost to enemy action . Total losses by the end of June 1944 totalled 230 pilots killed and 88 wounded . Among the casualties was the 173 - victory Fw 190 ace Emil Lang . 551 German fighters were shot down , with another 65 destroyed on the ground . A further 290 were damaged . In return , German pilots claimed 526 Allied aircraft destroyed . The Fw 190 also formed , along with the Bf 109 , the core of the German fighter force that participated in Operation Bodenplatte . A total of 35 Fw 190 A - 8s , 27 A - 8 / R2s , 5 F - 8s and 50 D - 9s were destroyed or lost over Allied lines on 1 January 1945 . Over Germany . " Wilde Sau " . From mid - 1943 , Fw 190s were also used as night fighter s against the growing RAF Bomber Command offensive . In mid - 1943 , one of the earliest participants in the single - engine , ground controlled , night - fighting experiments was the " Nachtjagdkommando Fw 190 " ( Night Fighter Command Fw 190 ) , operated by IV . " Gruppe " ( 4 Group ) , " Jagdgeschwader 3 " , ( Fighter Wing 3 , or JG 3 ) . The main " Nachtgeschwader " ( Night Fighter Wings ) were keen to adopt a new fighter type as their twin - engine fighters were too slow for combat against increasing numbers of de Havilland Mosquito night fighters and bombers . Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 ( NJG 1 ) and NJG 3 kept a pair of Fw 190s on standby to supplement the Messerschmitt Bf 110 and Junkers Ju 88 . The considerable performance advantage of the Fw 190 over the other two types was more than offset by the difficulties of operating at night . Few , if any , aerial successes can be attributed to these operational tests . One of the first purpose built units to use Fw 190s in this role was " Stab / Versuchskommando Herrmann " , a unit specifically set up in April 1943 by Major Hajo Herrmann . Herrmann ' s unit used standard A - 4s and A - 5s borrowed from day fighter units to intercept bombers over or near the targeted city , using searchlights and other visual aids to help them find their quarry . The first use of " Window " by the RAF during the Battle of Hamburg in July 1943 , rendered the standard nightfighter " Himmelbett " procedures useless and brought urgency to the development of Herrmann ' s " Wilde Sau ( Wild Boar ) " technique , pending the development of new nightfighting strategies . Instead of restricting the Fw 190s to ground control interception protocols , the Fw 190s were given a free hand to over - fly bombed areas to see if they could locate bombers using the ground fires below . These tactics became an integral part of the nightfighter operations until May 1944 . St / V Herrmann was expanded to become " Jagdgeschwader 300 " ( JG 300 , or Fighter Wing 300 ) , " JG 301 " and " JG 302 " . All three units initially continued borrowing their aircraft from day fighter units . The day fighter units began to protest at the numbers of their aircraft which were being written off because of the hazards of night operations ; the numbers soared with the onset of winter , with pilots often being forced to bail - out through being unable to find an airfield at which to land safely . Crash landings were also frequent . Eventually all three " Wilde Sau " units received their own aircraft , which were often modified with exhaust dampers and blind - flying radio equipment . Another unit was " Nachtjagd Gruppe 10 " ( " N / JGr 10 " ) , which used Fw 190 A - 4 / R11s through to A - 8 / R11s ; Fw 190s modified to carry FuG ( " Funkgerät " ) 217 or FuG 218 radar mid - VHF band equipment . The " Sturmböcke " . The appearance of United States Army Air Forces heavy bombers caused a problem for the German fighter force . The B - 17 Flying Fortress in particular could absorb heavy punishment . The armament of the Bf 109 and then current Fw 190 were not adequate for bomber - destroyer operations , with the B - 17 ' s eventual deployment in the combat box formations providing their defensive armament with formidable massed firepower from as many as one hundred Browning AN / M2 12 . 7mm calibre machine guns or more between all the bombers in such a formation , from almost any conceivable direction . The Fw 190 , designed as a rugged interceptor capable of withstanding considerable combat damage and delivering a potent ' punch ' from its stable gun platform , was considered ideal for anti - bomber operations . Focke - Wulf redesigned parts of the wing structure to accommodate larger armament . The Fw 190A - 6 was the first sub - variant to undergo this change . Its standard armament was increased from four MG 151 / 20s to two of them with four more in two underwing cannon pods . The aircraft was designated A - 6 / R1 ( Rüstsatz ; or field conversion model ) . The first aircraft were delivered on 20 November 1943 . Brief trials saw the twin cannon replaced by the MK 108 cannon in the outer wing , which then became the A - 6 / R2 . The cannons were blowback - operated , had electric ignition , and were belt fed . The MK 108 was simple to make and its construction was economical ; the majority of its components consisted of just pressed sheet metal stampings . In the A - 6 / R4 , the GM - 1 ( nitrous oxide ) Boost was added for the BMW 801 engine to increase performance at high altitude . For protection , of armoured glass was added to the canopy . The A - 6 / R6 was fitted with twin heavy calibre " Werfer - Granate 21 " ( BR 21 ) unguided , air - to - air rockets , fired from single underwing tubular launchers ( one per wing panel ) . The increased modifications , in particular heavy firepower , made the Fw 190 a potent bomber - killer . The A - 7 evolved in November 1943 . Two synchronized 13mm MG 131 s replaced the twin cowl - mount synchronized 7 . 