Fw 190 Sturmjäger: Defence of the Reich 1943–45

Osprey Dogfight #11

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

An illustrated account of how the USAAF's might was challenged by the Jagdflieger and their heavily armed, and armoured, Fw 190A-8 Sturmjäger.

Developed from one of the finest fighters of World War II, the radial-engined Fw 190A-8 was conceived as a heavy assault aircraft and armed accordingly. Its mission was to provide a response to the increasing numbers of USAAF B-17 and B-24 bombers operating against targets in the western and central Reich.

This book explores the fascinating feats of the men flying the Fw 190A-8 and its subvariants. These pilots were given exceptional training and many were volunteers, some of whom were willing to sign oaths that they would bring down a bomber at all costs – even if it meant ramming the enemy aircraft.

Using first-hand accounts, archival photos, full-colour illustrations, maps and tactical diagrams, acclaimed Luftwaffe expert Robert Forsyth puts readers in the cockpit of a Sturmjäger defending the Fatherland from USAAF bombers protected by powerful Allied escort fighters.

79 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2024

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Reviews

[KOMET · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fw 190 Sturmjäger: Defence of the Reich 1943–45 provides the reader with a concise, comprehensive history of the development and deployment of the Fw 190 Sturmjäger "bomber killer", which was a heavily armored version of the redoubtable Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter, whose role was to tackle the growing formations of USAAF heavy bombers over Germany.

The book goes into some detail in describing the tactics used by the units flying the Fw 190 Sturmjäger and has 3d illustrations depicting some of the combat operations undertaken by these units. (There are also plenty of photos.)

Tackling a heavy bomber was a highly dangerous undertaking, given how heavily armed each USAAF bomber was, along with the collective firepower a bomber formation could hurl against attacking Luftwaffe fighters. Plus, there was also the growing threat, from 1943 onwards, posed by Allied escort fighters, which could blunt any Sturmjäger attacks on the bombers. Flying skill, marksmanship, and sheer guts were essential for any Fw 190 Sturmjäger pilot to be successful and survive. Eyewitness accounts in the book by the veteran Fw 190 Sturmjäger pilots further convey the perils and challenges they faced every time they went aloft to take on USAAF bombers over Germany.

For any aviation enthusiast or anyone with an interest in World War II aviation, I highly recommend Fw 190 Sturmjäger: Defence of the Reich 1943–45.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this four stars, but readers should understand that the rating applies to a very narrowly focused book. (Against more complete histories of air war, it would rank lower.) This in not really a complete history either of the development of the FW 190, the circumstances in Germany, or the men who flew the airplane. It is more of a collection of many snapshots in chronological order. The sketches of the variants and the pilots are both brief and not detailed. The USAAF side of the story isn't told at all, so oddly there really isn't any sense of personal combat, and perhaps that's fitting as it reflects the nature of air combat at the time. As a shallow survey of the last two years of the European air war over Germany, it is adequate, but a fuller picture will require addition of other works.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good first-hand accounts from the German POV. Could have used more technical data and development of the Fw series.