Fw 190 Sturmböcke vs B-17 Flying Fortress: Europe 1944-45

Osprey Duel #24

by Robert Forsyth, Jim Laurier (Illustrator), Gareth Hector (Illustrator)

For the first time in the best-selling Duel series, Osprey Publishing presents the horrifying aerial clash between a fighter and a bomber. The Fw 190 was one of the best air superiority aircraft of World War II. When it first appeared over the Channel in 1941 it sent shockwaves through the Allied air commands. By 1944, these fighters had been up-gunned to serve as the front line of defence against the Allied bombing campaign. Although the Fw 190s were responsible for shooting down hundreds of Allied bombers, they met their match against the United States Air-Force B-17 'Flying Fortress.' Capable of carry 4,000 lbs of bombs and bristling with .50-cal machine guns, the B-17 could sow death in every direction. Using brand-new artwork and first-hand accounts, this book recreates the deadly drama in the skies above Germany in 1944.

80 pages, Paperback

First published November 17, 2009

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Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book that delivers something a little different from what it promises. What is advertised on the cover is an examination of the match-up between the B-17 Flying Fortresses of the United States Army Air Forces and the Fw 190 fighters sent up by the Luftwaffe to oppose them. What Robert Forsyth provides instead is a broader examination of the use of B-17s to bomb the Third Reich and the fighter tactics developed to shoot them down. While the Fw 190s were part of this response, they were only one part, and Forsyth’s text reflects this broader approach.

While this makes the book a useful introduction to the planes and the air battles over northwestern and central Europe from 1943 until 1945, it feel as though this was more out of necessity than intent. The relatively large number of pages Forsyth spends describing the training of the crews and the larger strategic situation provide less insight into the battles than a more thorough recounting of the engagements and an analysis based on those results could. The number of sources on which Forsyth relies is surprisingly limited, omitting most notably the relevant volume in Wesley Frank Craven and James Lea Cate’s official history of the USAAF, The USAAF in World War II Vol III: Europe: ARGUMENT to VE Day. All of this results in a book that is something of a disappointment when compared to some of the better volumes of Osprey’s “Duel” series, and one that will leave all but the novice to the subject unsatisfied.

[Steven Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another work in the Duel series, published by Osprey. It seems to me to be fairly representative of other entries in the series. There are a series of photos that contribute to a sense of the contending planes, in the duel between American bombers (the B-17) and German interceptors (FW 190). There are also maps that provide context on the geographic scope of the duel.

The book begins with a bit of history, the recognition by some that bombers could be important weapons in warfare. Americans began to test several possible models. One of these became the B-17 "Flying Fortress." The discussion is not lengthy, but it does give background. Following are sections on the "design and development" of the planes and the technical specifications.

Then, the actual battle situation. As with others in this series, treatments tend to be brief (that is, after all, one hallmark of this series). The combatants are discussed, including their training. We learn of the exploits of some of the German pilots) some of the numbers of planes shot down appear incredible). Combat tactics are discussed, as well as the evolution of those tactics, as both sides tried to figure out how to perform better.

The fate of the German air force is well told, as pilots received less and less training and experienced pilots were killed off by attrition.

Another nice entry in the Duel series. . . .