92 mm MG 17s . The A - 7 / R variants could carry two MK 108s as well as BR 21s . This increased its potency as a " Pulk - Zerstörer " ( Bomber Formation Destroyer ) . The A - 8 / R2 was the most numerous Sturmbock aircraft , some 900 were built by Fiesler at Kassel with MK 108s installed in their outer wing panel mounts . While formidable bomber - killers , the armour and heavy firepower meant the Fw 190 was now cumbersome . Vulnerable to Allied fighters , they had to be escorted by Bf 109s . Two of the former " Wilde Sau " single - engined night fighter wings were reconstituted for their use , such as " Jagdgeschwader 300 " ( JG 300 , or Fighter Wing 300 ) and " JG 301 " . These units consisted of Sturmböcke . However , " JG 3 " also had a special " gruppe " ( group ) of Sturmböcke . Willy Unger of 11 . ( " Sturm " ) / JG 3 ( 11 " Staffel " ( Squadron ) of " Sturmgruppe " ( Storm group ) JG 3 ) made the following comments : Richard Franz commented : The number of heavy bombers destroyed by the Fw 190 is impossible to estimate . However , below is a list of the top scoring " Sturmbock " pilots : Eastern Front . Against the Red Air Force German aces were able to shoot down large numbers of aircraft . Erich Rudorffer , a 222 victory ace , and Otto Kittel , a 267 victory ace , and Walter Nowotny , a 258 victory ace were the highest scoring Fw 190 aces in the " Luftwaffe " . Nowotny claimed most of his successes in the Fw 190 . Rudorffer destroyed 138 aircraft flying the Fw 190 ; 13 in 17 minutes on 11 October 1943 . Rudorffer scored 136 of his 222 victories in the Fw 190 , while Kittel scored all but 40 of his kills in the type . No more than a few hundred Fw 190s were ever in service on the Eastern Front at any one time . " Blau " to " Third Kharkov " . The first appearance of the Fw 190 on the Eastern Front occurred in September 1942 . During this time , the Battle of Stalingrad was taking place , which would eventually lead to the destruction of the German Sixth Army . The first German unit to receive the fighter in the east , was " Jagdgeschwader 53 " ( JG 53 ) . However , it ’ s I . gruppe was assigned to the north sector , and undertook operations against the Soviets during the Siege of Leningrad in order to allow the Fw 190 to acclimatise . The unit flew free fighter sweeps ( " Freie Jagd " ) . This lasted only days , and I . / JG 53 moved southward to Lake Ilmen to provide air cover for the vulnerable Demyansk pocket survivors . In October , 1942 the unit moved south again , this time the Rzhev - Vyazma salient . It was at this location the Fw 190 started to make an impact . On 10 December the first loss was taken ; " Hauptmann " ( Captain ) Horst Riemann , was killed in action . Others were also shot down owing to AAA fire whilst escorting German bomber and transport aircraft dropping in supplies . Pilots that had not ‘ shone ’ while flying the Bf 109 now increased their scores with the Fw 190 . Günther Schack would score a large percentage of his 174 victories on the Fw 190 ; including 88 Ilyushin Il - 2 " Stormoviks " . Josef Jennewein scored 86 victories . His tally increased markedly only after he converted on to the Fw 190 . In December 1942 , " Jagdgeschwader 54 " ( JG 54 ) also began converting on to the Fw 190 . I . / JG 54 would produce the fourth and fifth highest scoring aces of the war . Otto Kittel had scored just 39 victories since the start of " Operation Barbarossa " , in June 1941 . The other , was Walter Nowotny . Although he had claimed more than 50 kills on the Bf 109 , his success in the Fw 190 would see his score rise to 258 . Kittel would also go on to achieve 267 victories , all but 39 in the Fw 190 . The Fw 190 would also prove to be a more reliable aircraft , in some respects , to the Bf 109 . It handled well on the ground , its wide undercarriage made it more suited to primitive conditions on the Eastern Front . It could also sustain heavier damage than the Bf 109 and survive owing to its radial engines . On one mission in mid - 1943 , a Fw 190 returned to base with two cylinder heads shot off . During the first phase of the Fw 190s service on the Eastern Front , it served with two other " Geschwader " ( Wings ) . " Jagdgeschwader 26 ' s " I " gruppe " was deployed briefly to the front , and " Jagdgeschwader 5 " ( JG 5 ) served in northern Norway with the Fw 190 . The Third Battle of Kharkov prevented a collapse of the Germans ' southern front . The fighting left a salient in the fron line near Orel - Belgorod - Kursk . " Citadel " to the Dnieper . The " Oberkommando der Wehrmacht " ( OKW or German High Command ) chose to eliminate the bulge . " Unternehmen Zitadelle " ( Operation Citadel ) , planned for the summer , 1943 , would be the Fw 190s first major battle in number . By June 1943 the Fw 190 was to reach peak strength . II . / JG 54 , the main operator , operated 196 fighters before " Zitadelle " . However , some of this total included Bf 109s still on strength . I . / 54 , I . , III . , and IV . / " Jagdgeschwader 51 " ( JG 51 ) mustered 186 Fw 190s ( most of the fighter force in this region operated the Fw 190 ) , 88 of them serviceable . The Fw 190 force was assigned to the northern sector near Orel , supporting the German Ninth Army . In the early morning of 5 July 1943 , the opening day of the offensive , the Fw 190s won air superiority over the northern sector . Soviet aviation was held in reserve and its units fed in piecemeal , whereas " 1 Fliegerdivision " had made an all out effort . The Soviet " 16th Air Army " ( 16VA ) was permitted to engage only one - third of its fighter force . The German numerical superiority managed to deliver a severe defeat on Soviet aviation on this date . The Fw 190s had the upper hand and shot down scores of Soviet fighter aircraft allowing the German strike aircraft to attack Red Army positions at will . Within a space of a few hours , 50 Soviet aircraft had been shot down . For just 29 casualties , 18 of them destroyed and seven Fw 190s shot down in combat , " 1st Fliegerdivision " filed claims for 165 victories . The division had over claimed , but Soviet losses were around 100 . The Fw 190s performance as a low level air superiority was evident and it reflected the German superiority in the air on that date . On 6 July the Fw 190 again proved its worth at low altitude . Soviet fighters providing close escort for slow bombers enabled the Fw 190s of JG 51 and JG 54 to attack Soviet formations at will . Fw 190s claimed a ratio in favour of 60 : 1 on this date ; losing two fighters shot down and two damaged while claiming 121 enemy aircraft destroyed . The situation called for a change in Soviet air tactics . Soviet fighters on airfields were placed on alert should larger German formations appear and fighters were now permitted to conduct fighter sweeps in small formations of four to six aircraft . These changes had limited influence of the air battle and not the significant results claimed by Soviet histories . Soviet aviation would still sustain heavy losses . JG 51 and 54 had inflicted heavy damage , the three regiments of 1 DIAD ( 1st Guards Fighter Division ) could field only 26 fighters between them . The 6th IAK ( Air Corps ) could muster just 48 fighters . . Two main reasons resulted in these loss rates ; Soviet pilots were still limited to close escort duty and were not allowed to pursue aircraft into airspace guarded by other Soviet units which restricted their freedom , and when the experience of the German pilots is added , the result was damaging . On 7 July the 16th Air Army lost 30 aircraft for three Fw 190s destroyed and three crash - landed in German - held territory . On 8 July , the Fw 190 units claimed 74 of the 81 Soviet aircraft claimed destroyed on that date . Actual Soviet losses were 43 . With the German armies now exhausted , the Fw 190 units were asked to perform " Jabo " , or fighter - bomber missions . JG 54 flew missions in this capacity . Now performing dual purposes , the Fw 190 achieved significant recognition as a rugged aircraft . On 12 July 1943 , the 16VA was almost driven from the skies by Fw 190 " Geschwader " . The air battle had been decisively won by the " 1st Fliegerdivision " , thanks largely to the Fw 190 . However , the ground battle was lost . On 13 July the Soviets launched Operation Kutuzov . The offensive threatened to cut off the entire German Ninth and Second Panzer Army . Luftwaffe resistance was vital to slowing down Soviet advances . On several days , the Luftwaffe achieved numerical superiority ( Soviet aviation was concentrated in the south ) . The " 15th Air Army " could not prevent the Fw 190 units gaining air superiority which allowed Ju 87 units to help the " Army " to restrict the Red Army ' s break through to the first German defence line on the first day . But the overall situation could not be sustained , as the Soviet ground forces had made several advances further north . Between 1 and 31 July 1943 JG 51 claimed 800 victories against 77 Fw 190s ( 50 destroyed ) . JG 54 claimed 450 for the same period for 34 Fw 190s ( 24 destroyed ) . Even though it is probable that between 25 to 33 percent of these claims were exaggerations , the static ’ s confirm the qualitative superiority of tactical air units in combat . More accurate data suggests JG 51s losses were 55 Fw 190s destroyed and 31 damaged . The introduction of the Fw 190 to the front had proven wise . The armament of the Fw 190 was something that was needed by German fighter units . The IL - 2 " Shturmoviks " were becoming available in increasing numbers , and the Fw 190 was an ideal counter to the Soviet aircraft . The increasing numbers of Soviet armour led to a rethink in how to combat the threat . In the summer , 1943 , Ju 87s crews had suffered heavy losses . The Henschel Hs 129 had suffered 495 losses from a total production of 664 . It was decided to replace them with the Fw 190 . On 18 October , " Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 " , " Sturzkampfgeschwader 3 " and " Sturzkampfgeschwader 5 " were renamed " Schlachtgeschwader " 1 , 3 and 5 . " Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 " and " Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 " were reformed as mixed fighter and dive bomber units . Two " Geschwader " , " Schlachtgeschwader 9 " and " Schlachtgeschwader 10 " were formed to deal with the threat . It was not until March 1944 that the " Geschwader ' s " were able to exchange their Ju 87s for the Fw 190 . Some units , such as Hans - Ulrich Rudel , continued to fly the Ju 87 ( and Fw 190 ) until the end of the war . In the meant time , the Fw 190 units fought an increasing number of defensive battles . The Lower Dnieper Offensive and Second Battle of Kiev witnessed large scale air battles . During these actions , Walter Nowotny claimed his 256th and final victory on the front , and was nearly shot down himself on 11 November 1943 . JG 54 , operating the Focke - Wulf , claimed 71 victories in December 1943 , for the loss of 14 Fw 190s . This represented a decreasing victory - to - loss ratio . However , the Soviets were gaining in number and quality . The Red Army was pushing back both Army Group South , and soon Army Group North . Only Army Group Centre remained in strong defensive positions . By the spring , 1944 , the German fighter units victory to loss ratio had shrunk from 4 : 1 at the Battle of Kursk to 1 . 5 : 1 . Soviet fighter aircraft were now equal to the " Luftwaffe ' s " best . " Schlachtgeschwader " losses amounted to 175 , which included a number of Fw 190s . " Bagration " to Budapest . By the summer , 1944 the Germans had lost the Crimean campaign and the Soviets were able to pursue operations that would break into Eastern Europe . German fighter units continued to take a heavy toll of Soviet aviation . However , the entry of types , such as Lavochkin La - 7 and Yak - 3 , presented a problem for German fighters . With wings only 9 . 8 metres long , it was one of the lightest and smallest fighters of the war . The Yak - 3 was faster and more manoeuvrable than the Bf 109 and the Fw 190 . According to Soviet tests with captured German fighters , the Yak - 9 U also out performed the Fw 190 . Further , the liberation of the Donbass region improved metal supplies . The IL - 2 ’ s weakness was its wing and tail structure , which was now made from metals . This contributed to a reduction in losses . The Luftwaffe had a small number of Fw 190s on the Eastern Front by this time . SG 3 and SG 5 was equipped with Fw 190s in June 1944 . II . / SG 2 was fully equipped with Fw 190s , while III . / SG 2 was a mixed unit of Ju 87s and Fw 190s . By June 1944 , the German fighter order of battle contained mostly the Bf 109 . " 1 . Fliegerdivision " , " Luftflotte 6 " , contained SG 1 and 10 totalling 76 Fw 190s . JG 54 , attached to " Jagdabschnittfuhrer Ostland " ( Fighter Area East ) of " Luftflotte 1 " had on strength 32 Fw 190s . " 3 Fliegerdivision " contained mixed units , including the Fw 190 , which were 64 aircraft strong , although the number of Fw 190s is unknown . " Luftflotte 4 " , " I . Fliegerkorps " contained units from SG 2 , 10 and 77 numbering 27 , 29 and 33 respectively . On 22 June 1944 , the Red Army launched Operation Bagration . The " Schlachtgeschwader " were a vital part of German defences . The fluid situation on the ground meant units retreated rapidly westward . Fw 190 units that employed the aircraft as " jabo " , became the first line of defence as German ground defences broke down . The Fw 190 " Gruppen " sent a few aircraft out over pre - assigned areas each morning . They were able to identify any movements made by the enemy . The Fw 190s were sent out after enemy armour spearheads that were roaming in the German rear . Usually 250 or 500 kg ( 550 and 1 , 100 lb ) bombs were used along with SD - 2 , 4 and 10 bombs and 13 and 20 mm armaments for soft targets . If the Soviet tanks were operating without resistance , then the targets were the soft skin supporting vehicles . Eliminating them would deny fuel and ammunition to the armour , cutting short the Soviets ' advance . If the tanks were engaged with German armour , the tanks themselves would be the target to support the defence . The usual approach was made at 1 , 600 m ( 6 , 000 ft ) , above the reach of light enemy AAA fire . The Fw 190s would then drop to 4 to 10 m , dropping their loads just as the target disappeared under the nose of the fighter . The delay charge gave the German pilots about one second to get clear . At 485 k / ph ( 300 mph ) this was usually enough . In the battles that followed , it was not uncommon for German " Schlachtgeschwader " pilots to fly seven or eight sorties a day . Towards the end of August fuel shortages kept the German fighters units on the ground . To save fuel , animals , such as oxen were used to carry fighters from dispersal to the take off point . Pilots were ordered to shut down the engine immediately on landing . The " Oberkommando der Luftwaffe " ( OKL – German Air Force High Command ) managed to scrape fuel together while the battles lasted , allowing some units to fly five sorties per day . The " Schlacht " Fw 190s were hard hit . Among those operating the Fw 190 were SG 10 , which lost 59 Fw 190s in July 1944 . The fighter units fared better . IV . / JG 54 claimed 80 aerial kills for 31 losses , 21 to enemy action . However , it seems from loss records that even experience German units had lost more aircraft than they actually shot down in this period . The " jabos " maintained intense activity and succeeded in inflicting heavy damage to Soviet forces . On 11 July 1944 200 Soviet vehicles were claimed by Fw 190 units . In Estonia , SG 3 and 4 claimed 400 Soviet vehicles destroyed on 28 July . The German air units helped slow down the advance into the Baltic states . In Poland the Lvov – Sandomierz Offensive had captured bridgeheads over the Vistula river . The German air units tried to eliminate the foothold . On 28 August the Fw 190s of the " Schlachtgeschwader " along with Ju 87s claimed to have sunk 28 bridging ferries . The assaults failed to prevent the Soviets from continuing westward . Still , the Fw 190s SG 2 and 77 took advantage of brief moments of air superiority to inflict heavy losses of Soviet infantry , as at times the Red Army ' s advance was so fast that they outran their air support , allowing the Germans a free hand . In East Prussia the " Luftwaffe " sent an 800 - strong force under " 4 . Fliegerdivision " . JG 54 , operating the Fw 190 fighter versions along with SG 4 supported the German Fourth Army and enabled them to halt the Soviet attempt to crush the Courland pocket . On one day , 27 October , the Fw 190 fighter unit JG 54 claimed 57 aircraft shot down . SG 4 lost 17 Fw 190F ground attack machines . On 28 October , Erich Rudorffer claimed 11 to reach 209 victories . Fw 190s of JG 54 claimed 600 victories between 14 September and 24 November . Soviet units reported a total loss of 779 aircraft . The crisis on the Eastern Front now required all available units to return to the theatre . The Battle of the Bulge in the Western theatre was still ongoing , but with the Siege of Budapest and the Soviet winter offensive about to strike across the Polish plain , " Luftflotte 6 " was rushed from the Ardennes sector to Poland to meet the Soviet threat . It brought with it some 100 Fw 190s . Hungary Fw 190 operations ( November 1944 – 1945 ) . On 8 November 1944 , Germany delivered sixteen Fw 190 F - 8 fighters ( " G5 + 01 " and " G5 + 02 " ) to the Hungarian Royal Air Force for training . They were initially based in Börgönd , near Lake Balaton , under the command of " Lfl . Kdo 4 , Fliegerführer 102 Hungarn " / " VIII Fliegerkorps " ( HQ in Debrecen ) . A number of recruits from the " Önálló Zuhanóbombazó Osztály " ( independent dive bomber wing ) based at same airfield were sent to Flugzeugführerschule B2 in Neuruppin for ground attack and air combat training in the Fw 190 . At the same time , Hungary established the " 101 . Csatarepülő Osztály " as a specialized Fw 190 operational training unit . The Hungarian 190s were originally intended for use on the Eastern front in offensive actions against Soviet armored units along with other Hungarian dive bomber and anti - tank units . In the end , they were used only over Hungarian soil in defensive operations against USAAF and Soviet Air force units . In addition , a small numbers of Fw 190G fighter - bombers were used in air - to - ground operations . Originally , these aircraft served with the " 102 . Vadászbombázó . " This unit entered combat on 16 November 1944 under the command of Captain Lévay Győző . It would successfully operate Fw 190s until the final days of the war . The fighters were also intended to collaborate with " Luftflotte 4 " under the designation " Ung . JSt . 102 / 1 " and " / 2 " along with Hungarian Me 210Cas and Fw 190Gs operating from airfields in Poland during June 1944 , but the course of operations changed the plans to defensive actions . Fw 190s were flown by Section Leader Horváth Sándor ( aircraft ID " W - 521 " ) and Sergeant F . Timler , ( aircraft IDs " W - 510 " and " W - 520 " ) , who were awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class with Oak Leaves for downing an A - 20 Boston over the Esztergom on 26 January 1945 . Another Fw 190 , " W - 524 , " was based in Siedmiogrod , during the winter of 1944 . On 7 March 1945 , an order from " Fliegerkorps IV " directed that Hungarian aircraft be painted with a 50 cm wide yellow band on the nose and fuselage and a yellow rudder to aid in identification by other Axis units . In 1945 , during the final months of the war , Fw 190s of the " 102 . Csatarepülő Osztály " together with the " 102 / 1 . Zuhanóbombázó század , " " 102 / 2 Zuhanóbombázó Osztály " Coconut " " ( dive - bomber units equipped with Junkers Ju - 87Ds ) , " 102 . Gyorsbombázó , 102 / 2 . Szazad " Tigris " " ( a dive bomber and anti tank unit operating Messerschmitt Me 210Ca - 1s and Henschel Hs 129Bs ) , and " 101 / 1 század " Puma " " ( fighter squadron flying Bf 109Ds ) defended Hungary against fleets of Soviet and American heavy bombers and fighters . Hungarian Royal Air Force equipped with the Fw 190F / G : Silesia to Berlin . In January 1945 the Soviets began a series of offensives in its drive to Berlin . The Lower Silesian Offensive and Upper Silesian Offensive s and the vital Vistula - Oder Offensive was designed to bring the Red Army to the eastern border of Germany . The Soviets began their offensive early , to take the pressure off the Western Allies in the Ardennes . For the Fw 190s units , the initial stages were to prove tactically successful . The Soviets were forced to start offensive action under severe weather conditions . Airfields were reduced to mud - baths owing to heavy rains , and open country became impassable owing after use by large numbers of vehicles . The Red Air Force suffered more losses to accidents than combat . The Soviet armour was forced to use the few hard - surface roads to continue their advance . These routes were easily detected by German " Schlachtgeschwader " . The Germans , by contrast , had hard surface runways in German territory and large hangars for aircraft . On 26 January 800 vehicles , 14 tanks and 40 artillery pieces were claimed among the crammed highways . After two weeks , the offensive slowed . Fw 190 units in particular exacted a heavy toll of Soviet infantry ; attacking in waves of seven to nine , unchallenged . Overall , the Germans claimed 2 , 000 vehicles and 51 tanks in the first three days of February . However , this came at a cost of 107 aircraft in nearly 3 , 000 attacks . The largest concentration of German air forces since 1940 was amassed against the Soviets , which saw the Germans gain air supremacy briefly , contributing to saving Berlin from capture sooner . The rapid construction of concrete runways allowed the Soviets to win back " aerial superiority " . On 14 or 16 February 1945 Otto Kittel became the most successful Luftwaffe ace to be killed in action ; Kittel had achieved 267 victories on the Eastern Front , all but 39 in the Fw 190 . By March and April the situation was serious for German forces . The Soviets had reached the Oder and were encroaching upon Berlin . Fw 190s were now used in unusual ways to destroy the Soviet bridgeheads across the Oder . Focke - Wulfs were attached the upper fuselage of a Junkers Ju 88 " host " by struts which also contained control cables to allow the Fw 190 pilot to fly the combination using his flight controls . The operational versions of the Mistel replaced the cockpit section of the Ju 88 with a shaped , hollow charge warhead weighing , in total , 7 , 700 pounds – the weight of the explosives was 3 , 800 lbs . The Fw 190 pilot would approach to within a few miles of the target , aim the Ju 88 at the bridges , then release his Fw 190 and escape while the Ju 88 flew into the target . These weapons , which , in some versions , used a Bf 109F - 4 instead of an Fw 190 , were used against the vital Küstrin bridgeheads . Küstrin was due east of Berlin , and if it could be held , a Soviet advance on Berlin could be prevented . Several Fw 190 strike units from " Kampfgeschwader 200 " struck at the bridges throughout April ; the maximum effort on 16 April succeeded in inflicting damage to the captured bridges , but none were destroyed . One Mistel was shot down by a patrol of Supermarine Spitfire s of the Canadian 411 ( RCAF ) Squadron . One Mistel did force a partial collapse of the Steinau railway bridge earlier , on 31 March 1945 . On 26 April 1945 , one last Mistel attack was carried out ; of the seven sent to hit the Oder bridges , just two Fw 190s returned . On 1 May 1945 , IV . " Jagdgeschwader 3 " flew its last combat , losing three out of four Fw 190s over Berlin . On this date the Soviet 16th Air Army claimed seven Fw 190s , its last victories of the war . North Africa and the Mediterranean . The Fw 190 was also deployed to North Africa in the period from November 1942 to May 1943 . After the end of the North African campaign , it continued to see action from bases in Sicily . The fighter was a late arrival in North Africa , making its combat debut on 16 November 1942 with Fw A - 4 / Trop . and A - 5 / Trop of EprobungsKomando 19 ( EKdo 19 ) departed from Benghazi , Libya at the time of the El Alamein campaign . Over the next six months , the FW 190 was flown by the units III . Gruppe / Zerstörergeschwader 2 ( III . / ZG 2 ) , later changed to III . Gruppe / Schnellkampfgeschwader 10 ( III . / SKG 10 ) ( 9 . / SKG 10 / SKG 10 and 11 / SKG 10 units based in la Fauconnerie and Sidi Ahmed , Tunisia ) and , II . Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 2 ( II . / JG 2 ) ( 6 . / JG 2 and 4 . / JG 2 units detached in Kairouan , Tunisia ) among the Stab and II . Gruppe / Schlacht Geschwader 2 ( II . / Sch . G 2 unit from Protville and El Aounia , Tunisia ) from Nov 1942 – May 1943 . These units were equipped with Fw 190 A / Trop standard fighters and A ' s provided with Us / Rs modifications , but also received some examples of Fw 190s of F / Trop . among the introduction of G / Trop . models also used in assorted types of roles in that stage of the war . In particular , joining with III / SKG 10 and II / Sch . G 2 ' s Fw 190s operated examples of Messerschmitt Me 210A / C and Me 410A " Hornisse " heavy fighters , among examples of the dedicated Henschel Hs 129B ground attack aircraft respectively during that period . Many aerial victories were achieved and the Fw 190 fighter - bomber pilots demonstrated how effective the Fw 190 could be against ground targets , and III . " Gruppe " / ZG 2 ( renamed III . / SKG 10 in December 1942 ) , was particularly successful . This unit operated throughout the Tunisian campaign , and attacked a variety of Allied targets including airfields , harbours , tanks , vehicles , troop concentrations , anti - aircraft positions , and on one occasion , a British submarine . The fighter pilots of II . / JG 2 downed scores of British , American and French aircraft , especially during the first three months of 1943 , and Kurt Bühligen and Erich Rudorffer became two of the top scorers in the Tunisian campaign . A list of II . / JG 2 aerial victories in African campaign : Evaluation . German view . Many pilots flew both the Focke - Wulf Fw 190 and Messerschmitt Bf 109 . " Leutnant " Fritz Seyffardt , a 30 victory ace , flew both fighters . Later , he flew in " Schlachtgeschwader 2 " ( Destroyer Wing 2 ) and commented : " Hauptmann " Heinz Lange , an ace with 70 victories said : Lange continued : General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland offered another balanced evaluation : The pilots liked the Fw 190 very much as far as handling , performance and armament was concerned . Compared with the Bf 109 series of the time , the Fw 190 was superior , but this did not hold true at altitudes above 8 , 000 metres ( 25 , 000 feet ) . Especially against bombers the Fw 190 was by far superior because of its heavy armament , its lower vulnerability , and its better protection for the pilot . All these features were favourable for bomber and schlachtflieger operations . The evaluation was that the Bf 109 was superior in all around performance " at altitude " [ 20 , 000 ft ] . The drop in performance was a problem on the Western front during the " Defense of the Reich " campaign , as most of the fighting took place above 20 , 000 feet . On the Eastern Front this was not a problem , as the Soviets , like the Germans , undertook combat at low altitude . In a climbing / diving dogfight ( below 6 , 000 m with the Fw 190 A , at all altitudes with the Fw 190 D ) , the Fw 190 could easily out perform the Bf 109 . There were some problems . If the air speed fell below the Fw 190 would stall , drop its port wing , and suddenly flip onto its back . Pilots converting onto the Fw 190 were warned of these advantages and limitations . Western Allied view . Eric " Winkle " Brown . Famous British test pilot Eric " Winkle " Brown flew Fw 190A - 4 / U8 " jabo " version . Brown commented the view from the cockpit was better than in the Spitfire , P - 51 Mustang and the Bf 109 owing to the nose down position of the aircraft in flight . The sloping frontal windscreen provided 50 mm of protection . A further 8 mm armoured seat and 13 mm head and shoulder armour afforded the Fw 190 pilot great protection . Take off was easy ; 10° of flap and power to 2 , 700 rpm and 23 . 5 lb in . boost made the run very similar to the Spitfire IX . Un - stick was found to be 112 mph and the fighter had a habit of swinging to port . Speed in the climb was set at 161 mph , a rate of 3 , 000 feet per minute . Brown praised the lack of trimming requirements in flight . However , Brown criticised the lack of trim controls . If a member of the ground crew had moved the tab , or it had been adjusted from another source , it could result in an out - of - trim flight performance at high speeds . Brown praised the high rate of roll . Aileron response was excellent from stall up until 400 mph ( 644 km / h ) , when they became heavy . The elevators were heavy at all speeds , particularly above 350 mph ( 563 km / h ) when they became heavy enough to impose tactical restrictions on the fighter as regards to pullout from low - level dives . The heaviness was accentuated because of nose down pitch which occurred at high speeds when trimmed for low - speeds . Brown praised the fighter overall ; its control harmony [ control surfaces working at once ] was superb . The solid gun platform also made it a potent dogfighter . Brown listed some limitations ; it was difficult to read and fly on instruments ( why is not explained ) and it had harsh stall characteristics . Stall speed was a high 127 mph ( 204 km / h ) . Stall came without warning . The port wing drops violently that the 190 almost inverts itself . If it was pulled into a G - turn it would spin into the opposite banking turn and an incipient spin was the result , an advantage certain P - 47 Thunderbolt pilots could take advantage of by barrel - rolling around the 190 ' s flight path to evade a pursuing one . Landing stall was much more easily dealt with ; the intense buffeting resulted in the wing dropping to starboard gently , at roughly 102 mph ( 164 km / h ) . Comparison : Fw 190A and Spitfire V . The British were keen to test captured Fw 190As during the war . The performance of the German fighter series had caused concern to RAF Fighter Command . Against the Spitfire V , the Fw 190 was found to be better in all respects with the exception of turning radius . At 2 , 000 ft , the Fw 190 was 25 to 30 mph faster ; at 3 , 000 ft it was 30 to 35 mph faster . Its lowest speed advantage was 20 mph faster at 15 , 000 ft . At all altitudes it remained the faster fighter . The Fw 190 was also faster in the climb . If a Fw 190 was engaged by a Spitfire V , it could use its superior roll rate to enter a dive in the opposite direction . Its dive speed would enable it to clear the Spitfire . In defensive mode , the Spitfire could only evade an attack if caught at low speed by using its advantage in turning circles . If travelling at maximum speed when engaged , the Sptifire could gain speed in the dive , forcing a longer chase , and the Fw 190 further away from its landing ground . Air Marshal Sholto Douglas expressed concerns that the Merlin - engine Spitfires were coming to the end of their developmental life , whereas the Fw 190 was only just beginning its career . At the time , he feared the enemy held the technological edge . Douglas determined that the Fw 190 was superior to the Spitfire V and also concluded that the Spitfire IX was also inferior in the climb and acceleration owing to negative G carburation . Douglas ' fears would prove overly - pessimistic . The Spitfire IX would prove a clear match for the Fw 190A and the Griffon - engined Spitfire XIV would hold the edge on the type . In 1942 several tests were conducted by RAF pilots at the Royal Aircraft Establishment . Comparison : Fw 190A and Spitfire IX . The Spitfire IX restored parity in speed ; the Spitfire had a 8 mph advantage at 8 , 000 ft ; 5 mph faster at 15 , 000 ft ; and a 5 to 7 mph advantage at 25 , 000 ft . The Fw 190 retained speed advantages at 2 , 000 ft and 18 , 000 ft where it held a lead of 7 to 8 and 3 mph respectively . In the climb , they were equal , the Spitfire being slightly faster . However , once the 22 , 000 ft mark was reached , the Spitfire climbing rate increased , while the Fw 190s rapidly fell away . The Fw 190 was faster in the dive , particularly in the initial stages . The Spitfire had difficulty in following in the dive owing to the lack of negative G carburettor . The Fw 190 was more manoeuvrable , with the exception of turning circle . The conclusion was the Spitfire IX compared favourably with the Fw 190 provided the Spitfire had the initiative , it had " undoubtedly a good chance of shooting the Fw 190 down " . Comparison : Fw 190A and Spitfire XII . A test carried out with the Fw 190A and Spitfire XII , with the Griffon engine , suggested the Spitfire had the " superior " acceleration and its speed was " appreciably " faster after brief flights at 1 , 000 and 2 , 000 feet . The other speed altitude tests were not carried through owing to weather conditions . Maneuverability was difficult to discern . The Spitfire could easily outturn the Fw 190 , but the pilot of the German fighter was reluctant to stall the aircraft at low altitude . It is possible that the difference could have been less marked had the pilot made the effort to make a tighter turn . The cockpit was judged to be well laid out ; controls were well harmonised and light ; flying characteristics were rated as excellent and no trimming was required ; initial acceleration was good in dive and climbs ; and the aileron control enabled a rapid roll from one direction to the other . Limitations were ; the rough running of the aircraft is disliked and can cause a lack of confidence in the engine . This is unpleasant when flying over water or hostile areas . The engine required long warmups to allow the oil temperature to reach safe levels . The view from the cockpit made taxiing difficult . It was judged that the aircraft was not suitable for quick takeoffs . Comparison : Fw 190A and Spitfire XIV . A short report indicated the Spitfire was only 20 mph ( 32 km / h ) faster from 0 to 5 , 000 ft ( 0 to 1 , 525 m ) and 15 , 000 ft to 20 , 000 ft ( 4 , 573 to 6 , 100 m ) . At all other heights , the Spitfire had a 60 mph ( 97 km / h ) speed advantage over the Fw 190A . The Spitfire had a considerably faster rate of climb at all altitudes . In the dive the Fw 190A gains slightly in the initial stages . The Spitfire could outturn the Fw 190 , though in a right - hand turn this was less pronounced . The Fw 190 was far faster in the roll . It was suggested that if a Spitfire XIV was in the defensive , it should use its fast maximum climb and turning circle to escape . In the offensive the Spitfire could " mix it " , but should be aware of the Fw 190As fast roll rate and dive . If the Fw 190 was allowed to do this , the Spitfire probably would not close the range until the Fw 190 pilot has to pull out of the dive . Comparison : Fw 190D and Hawker Tempest . Shortly after the war the British became interested in the performance and evaluation of the advanced German Fw 190 D - 13 . While at Flensburg the British Disarmament Wing wanted to see how this fighter would perform against one of their best , a Hawker Tempest . Squadron Leader Evans approached Major Heinz Lange and asked him to fly a mock combat against one of their pilots . Lange accepted , even though he had only 10 flights in a D - 9 . The mock dogfight was conducted at an altitude of , with only enough fuel for the flight and no ammunition . In the end the machines were evenly matched . Major Lange assessed that the outcome of such a contest greatly depended on the skills of the individual pilot . At the time Lange was not aware that he was not flying a D - 13 but rather a D - 9 . The same " Yellow 10 " ( Wk . Nr . 836017 ) that was previously assigned to " Geschwaderkommodore " Franz Götz was used in this evaluation . " Yellow 10 " was further subjected to mock combat when on 25 June 1945 " Oberleutnant " Günther Josten was asked to fly a comparison flight against another Tempest . Soviet view . The Bf 109 , called " the lean " ( the Soviet nickname for the series ) was widely considered by Soviet airmen as a more agile and potent adversary than the Fw 190 , which was viewed as " heavy and slow . . . " especially when climbing . Soviet pilot Nikolai G . Golodnikov claimed the Fw 190 to be inferior to the Bf 109 ; " It did not accelerate as quickly and in this aspect was inferior to most of our aircraft , except for the P - 40 , perhaps . " Goldonikov noted that Germans pilots appreciated the Fw 190 radial engine as a shield , and frequently made head - on attacks in air - to - air combat . " The plane " , noted Golodnikov , " had extremely powerful weapons : four 20 mm guns and two machine guns . Soon , however , the Germans started evading frontal attack against our " Cobras " . We had a 37 mm gun , so no engine would save you , and one hit was enough to kill you . " The general rule for Soviet airmen in the latter war years was to take advantage of their turning ability , acceleration , and rate of climb to force the adversary into entering a horizontal or vertical manoeuvre . Likewise , La - 5FNs freely took up the challenge as an " energy or angles " fighter against all Fw 190As , and as " angles " fighters against the Fw 190D , which was considered by the Soviet pilots as a fighter that " burned as well as other aircraft , and was easier to hit . "